Can Laser Printers Print On Photo Paper?

Last Updated on March 16, 2023 by Christian Ralph

In short, yes, laser printers can print on glossy coated paper. As long as the right type of paper is used to allow the toner to fuse with it, great printing results on glossy paper can be achieved with any laser printer.

That means that laser printers can gain the benefits of printing on glossy paper including more vibrant colour reproduction and increased contrast between light and dark.

However, to ensure the best printing results, several factors must be considered.

Technical explanation

It really comes down to choosing the right media. Glossy paper designed specifically for inkjet printers allows for the depositing of microscopic droplets of ink onto the surface of the paper whilst allowing the ink to absorb.

Fundamentally different in their printing technology, laser printers heat microscopic particles of toner to physically fuse the toner to the media’s surface under high pressure.

Using glossy paper designed for inkjet printers in a laser printer can produce substandard results and vice versa. That’s why choosing the correct media type is critical in producing the best possible glossy prints.

Advantages and limitations of printing on glossy paper with a laser printer

Laser printing on photo paper can create beautiful, high-quality prints – providing that the correct type of paper is used. Whilst inkjet printers are capable of creating quality prints, laser printers can allow you to print colour images in volume. They can also work fantastically for posters and brochures.

However, the nature of laser printing means that if you don’t appropriately set the media type to glossy paper, the prints may become smudged as a result. If the printer uses its normal speed to process the glossy paper through the machine, the toner may not have a chance to fuse to it, and you may find yourself with ruined prints.

Are laser printers better for photos?

Whilst laser printers are not always associated with photo printing, the high quality results they can achieve are comparable with the best inkjet printers available.

It is important to keep in mind that laser printers and inkjet printers have different strengths and weaknesses.

Both inkjet and laser printers are capable of high-resolution printing with the best high resolution printers available in both laser and inkjet formats

Inkjet printers use highly pigmented inks to achieve prints, with results usually having more vibrant colours. However, inkjet technology lacks the precision of their laser counterparts. This means inkjet printers are less suited to reproducing the fine, high-resolution details that laser printers are capable of.

Another factor to consider when comparing laser and inkjet photo printers is print speeds. Due to the higher internal speeds of laser printing components, laser printers can achieve significantly higher print speeds when compared to inkjet printers.

Higher print speeds combined with generally superior paper capacities of laser printers mean laser printers are far more suited to high-speed, high volume photo printing.

Additionally, laser photo printers can allow users lower long-term running costs compared to inkjet models. Despite higher initial hardware costs, laser printers can achieve lower cost per page printing at higher volumes due to the lower cost per page results of toner compared to ink. Furthermore, optional high-capacity toner cartridges allow for further reduction in overall running costs thanks to the higher page yields they offer.

Printing photos with a laser printer

When it comes to printing photos with a laser printer, the devil is in the detail.

Although somewhat maligned in the past for their generally inferior photo printing capabilities, modern laser printers can deliver fantastic results. In order to create superb looking photo results that can even surpass those created by an inkjet counterpart, certain considerations must be made.

Making the right paper choice can be pivotal in creating the best results.

With a dizzying array of paper types on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start. Broadly speaking, however, printer paper can fall into two categories.

Inkjet paper types are designed specifically for (you guessed it) inkjet printing. Produced with a coating designed to receive sprayed ink droplets, inkjet paper types are unable to withstand the high temperatures that accompanies laser printing.

Laser printer paper, also known as digital paper, is designed to endure the high temperatures created by the fuser unit in order to bond the toner particles to the paper. Untreated paper types are less likely to withstand these conditions, leading to potential image degradation in the final print.

Glossy photo paper specifically designed for laser printing is an essential purchase in order to produce high quality photo prints.

Once you have the most suitable paper for the job, choosing the correct printer set up is the next step in creating the best possible photo prints.

Before you start, ensure that your printer has the latest drivers installed so that you can achieve the best prints possible. Once your printers’ drivers are up to date, the next step is to select the correct paper type from your printer properties.

Matching the paper type properties to the paper you are using will ensure the printer uses the correct settings in order to produce the best prints possible. Adjusting the fuser temperature, resolution and various other settings, the paper type setting is critical in creating visually striking glossy photo prints.

Following these steps will ensure you achieve the best photo results possible when using a laser printer.

Although conventionally not associated with photo printing, laser printers can achieve the same results, if not better, than their inkjet counterparts when used properly.

The best laser printers for glossy printing

Choosing a laser printer for photo printing can be a challenge. Here are some recommendations to help guide your decision.

Xerox VersaLink C400

Choosing a laser printer which produces outstanding prints on glossy paper can be a daunting task but the following models fit the bill perfectly.

The Xerox VersaLink C400 A4 Colour Laser Printer series can create superb results when printing onto glossy media.

This model range provides high resolution combined with 8-bit image depth capabilities to produce crystal clear prints, capturing every nuance and shade when it comes to photo printing.

Xerox VersaLink C405

Sharing the 8-bit image recreation technology and resolution of its single function counterpart, the Xerox VersaLink C405 A4 Colour Multifunction Laser series adds multifunctional capabilities into the mix.

With the ability to print/scan/copy and fax, the C405 series brings its outstanding image production to copies, scans and faxes.

OKI C824n

For outstanding glossy photo prints in sizes up to A3, look no further than the OKI C824n.

With a resolution of up to 600 x 1200dpi and a first page time as fast as 8.5 seconds, you can create crystal clear photo prints in no time.

With superb quality and cost efficiency, the OKI C824n delivers high-definition colour results that are bound to impress.

Xerox VersaLink C8000DT

The Xerox VersaLink C8000DT A3 colour laser printer combines outstanding print performance with up to 45ppm A4 and 22ppm A3 colour laser printing speeds with impeccable print quality.

Boasting printing resolutions of up to 1,200 x 2,400dpi and the ability to print up to SRA3 sizes, the C8000DT can produce high quality SRA3 documents. which can be trimmed producing truly borderless A3 prints in-house.

Capable of handling media weights up to 300gsm, the Xerox VersaLink C8000DT is perfect for a broad range of commercial and creative projects including posters, leaflets, brochures using a variety of different media types.

Buying a laser printer for photo printing with Printerland

We understand that choosing the best printers for photograph printing can be a difficult task.

Printerland stocks a broad range of laser printers with photo printing capabilities onto glossy medias from a range of leading manufacturers including Xerox, HP, Kyocera and more.

All our printers are available for instant purchase online or if you’re looking for more professional advice regarding your purchase, contact a member of team of printer experts today.