Step 3 and 4

Depending on the printer configuration, there are different variants for supplying the output device with print data. When buying a printer, you should note that the printer has the appropriate interfaces. One differentiates here roughly two variants, the cable-bound and the kabellose method. As a cable connection, the current USB connection to the PC or notebook as well as the connection of the printer via a network with a network cable. Photo printers are also often equipped with a PictBridge interface.


3. This is the way to get the photo or document to the printer


This allows a compatible digital camera to be connected directly to the printer without the need for a detour via the PC via USB cable (most digital cameras are included). The pressure command is then released via the camera name. Older printers or larger laser printers often have a so-called parallel interface. This connection can only be used if the PC or the notebook has a corresponding output socket.


4. Cassettes, shafts and templates - so the paper comes into the printer


This is usually referred to as "LPT1" interface. Current printers, especially for the home area, are increasingly equipped with wireless interfaces. This includes, for example, the wireless connection (wireless, WLAN, WiFi) to compatible networks, PCs or notebooks. The Bluetooth wireless connection is also integrated, especially in the latest generation of photo printers. This interface is especially useful for owners of photo handhelds.


If the mobile phone also has a Bluetooth interface, the photos can be transferred directly to the printer. Depending on the printer configuration, the photos can still be formatted or retouched with small editing tools and then output by the push of a button. Most ink printers and some laser printers also offer the possibility to print directly from the card using built-in memory card slots.


When purchasing the printer, make sure that it supports your preferred memory card. You can also print directly from compatible USB sticks via USB host interfaces. As a rule, no photo formats such as JPG are supported. This interface is often only designed for the document formats PDF or DOC. Also here you should ask the dealer if necessary, or inform yourself before buying in the online manual with the technical data. The manual is offered by almost every manufacturer on its download page.


To ensure that you do not have to "feed" the printer all the time, each printer is equipped with a small paper tray. The printer then automatically takes out the pages required for the print job from this storage. Some printers offer a small mechanical level indicator, others inform the PC monitor or an integrated display, if a new filling is necessary. In the case of laser printers and office ink-jet printers, the document has been used in the form of a closed cassette.


Here, the paper is usually protected from light and dust, even if the printer is not in use for an extended period of time. Depending on the model variant, additional paper cassettes can often be integrated. For example, you do not have to constantly feed paper for large paper throughputs. Since ink printers also process heavy papers (photo paper, textured papers), these devices have an upright document on the back of the case. From this template, the paper can take the direct path forward and is not mechanically stressed by deflection rollers.


Some printers offer both a paper cassette and an upright original. Here, the paper management is very variable. In the case of photoprints, an additional document is often integrated into the paper cassette for A4 papers, for smaller photo formats. If this is not the case, the standard paper tray can be adapted to the respective media format by means of mechanical sliding knobs. If the printer is able to write to printable CD / DVDs, the blank is fed to the printer via a special insert.


Laser printers can also be used to print special papers, if they are suitable for laser printing (observe the specifications for printing on the paper package). Here you can usually use a special template, which is located on the front of the housing (either as a slot or to fold out). In addition, a supplementary tray can be extended at the rear so that even heavier media or, for example, envelopes run over the direct path through the printer and need not be deflected.