Digital negatives are getting trendy day by day. Photographers find it one of the most efficient, effective, and safe ways to store your digital photos for a long time without compromising the photo quality.
The printer that can do digital negative must-have glossy paper printability, top-notch photo quality, ample amount of speed, wider connectivity, outstanding paper handling feature, and low-running cost. If you can buy a high-quality printer it’s a sure shot that you will get top-grade digital negatives.
In this article, I will review 5 excellent printers of recent times so you can easily pick the best printer for digital negatives for you. Hopefully, you will get your one!
Our 5 Favorite Printers For Digital Negatives
There’s no doubt that printing for digital negatives will add more value to your photography career. Now you will be able to explore a new field of the photography world.
To make your journey easy and enjoyable, a shortlist was made where you will easily find some first-class printers for digital negatives.
Here below, the list of the 5 printers for digital negatives is given. This selection was made after detailed research and comparing varieties of printers. So, let’s check it out…
1. Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000
The Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 printer would be an outstanding choice for printing digital negatives. This amazing unit is loaded with features that will help you in many ways.
You can connect it with the mobile and pc using Hi-Speed USB, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, etc. In addition to that, Epson XP-15000 also lets you do mobile printing from both iPhone and Android smartphones.
Plus, the printing quality is awesome due to the higher resolution of 5760 x 1440 DPI which will ensure clear digital negatives. The printing speed of 9.2 ppm for black & 9 ppm for color makes it a great printer.
Besides, it can also print borderless HD photos up to 13 x 19’’. To increase overall comfort, this photo printer comes with auto 2 sided printing, 50 sheet rear specialty tray & 200 sheet tray on the front side.
Moreover, the ultra-compact design makes it perfect for a home printer. Unlike many other printers, the Epson XP-15000 is easy to use because of the simplistic button and the 2.4’’ color LCD. One of the drawbacks of this inkjet printer is the weight is a bit higher.
Furthermore, it supports different types of paper like plain paper, ultra-premium photo paper luster, ultra-premium photo paper glossy, photo paper glossy, brochure & Flier paper matte double-sided.
Though the Amazon Dash Replenishment feature help to keep the ink in check, however, overall printing cost is a bit high on the Epson XP-15000. If you are not on a tight budget, you can go for it.
Pros
- Excellent for digital negative printing
- High resolution with ample amount of printing speed
- Supports varieties of glossy paper
- Wireless printing, compact design, easy to use
- Automatic 2 sided printing, 200 sheet front tray
Cons
- A bit heavier than others
- Ink cost is pretty high
2. Canon Pixma TR8620 All-in-One Printer
Being an entry-level printer, the Canon Pixma TR8620 comes with tons of features that will alleviate your printing comfort.
First of all, you will find it effortless to connect with both your pc, laptop, or mobile phone due to its ethernet, USB, Wireless, Bluetooth connectivity. You can easily print from your mobile devices using Apple AirPrint, Mopria, Canon PRINT apps.
You need good quality photo printing for crystal clear digital negatives and the Pixma TR8620 will do that for you. You will get a shiny and standard-level digital negative print with 4800 x 1200 DPI after making a grayscale print.
Plus, the Pixma TR8620 is perfect for the home office due to its compact & sleek design. This wonderful inkjet printer comes with 20 sheet automatic document feeder, an auto 2-sided printing feature.
In addition to that, the printing speed is standard with 15 ppm for black & white plus 15 ppm for color printing. Along with that, the Pixma TR8620 can print sheet size up to 8.5 x 14’’.
Moreover, the Pixma TR8620 is user-friendly as it’s easy to setup & easy to use due to the 4.3’’ LCD touchscreen. However, when it comes to smooth printing, this printer’s performance is low as it often has paper jamming during printing.
Furthermore, this fantastic printer offers you to fax, copy and scan without any hassle and I would say these features are a bonus in this price range. Unfortunately, in terms of running cost, it won’t impress due to the higher ink cost.
Apart from the paper jamming and high running cost, it’s a good shot for screen printing!
Pros
- Superb print quality for digital negatives
- Sleek & compact design
- Standard printing speed
- Wireless printing, USB, Bluetooth connectivity
- Simple to setup plus control
Cons
- Paper jamming during print
- Operating cost more than average
3. Brother HL- L3270CDW Color Printer with NFC
The Brother HL-L3270CDW printer is a high-quality inkjet printing device that supports varieties of paper like glossy photo paper, envelopes and cardstock, etc. It also works great on screen printing transparencies too.
You will be impressed with the printing speed of this wireless printer which is around 25 ppm for black and white plus color. In terms of connectivity, it is far ahead of many printers due to multiple features like Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, NFC, etc.
When it comes to print quality the Brother HL-L3270CDW will generate excellent photos. You can smoothly print documents from Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc using your smartphone.
Not only that, but it will also ensure crisp, sharp, and clear digital negatives print. You will get a 250 sheet tray, duplex printing which will increase the printing efficiency. And, the highest sheet size it can print is up to 8.5 x 11’’.
Plus, the build quality of the Brother guy is sturdy and it’s also a highly durable printer. Both the easy and swift setup plus the 2.7’’ color touchscreen control lift the user friendly to a different level.
Having so many bright sides, it also comes with two dark sides. The first one is that the machine’s weight is around 40 lbs. which decreases the portability to a great extent. The second one is that the expensive running cost of the printer is not affordable for everyone.
Unlike many printers, it does not generate any foul noise during printing. Finally, the compact design with all these phenomenal features makes it a highly efficient printer.
Pros
- Versatile connectivity like Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB
- Printing speed is amazing plus auto duplex printing
- Clear, sharp print ensure fine quality digital negatives
- Easy setup with smooth printing from mobile devices
- Sturdy, durable plus noiseless printer
Cons
- Weight is very high
- Running cost is quite high
4. Epson PictureMate PM-400 Inkjet Printer
The Epson PictureMate PM-400 would be a wonderful addition for you if you are into digital negative printing stuff.
One of the best features of this portable device is that it can print photos that can last up to around 200 years. Along with that, for easy connection, it comes with Wi-Fi & USB. Printing from your iPad, iPhone, Androids, and tablets would be smooth.
Plus, the Epson PM-400 can also print 4 x 6’’ borderless photos. Though the resolution of the printer is not top-notch, it can print pretty good quality photos with crisp and good color accuracy. Even the durability of the printer is superb.
However, the operating cost of this product is high because of the higher ink cost. And, it does not support any cheap ink cartridge other than its manufacturer.
In addition to that, the lightweight and compact design increases the portability of the printer and makes it a good choice for home use or small office use. When it comes to set up and use, you will find the Epson printer a highly friendly one.
Moreover, the setup and controlling of the Epson PM-400 would be a total breeze. The Wi-Fi Direct feature will ensure a stable connection during printing.
Furthermore, it can print a whole borderless photo at around 36 seconds which is standard. Though the price tag is high that comes with all these efficient and excellent features which makes one of best printers for elderly!
Pros
- Mobile printing through a wireless connection
- Sharp, high accuracy, and crisp color photos
- Setup and controlling is effortless
- Lightweight, compact increase portability
Cons
- Higher operating cost
- The price mark is higher than others
5. Epson EcoTank ET-2760 Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Plus, the excellent print quality of the Epson ET-2760 will make sure that you are getting high-quality digital negatives. The page yield capacity of this printer is simply matchless and reduces the overall running cost.
Besides, the Unique PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology & the Claria ET Pigment black ink ensure high-end impressive photos. Along with the printing feature, you can also do high-resolution scans and copy using the Epson ET-2760 printer.
Moreover, Epson can print paper up to 8 x 14’’ sheets. For your convenience, it comes with an auto-duplex feature, however, the auto document feeder is missing in this unit. In addition to that, it offers you a wider range of connectivity like USB, Ethernet & Wireless. So, it’s one of the best wireless printers for Pc and Mac.
Also, the printing speed of the Epson ET-2760 is 10.5 ppm which is close to a standard level. You will find both the setup plus controlling of the printer a breeze. The compact design and the low weight makes it a superb choice for home user & small workstation.
Sadly it generates a loud noise during operation which is a bit irritating but the wireless printing from mobile & laptops increases the user’s comfort a lot.
Considering everything, the Epson ET-2760 is a matchless low running cost printer.
Pros
- Mind-blowing low operating cost
- Ultra-sharp photo due to Unique PrecisionCore technology
- Wireless printing plus auto duplex feature
- Setup plus controlling is smooth & support up to 8 x14’’ glossy paper
- Scan & copy feature with compact design & low weight
Cons
- No automatic document feeder
- Generate loud noise
How To Pick A Printer For Digital Negatives?
Anything that adds more value to your professional life or passion deserves to be well checked before you buy & use it. Going through the details will not only save your money but save you from wasting time too.
Some factors are extremely important before buying a printer for printing digital negatives. Let’s have a look…
Paper Support
When you specifically look for a printer that would ensure high-quality digital negative print, the paper support capacity is one of the most important factors.
Because for perfect digital negatives, a printer must be able to print glossy papers. In the market, you will find different types of glossy paper starting from the normal glossy paper to premium grade glossy paper. It does not matter as long as it supports the basic one.
But, if you end up having a printer that can’t simply print on glossy paper, it would be a loss deal.
Connectivity
It’s always best to go for a all-in-one printer that offers multiple connectivity features like Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB, etc. More options will make it more efficient to use.
Plus, a wireless connection helps a lot as you can print directly from the phone. However, for the best quality digital negative, it’s recommended to print from the laptop or desktop for the best result.
Easy to Install & Control
The printer does not give you a hard time installing and controlling. It’s highly recommended to buy a printer for digital negatives that’s easy to navigate.
Moreover, an easy-to-control printer will increase the overall productivity of a home office or small business.
Paper Handling
Printers that are packed with most of the features for paper handling have high priority. You should look for features like auto 2-sided printing, automatic document feeder, front & rear paper tray.
It’s unlikely that you will get all of them in one but try to go for those which have most of the features.
Compact & Portable
The printer which has an overall smaller footprint is a must. A compact design & lightweight printer would be highly appropriate for your small business workstation.
A smaller size printer will require less amount of space which is best for your small size studio workstation. In addition to that, the lightweight of the printer will allow you to easily carry the printer from one corner to another without much hassle.
Photo Quality
This feature can’t go unnoticed while you are going to buy a printer for digital negatives. If the photo quality of the printer is good then the rest is assured.
Plus, printers that have higher resolution will provide you with sharp, clear, and fadeless digital negatives. The digital negatives need to have proper contrast so that you can later convert them into the same quality photo.
Printing Speed
This factor will depend on your work type. As long as you are printing out of your passion then a moderate or slow printing speed would be absolutely fine.
However, if you are into business then at least look for a business-friendly printer that can deliver you at least 2-3 prints per minute. And anything above that speed would be a bonus for you.
Operating Cost
I know it would be extremely hard to find a printer that can offer you a low operating cost.
For that, the best scenario would be to ensure a printer that does not have too much operating cost.
Some printers do not accept other manufacturers’ ink cartridges, which is a big downside. If that printer can demand a slightly higher ink cost but not too much, then it’s good to go.
However, if you want an affordable wireless printer, check this article: wireless printer under $100
How to print digital negatives?
Printing digital negatives do not take much effort. Just follow three simple steps you can print digital negatives.
- First, just select your digital photo. To get the best output, you need to select the photo which has clear contrast plus an easily defined shape.
- Now open the image in photo edit software, for example in Adobe Photoshop. For the negative digital output, you must select the grayscale option. One thing you must check is to adjust the layer to check whether the image is showing enough definition and clear shapes in the grayscale mode.For that, you need to go like Layer Panel>Adjustment Layer. You must make sure there’s enough contrast in the grayscale image before printing the digital negative. For optimum results, your selected image should have around 300 DPI.
- The final step is to flip the image horizontally. Now invert the image and you are fully set to print. Take your glossy sheet and print the image.
FAQs
What is the main benefit of printing digital negatives?
The main benefit of printing digital negative is that the photo quality remains like the raw digital photo quality and it can be stored for a long time.
Which features are most important for a printer for digital negatives? .
Glossy paper sheet ability, moderate printing speed, high-end photo quality & low running cost are the most important features for printers for digital negatives.
Which printer is best for digital negatives?
In my opinion, the Epson PictureMate PM-400 is the best option for digital negatives because it produces great images on transparent material like film negatives at a superb low cost.
Is printing speed an important factor for digital negatives?
It depends on your work type. If you do it out of passion then slow speed is okay but if you do it for a living then you need good speed in your printer for digital negatives.
How can I print digital negatives quickly?
Using the photoshop software, you can print digital negatives by selecting the grayscale option. Give some touch into layer adjustment to ensure proper shape and contrast. Then you are ready to print.
Final Words
High-quality output for long time storing of digital negatives is one of the main reasons for buying some specific printers. And with that when you get some extra features that increase the comfort of your photography life.
Purchasing a top-notch inkjet or laser printer for digital negatives is no longer a dream rather it’s a reality in front of you.
I highly expect that you will find the right printer for digital negatives from this article.