Need recommendations of printers

[Zenoth]

I'd appreciate if specific types of (or brands / specific models) printers could be recommended for a specific task. I'll try to make this story short.

Someone I know is a gamer like me and is unfortunately going through tough times. His birthday is approaching and I had an idea. I've been browsing video game covers (official covers, and custom ones in some cases) over at thecoverproject.net, which is a web site where you can find pretty much any and all game cover art possible. So, since my friend is the type of person who absolutely loves actual physical memorabilia items to remind him of anything that he loves, I thought about buying myself a good printer to create "posters" of games I know he loves and we both played together a bunch from all the way back.

Now, the covers they got on that site (once downloaded) come as JPG images. I'm mentioning it but I'm not sure if it's important (I.E. if the actual format of the image is important to consider for good quality printing results). Additionally, pretty much all covers have text on them. Having just the front cover might help for that (there's usually way more text on the back cover), but the "posters" I have in mind are rectangular in shape as the paper would be, and would consist of both front and back covers side by side for a 'widescreen' poster, just as they come by default when they're downloaded from their database. The reason why I mention the presence of text in general is because (and correct me if I'm wrong) I do believe that some types of printers struggle with text, or at least small text / characters (or types of fonts, too).

But I don't know much about printers, in general (I've only had a single one many years ago that I barely ever used and eventually sold it). The only things I know is that Ink Jet printers are supposedly good for photos, and that laser printers are "better" for text. So the thing is cover art for video games aren't exactly "photos", and the coloring in many cases (especially 8-bit and 16-bit game covers) is very vibrant and are drawings with (in some cases) limited color palettes, but they do often have text and a wide variety of fonts and text sizes. However, that does not apply to all cases and obviously changes a lot between consoles (and just between games in general, since some covers in some cases do have actual photos of a real car, for example, or 'real material', etc).

So ultimately I just don't know what type of printer I should look for to get the best possible results coming from a widescreen JPG onto actual paper, as a "poster". I just want the best quality I can afford for this task, and for my friend. I'd appreciate some recommendations, thanks!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Photo printers would be good for this, except for the high cost of inkjet ink. One thing to know is that printers with a separate black tank (CMY + K) usually have a lower ink cost than ones with just C,M,Y tanks. Blacks are also better since the 3-tank must try to make black out of the 3 other tanks.

Color lasers used to be much worse for printing photos and art, but I haven't read any recent reviews, perhaps they've improved.

My old Canon photo inkjet worked well for making some custom DVD covers back when I was putting some n-disk sets into single multi-disk holders. But that was (yikes!) 8+ years ago now and it's been almost that long since I've even plugged it in.

For my once-every-few-months printing needs I have a Brother black & white laser that's also 8+ years old.

Sorry I can't really help, I'd suggest trying to get more information from a Google search of "best photo printers", "color laser photo printing", carefully reading some Amazon reviews, and hoping someone who owns a printer from this decade will reply here

 

[13Gigatons]

You forgot to mention budget. You can spend $200 to $300 on the newer supertank inkjet printers. They print up to 7000 pages.

Otherwise a cheapo inkjet printer will be your only option and maybe some refill ink.

 

[Zenoth]

I looked into the 'supertank' printer models and brands around.

I got my eyes on two specific models from Epson (Epson Expression 2700 / 2750). It does look like pretty much what I need (there's a demo video on their site showing it in action). The only thing I don't know much of about for now is the format / sizes of paper it can print on. I'll have to 'rotate' the JPGs to what the printer can do, or I'll be lucky and the printer won't be limited by that and I'll just have to find the proper paper to print on. I'd want rectangular paper for an horizontal / widescreen-style print. But if it looks better vertically then I could just do front covers, that would work too.

Either way I think I'm set, I'll check for those types of printers specifically.

Thanks guys.

 

[dlerious]

The only ones I've used were Epson Photo printers (R800, R2000 I think). It's been a long time, but the photos were great - held the photo under running water with no problem. Ink was way too expensive and it seemed like it would waste a lot when replacing a cartridge (from the rest of the cartridges while charging). Not sure if it would work if I dug it back out, ink is probably dried up. I'd like to check out some color laser output since I hear they're much better now.

 

[Viper1j]

Epson XPression (220,320) aren't bad. Inexpensive and I print great DVD/Bluray labels on them. Bonus is that they're wifi printers as well, and ink is cheap.

 

[tynopik]

just get it printed at walmart or kinkos or something

 

[killster1]

is this poster going to be on a standard sheet of paper? what printers can print enormous posters? yes a print service from china would be best since im sure you will run into copyright issues if you try maybe costco or target for the service. Unless you are doing more than 20 of these posters i dont see a reason to purchase a printer that will give results lacking quality/size desired.

 

[ZippZ]

I recommend an inkjet printer because they're cheap to purchase and can print very good photos and art. You don't need any fancy ink tank printers unless you do a lot of printing, like thousands of these cover arts. Main thing is to get quality inkjet matte photo paper to get good results. Today's inkjet printers can print small text on quality paper.

Color laser printers are hit and miss. I have a HP Laserjet m451 color printer that was highly rated for printing photos. Not as good as a quality inkjet printer, but it's very good at printing photos. Better quality than an inkjet printer printing on plain inkjet paper. Expensive printer and toner though.

 

[dlerious]

I recommend an inkjet printer because they're cheap to purchase and can print very good photos and art. You don't need any fancy ink tank printers unless you do a lot of printing, like thousands of these cover arts. Main thing is to get quality inkjet matte photo paper to get good results. Today's inkjet printers can print small text on quality paper.

Color laser printers are hit and miss. I have a HP Laserjet m451 color printer that was highly rated for printing photos. Not as good as a quality inkjet printer, but it's very good at printing photos. Better quality than an inkjet printer printing on plain inkjet paper. Expensive printer and toner though.

All my laser printers have been HP. Might have an old original around (weighed 50-60 lbs). Have an 1100 and I forget the other. I've heard some decent things about the Canon Color imageclass MF733Cdw.

 

[13Gigatons]

The sad thing is you still need a Laser and Inkjet printer. Laser for Documents and inkjet for photos. (Although most people don't print that much anymore)

 

[lynn40277]

I would use the ones for hire at the local store that offers that service along with office supplies and what not. I recently got a heavy laser printer for cardstock from here.Staples, for example, or whoever does this locally. These guys need to keep their printers in good repair and I don’t have to. I don’t have much luck with my personal inkjet printers, I am doing pretty good it I can get them to print on regular printer paper. But then, we have a lot of cats so that doesn’t help.