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Key Points:
- Both Canon printers we reviewed offer superb print quality, especially for their size.
- Before buying a sublimation printer, make sure you have a device that can connect to one of these printers quickly and reliably.
- These printers offer excellent quality with rich colors, meaning they go through ink much faster than a traditional printer. Prepare for additional costs.
- The portability of CP1300 and QX10, combined with their excellent print quality, make them both pretty incredible. But if you are looking for the most portable printer, the QX10 is the clear winner.
If you are looking for the ultimate color print quality, look no further than a sublimation printer. For some, this article might seem a little like deja vu. If not, be sure to check out our previous article on this subject here. Today we will be focusing solely on Canon sublimation printers.
Canon is one of the most recognizable camera brands. However, some may not know that they also specialize in various other products, such as printers. Two of the sublimation printers that Canon produces are photo printers. Unlike some, they are geared more toward on-the-go printing. You can think of it as a polaroid printer for your phone or a Wi-Fi-enabled camera.
- Best Overall: Canon® SELPHY™ CP1300 Wireless Compact
- Most Portable: Canon SELPHY QX10 Portable Square Photo Printer
Best Overall: Canon® SELPHY™ CP1300 Wireless Compact
- Not only will your photos be instantly dry, but they will also look great for up to 100 years4 and are even water resistant.Form Factor: All-In-One. | Paper Size : 3 X 5 Inch. | Printer Technology :...
- Enjoy the simplicity of connecting your smartphone and tablet with ease, through the Canon print app3. You can even print directly from USB, or your camera's memory card2
- The sleek, portable design lets you bring the SELPHY CP1300 with you and with the optional battery back you can print and share your memories wherever you are
- With the tilting 3.2 inches LCD screen it's easy to choose, edit and print your favorite photos. Output tray capacity: Paper tray: 18 sheets with postcard size paper cassette. Operating temperature is...
- Print resolution (Up to) color256 levels per color (16.8 million colors). Paper sizes postcard (4.0 x 6.0 inches), L size (3.5 x 4.7 inches), card size (2.1 x 3.4 inches), square label (2.1 x 2.1...
The Canon® SELPHY™ CP1300 Wireless Compact is a compact photo printer that offers outstanding print quality and a variety of connection options. Many other printers in this class, from Kodak or HP, require the use of a smartphone. On top of that, they only offer a limited amount of print size options. You will not be stuck with those wallet-sized prints with the CP1300.
The printer’s versatility and excellent print quality make it an easy recommendation. It also supersedes the previous CP1200. So, even if you already own a CP1200, the CP1300 is worth the upgrade. Also, if you plan to print photos on the go, or like having the option of doing so, you will not be disappointed. The only downside we could find is that the printer does not include a USB to USB-B cable, but those are easy enough to pick up separately.
Check out Canon® SELPHY™ CP1300 Wireless Compact on Amazon.
Most Portable: Canon SELPHY QX10 Portable Square Photo Printer
- Print photos right from your phone or tablet - no computer, cables, or wires required
- A special coating on each print protects against splashes, spills, and fading
- Free Canon SELPHY Photo Layout 2.0 app lets you add creative templates, stickers, filters, and more
The Canon SELPHY QX10 Portable Square Photo Printer is a newcomer to the Selphy lineup, and is currently the only other sublimation printer that Canon produces. It uses one color cartridge with individual dye transfer films for cyan, yellow, and magenta. These transfer onto a photo sheet when a certain amount of heat is applied.
This process helps the prints look better than some other inkless and cartridgeless printers, and its hues look much more natural. The downside of this streamlined design is that you can only print about 20 photos before having to swap out the cartridge. But if you are looking for a Polaroid-type experience, that isn’t too much of a downside.
The QX10 is perfect for the niche it is marketed towards. Namely, the Polaroid fans that want to save some money per print and don’t necessarily want to buy into the Polaroid ecosystem. The square photos are fun but are not necessarily for everyone. If you want this format, and what is really close to a pocketable printer, then the QX10 is perfect for you. It is worth noting that you can only use Canon property paper. But the quality you get out of that paper makes it worth it.
Check out Canon SELPHY QX10 Portable Square Photo Printer on Amazon.
How To Pick The Best Canon Sublimation Printer: Step By Step
Usually, at this point, we would break down some categories to make it easier to pair down the tremendous results when searching for a new product. Luckily with Canon sublimation printers, there are only 2 to choose from. Regardless, we will give you some specs or features to keep in mind when deciding.
- Print Quality
- Connectivity
- Price
Let’s review each one in more detail.
Print Quality
When looking for a new printer, especially one that focuses mainly on photo prints, you want to ensure the quality is up to snuff. Of course, this could mean different things to different people. But we tend to look for good color reproduction and consistent ink placement. Both Canon printers we talked about today offer superb print quality, especially for their size.
Connectivity
When it comes to portable printers, one of the main things to consider is how you will connect to them. If you want a wireless experience or a wired one, make sure the printer you are looking at has the option and performs well. Printers like the QX10 only offer wireless connections, so if you want to print from a device that is incompatible, we recommend looking at the CP1300 for a more variety of options.
Price
Determining a budget for a printer is not as easy as it is for some devices. Printers are one of those devices you have to keep spending money on after you buy the initial products, so you have to factor that into your budget. Both of these printers we talked about today are around the $100 price point, but most of the cost will come from the ink and paper.
Most of the time, you can see a price per print option on review sites or under the specs on Amazon. This will let you know how much it costs each time you print a photo from one of these printers.
What To Know Before Buying a Canon Sublimation Printer?
You will want to go over a few things before buying one of these printers. First, make sure you have a device that can connect to one of these printers quickly and reliably. Nothing is more annoying than getting a brand new printer, and your device can’t connect.
Secondly, ensure the formats or print size options the printer offers to fit your needs or style. For example, the QX10 only prints square format photos. Finally, do not purchase one of these printers if you are not able or willing to buy pretty expensive ink cartridges for them. These printers offer excellent quality with rich colors, meaning they go through ink much faster than a traditional printer.
Using Canon Sublimation Printers: What it’s like?
Both of these printers offer a unique experience. The portability of CP1300 and QX10, combined with their excellent print quality, make them pretty incredible. We particularly like the QX10 because even though the CP1300 is a lot smaller than a traditional printer, the QX10 felt like we could take it anywhere with us.
If you are looking for a portable photo printer, both the CP1300 and QX10 will be hard to pass up. The CP1300 is the way to go if you are looking for more versatility. But if you are looking for the most portable printer, the QX10 is the clear winner.
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