A photo printer is a printer designed or well suited for printing photographs with accurate color, smooth tones, and fine detail. Most are inkjet printers that print on glossy or satin photo paper, and many support borderless printing so images run to the edge of the page. Compact photo printers also print small snapshots straight from a phone.
Photo Printer Essentials at a Glance
Most photo printers use inkjet technology for smooth color blending
Borderless printing extends the image to every edge of the paper
Common photo sizes include 4 x 6, 5 x 7, and 8 x 10 in.
Photo paper and the right print settings matter as much as the printer
Compact photo printers print small snapshots and stickers on the go
Types of Photo Printers
Inkjet photo printers and all-in-ones
Most home photo printing happens on inkjet printers, because they blend colors smoothly and work with glossy photo paper. Many all-in-one printers handle both everyday documents and photos, and some include a separate photo tray so you can print 4 x 6-inch photos without swapping out plain paper.
Compact photo printers
Compact photo printers are small, portable devices that print snapshot-size photos from a phone. Our HP Sprocket photo printers use ZINK® Zero Ink® Printing Technology, which creates color using crystals built into special paper rather than ink cartridges. Sprocket prints are typically 2 x 3 in., often with a sticky back, and you print them through the HP Sprocket app.
Large-format photo printers
Professional photographers and studios use wide-format printers for large prints and exhibition work. These printers often use additional ink colors for a wider range of tones.
Type | Typical print sizes | Best for |
Inkjet photo printer or all-in-one | Up to 8.5 x 11 in., and larger on wide-format models | Home photo prints, framing, and albums |
Compact photo printer | Small snapshots, such as 2 x 3 in. | Stickers, journals, parties, and on-the-go prints |
Large-format photo printer | Wide prints and posters | Professional and studio work |
What Is Borderless Printing?
Borderless printing prints an image all the way to the edges of the paper, with no white margin, like a photo from a lab. Standard printing leaves a small white border around the page because the printer can't place ink at the very edge.
How borderless printing works
To avoid thin white lines at the edges, the printer slightly enlarges the image so it extends just past the edges of the paper, a technique often called overspray or bleed. As a result, a small amount of the image near the edges is cropped. Keep important details, like faces or text, away from the very edges of the photo.
Borderless printing tips
Check support: Not every printer offers borderless printing, and some support it only on certain paper sizes and photo paper.
Select borderless in settings: Choose the borderless option and the matching photo paper size in the print dialog or app.
Use photo paper: Borderless printing is designed for photo paper and may not be available on plain paper.
Expect a slight crop: Leave a little space around key details so nothing important gets trimmed.
Photo Printing Terms to Know
Term | What it means |
Aspect ratio | The shape of a photo, written as width to height. A 4 x 6-inch print is 3:2, while many phone photos are 4:3, so some cropping happens when printing |
Bleed | The part of a borderless image that extends past the paper edge and gets trimmed |
DPI | Dots per inch, the number of ink dots a printer places in an inch; higher color DPI on photo paper gives finer detail |
PPI | Pixels per inch in the image file; around 300 PPI at the printed size is a common guideline for sharp photos |
Dye-based ink | Ink that produces vivid color, especially on glossy photo paper |
Pigment-based ink | Ink with stronger resistance to water and fading |
Photo paper finish | The surface of the paper, such as glossy, satin, or matte |
Color management | Using settings and profiles so printed colors match what you see on screen as closely as possible |
Fade resistance | How long a print keeps its color; it depends on the ink, the paper, and how the print is displayed or stored |
Learn more about print quality, paper and media, and ink and toner.
Common photo print sizes
Print size | Aspect ratio | Common uses |
2 x 3 in. | 3:2 | Wallet photos and stickers from compact printers |
4 x 6 in. | 3:2 | Standard snapshots and albums |
5 x 7 in. | 7:5 | Frames and greeting cards |
8 x 10 in. | 5:4 | Framed portraits and wall displays |
8.5 x 11 in. | Close to 4:3 | Larger prints and photo collages |
How to Print Photos at Home
Choose your photo: Pick a sharp, well-lit image with enough resolution for the print size.
Crop to the print size: Adjust the crop to the paper's aspect ratio so the printer doesn't cut off important details.
Load photo paper: Place it in the main or photo tray with the printable side facing the right way, as shown by the tray markings.
Set the print options: Select the paper size, the photo paper type, best quality, and borderless if you want edge-to-edge prints.
Print and let it dry: Give inkjet prints a moment to dry before stacking or handling them.
You can print photos from a computer or straight from your phone with the HP app or Apple AirPrint. Learn more about printer connectivity.
What to Check Before Buying a Photo Printer
Print sizes: Make sure the printer supports the sizes you print most, such as 4 x 6 or 8 x 10 in.
Borderless printing: Confirm it's supported for your favorite photo sizes.
Photo tray: A separate photo tray saves time if you switch often between documents and photos.
Color resolution: Higher optimized color DPI on photo paper helps with fine detail.
Mobile printing: Printing straight from your phone makes it easy to print the photos you take every day.
Cost per photo: Ink and paper make up most of the cost of each print. Learn more about printing costs.
Everyday printing needs: If you also print documents, an all-in-one that handles both may be the most practical choice. See printers by use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Photo Printers
What is the best type of printer for printing photos?
An inkjet printer is the best type of printer for printing photos at home, because it blends colors smoothly and prints on glossy and satin photo paper. Compact photo printers are a fun option for small snapshots and stickers.
Why does my printer leave white borders on photos?
A printer leaves white borders when borderless printing is turned off, isn't supported for the selected paper size, or isn't available on the selected paper type. Choose the borderless option and a supported photo paper size in the print settings.
Why do parts of my photo get cut off when printing?
Parts of a photo get cut off when the image's aspect ratio doesn't match the paper, such as a 4:3 phone photo printed on 4 x 6-inch paper, or when borderless printing slightly enlarges the image. Cropping the photo to the paper size before printing helps control what's trimmed.
Can you print photos on regular paper?
You can print photos on regular paper, but they'll look duller and less sharp, and the paper may curl or bleed from the ink. Photo paper's coating keeps ink on the surface for brighter colors and finer detail.
Do compact photo printers need ink?
Some compact photo printers, such as HP Sprocket printers, don't use ink cartridges. They use ZINK paper, which contains color crystals that activate with heat during printing.
Related Printer Topics
Printers: the main types of printers and how they work
Paper and media: paper types, sizes, and trays
Print quality: resolution, color, and sharpness
Inkjet printers: how inkjets work and who they suit
