Have you ever wondered what being organized was like? If you have, maybe it's time to start thinking about getting your Christmas cards together. Better yet why not design the Christmas card itself with a printer. If you do, friends and family will be amazed and you'll have more money for a wonderful Christmas dinner.
What to look for in a printer
To get started you need to decide whether you want to design your card with the help of the computer or by yourself. There are many card software packages that come with your computer. Fortunately, if you have the right printer its many features can get you around the need for a dedicated card software package and a computer. What you'll need for a printer could include a scanner for importing pictures; a color option would be nice with good dots per inch (dpi) for quality images, good through put if your list is long (check for paper tray capacity), % increase/decrease for sizing and a bunch of patients to get it just right. You'll also need premium photo papers.
What's available?
Printers have gone through their evolution over the past many years. Combining your design ability with what has evolved will get your card done. If you need a printer for your Christmas card design project look too any manufacturer and they will have a manufacturer that offers what you need.
The Hp OfficeJet 5610 is a good place to start and you do not necessarily need a computer to use it. It has excellent reduction/enlargement functions, a scanner, fax, good through put and a 25 page paper tray. The color dpi is a bit low but ask to see a copy for your thoughts. This printer is a great dollar value.
Perhaps you would like to go in the other direction for increased quality of print and two sided print options. For a bit more money a laser printer may be for you. The Brother DCP 8025DN is a laser with great quality and the ability to turn out color and mono chrome images at 30 pages per minute. It also can reduce/enlarge from 40% to 400%.
The Epson Stylus C120 may be an option right in the middle for this type of project. Priced under $100.00 its fast, has a great color quality and reduces/enlarges. There is no scanner but there are other options to getting your family picture into the computer.
