| The digital camera significantly advanced the ease and | | | | needed once printing is completed. Most snapshot |
| convenience of capturing and sharing images when it | | | | printers also offer a small LCD screen to allow users |
| was introduced years ago. For those shutterbugs who | | | | to make quick edits to crop pictures or make other |
| wanted a hard copy of those images, the ability to | | | | adjustments. Ease of use and the space saving |
| print and edit photos at home was a hallmark. | | | | aspects of snapshot printers are another common |
| Additions to the line up of printers available in recent | | | | reason for selecting them. |
| years have provided even greater convenience | | | | <b>Will the printer need to produce text |
| however; allowing the immediate gratification of | | | | documents?</b> |
| producing prints anywhere we go rather than waiting | | | | If users want a printer that will readily produce |
| to return home to produce the images we capture. | | | | photographic prints as well as text documents a |
| Snapshot printers have added portability to the | | | | snapshot printer should be thought of only as a second |
| process of creating prints. | | | | device as they do not multi-task. These printers |
| Most of the major printer manufacturers now offer | | | | produce prints of the images on a camera exclusively. |
| snapshot printer models. By answering just a few | | | | In addition, the sizes of the prints they are capable of |
| questions about their individual preferences, consumers | | | | producing is generally limited to 4x6 although some |
| can determine if these handy printers are the right | | | | models offer other sizes as mentioned previously. |
| choice for them. | | | | <b>Is overall cost and quality of prints more |
| <b>Is there a frequent need to print pictures while | | | | important than portability?</b> |
| away from home?</b> | | | | The average snapshot printer is not expensive but |
| Snapshot printers allow users to take them anywhere | | | | offers no savings over their multi-tasking cousins. The |
| they go. In general, they weigh from 2.5 to 5 pounds | | | | average price is in the neighborhood of $80 to $200 |
| and are built for portability with handles for easy | | | | with a per print cost of between $ 0.25 to $0.45. |
| carrying. In addition, they connect with a camera or | | | | Snapshot printers are primarily dye sublimation or inkjet |
| memory card directly or via a wireless connection | | | | and offer very good photo quality although it is |
| such as Bluetooth or IR cutting out the need for a | | | | certainly not superior to the larger and more versatile |
| computer. Portability is the primary reason for selecting | | | | full sized printers. The choice to purchase a snapshot |
| a snapshot printer. | | | | printer is generally not based on superior print quality or |
| <b>Is there a need for a very simple and easy | | | | pricing. |
| process to create prints?</b> | | | | Clearly, snapshot printers rule the market for offering |
| Snapshot printers perform only one function, creating | | | | consumers the ability print photos immediately, any |
| prints from a digital camera. Because of this and the | | | | where they may take their camera. Although their |
| ability to remove the computer from the equation, the | | | | functions are more limited than all-in-one or many |
| printing process is very simple. Snapshot printers | | | | traditional printers they meet a need for creating very |
| accept only precut paper to create 4x6 or in a few | | | | good quality prints quickly and easily. |
| instances 5x7 or 4x12 prints, thus no trimming is | | | | |