Because a wide array of choices exists among color printers, finding the right one can be difficult. Many people feel that a good place to start is by defining what your printing needs are. With an array of sizes and features, functionality can be of prime importance.

A good place to start may be in determining how many pages will be printed. If the machine will be used in a place of business, perhaps a color laser printer should be considered. While costing more initially, these devices are durable machines with a long life. The per page cost is much lower than with ink-jet based machines. The resolution is unmatched - up to nine thousand six hundred by two thousand four hundred. And the print speed is phenomenal - up to twelve thousand pages per hour on some models. Even when printing complex images, these devices still maintain their speed. Plus, if they are left to sit for a long period of time for any reason, they will not go dry. In other words, their ink will not dry up inside of them, ruining them.

Some businesses with an exceptionally high volume of print have found that modern copy machines act as printing peripherals. These superb machines are fantastic. Many companies use this equipment on lease for terms of one, three, or sometime even five years. A huge plus for most companies is that a technician comes to give regular maintenance. These machines hold multiple jobs. They will even reduce or enlarge print jobs. With built in collating and stapling features they can produced finished product. They give the user control of lightening and darkening features. With their large glass area, they serve as deluxe flat bed scanners. Concerning speed, no other printer type can match them in output. They can make two hundred or more copies per minute. Their cost per copy cannot be beat.

Specialty printers exist for particular business needs. For example, some print on fabric using heat transfer or thermal technology. Others print on extremely large media, such as wood. These types typically require specialized ink.

Small businesses and individuals with limited printing needs usually find these machines to be too expensive. The price on these machines can range upwards of five to ten times more than ink-jet printers. Also, with the many varieties of ink-jet printers, most find a machine to fit their needs.

One such sub-type is the photo printer. These devices are configured to print edge to edge. They are equipped with many nozzles for finite control of ink placement. A standard feature is a card reader to read a camera's card. These are stand alone units, with no need to be hooked up to a computer. With their specialty inks and photo paper, these produce the most expensive prints. Yet for printing photos, their quality is unsurpassed. The smallest of these machines is just large enough to print a standard sized photo.

Most plain ink-jet machines require a computer connection. These are typically found in homes. Models at the bottom end of the price range usually have only one ink cartridge. All four ink colors are contained in separate compartments. Black occupies the most space. Machines that are priced mid-range have two cartridges. One cartridge holds black ink by itself. Colors are stored in a second container. Quality devices separate the various tints into their own container. The best of these even have up to seven containers for various hues of each tint. An additional cartridge containing photo ink is available for many machines.

Another variation are the 'all in one' machines. These feature additional capabilities such as scanning, copying, and some times faxing.

Because colored ink and toner is more expensive than plain black, cost can be a disadvantage to color printers. One method of reducing the cost of printing is to force the black or gray scale printing. Sometime printers use a composite to print black and are not really printing in black. Selecting gray scale printing will ensure that only black ink is used.