this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2023
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I got asked to take Santa photos for the holidays at a children’s play space. The owner wants the photos to be available for the clients on the spot to be taken and printed out right away. What’s a good printer that doesn’t take away the quality from the photo? I definitely know we’d need some good quality photo paper! Thanks in advance!

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[–] redoctoberz@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

A Polaroid camera. The new ones are pretty fun!

[–] RedRoseWithin39@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I’d have to see if she’s open to the idea of me using a Polaroid! If so, Which one would you recommend?!

[–] redoctoberz@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I have the Now+ 2nd gen and it works great! Each shot costs about $2.

[–] NubuckChuck@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

If you’re considering polaroid cameras you can also look in to polaroid printers in case they want multiple prints.

[–] andrewbrocklesby@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

You could get an inkjet photo printer or a dye sub photo printer, combined with good paper, both will produce excellent images, however it wont be exceedingly fast.
Im guessing, but it could take 10 minutes ish to print them out depending on size and honestly, it's going to cost a LOT more per print that commercial prints.

[–] Inside-Finish-2128@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Are you good at tethering?

[–] texasflyboy525@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Canon Selphy printers will make up to 4x6 prints in about a minute. Fuji Instax print immediately and develop in about a minute. Fuji will cost more per print.

[–] texasflyboy525@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

By the way, not sure if you're a Fuji user, but some Fuji cameras will print directly to some Fuji Instax printers, no phone required.

[–] yourdadsatonmyface@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I use a Sinfonia CS2. Prints a 4x6 in 10 seconds and does up to 6x8. It can do wallet size too. The paper/dye is pretty cheap. You may be able to rent it (my local store does or did) if you only need it for that occasion.

[–] LongWindedInNJ@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Try the HiTi brand dye-sub printer (or similar) if they still exist. I had a photobooth business for 10+ years and that’s what worked best. I own 2. They can be finicky, but they’re snappy and are built for speed and volume. Don’t bother with inkjet if you have any intention of moving quickly.

[–] imrichman2@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Hiti is what I use, tethered to a laptop running photo booth software, I have prints in minutes.

[–] OnePhotog@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Well there is a pretty wide range of options depending on your budget and willingness to set something up.

The easiest and trouble free are the Fuji instax or Fuji instax wide. (You can also go Polaroid sx70 if your budget allows.)

There are small volume digital printers that you can connect to the camera or read off the sd card like the canon selfy (I think I spelled its name wrong.) Not too expensive and doesn’t take up much space. But it is not the quickest printer.

On the other end of the spectrum that is a fixed location and based on a digital workflow, bring a laptop any photo printer. Shoot teathered and print from Lightroom.