{"id":3346,"date":"2021-02-03T14:45:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T14:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplebooth.com\/blog\/?p=3346"},"modified":"2025-10-14T19:23:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T19:23:19","slug":"best-photo-booth-printers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplebooth.com\/blog\/best-photo-booth-printers\/","title":{"rendered":"Buyers Guide: The Top Photo Booth Printers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Traditional prints are a common add-on for many types of photo booth events. This article is going to break down exactly which printers work best for professional photo booth applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, ask yourself\u2014do I really need a printer?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

15 years ago, a photo booth almost always meant printed photo strips. Times have changed, though. Now, everyone has a smart phone and they’re perfectly happy to receive a digital copy of their photo instead of a printed one. Digital photos are easier to share online and less likely to get crumpled or damaged on their way home. Plus, they’re faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. If you hadn’t considered going digital-first, take a look at our HALO product that can send photos by text message, email, and QR code scan<\/a>\u2014you might just make your life easier by foregoing a printer altogether! It can print, too, when you need the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, onto the guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, we’re going to walk through some of the key differences between the main two types of printers used for photo booth printing: inkjet and dye sublimation. Most of us are familiar with inkjet printers in our homes, but dye sublimation is actually the standard technology for most top photo booth printers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at why that is. Alternatively, feel free to jump directly to our list of the best photo booth printers<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dye Sublimation vs. Inkjet Printers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s do a quick comparison of each category to see which is best for photo booth applications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dye Sublimation<\/strong> <\/td> Inkjet<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
\u2714\ufe0f Fast print speeds (6-15 seconds per print avg.) <\/td> \u26a0\ufe0fSlow print speeds (2+ minutes per print avg.) <\/td><\/tr>
\u2714\ufe0f Large paper capacity (400 photos per paper roll avg.) <\/td> \u26a0\ufe0fLimited paper capacity; paper needs refilling frequently <\/td><\/tr>
\u26a0\ufe0f Costs more to purchase upfront <\/td> \u2714\ufe0f Lower initial investment <\/td><\/tr>
\u2714\ufe0f Lower cost of use over time <\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f Costs more to operate over time <\/td><\/tr>
\u2714\ufe0f Prints are instantly dry <\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f Prints need a dry time after printing <\/td><\/tr>
\u2714\ufe0f Excellent print quality (300 dpi or more) <\/td> \u2714\ufe0f Excellent print quality (300 dpi or more) <\/td><\/tr>
\u2714\ufe0f Infrequent maintenance and cleaning <\/td> \u26a0\ufe0f Needs to be used and cleaned regularly <\/td><\/tr>
\u26a0\ufe0f Larger and heavier <\/td> \u2714\ufe0f Smaller and lighter <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As you can see, dye sublimation printers win in almost every area that matters for photo booth printing. They are fast, easy to set up and maintain, and don\u2019t compromise on quality. Plus, despite their somewhat higher upfront cost, they are less expensive to operate over time, and typically have longer lifespans than inkjet printers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of that, our top printers list includes mostly dye sublimation printers, except for one inkjet: the Primera IP60, which stands out as surprisingly fast for an inkjet. We’ll get to that soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, we\u2019ve selected options for all budgets. The models listed below range in price from $100 to upwards of $500. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, before we dive into specific brands and models, let\u2019s learn the fundamentals of dye sublimation photo booth printers. If you\u2019ve never used one before, they are a little different than your average inkjet or laser printer.
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How do dye sublimation printers work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A dye sublimation printer uses a heat process along with special dye and paper to print photos. These special dyes are contained in films or ribbons in four colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"inside<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

During the printing process, the dye films are placed on the top of the paper and the print heads begin to heat up. As a result, the dye films become hot and the dyes go from a solid-state to a liquid-state and embed onto the paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once on the paper, away from the heated print head, the dye re-solidifies nearly instantaneously. This creates a longer-lasting image, that is dry immediately upon printing, unlike a typical inkjet printer that produces a slightly wet print.
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FURTHER READING: <\/strong>How Does Printing With Simple Booth Work?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t compromise on printing speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An important area where dye sublimation printers shine is speed. They are fast. <\/em>At least two of the models listed below will print a 4 x 6-inch print in eight seconds. Surprisingly, the Primera IP60 inkjet printer also prints a 4 x 6-inch print in eight seconds, but that is unusually fast for an inkjet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most inkjet photo printers take over a minute to make a print of the same size. Plus, some dye sublimation printers can automatically cut 2×6 photo strips from a 4×6 sheet, saving precious time at an event.
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\"Photo
You don’t want to be stuck manually cutting photo strips at a busy event!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For personal or small event use, speed may not be too much of a consideration for you. But for most photo booth applications where there will be a steady flow of participants, you need a printer that can keep up with the traffic. The last thing you want is large groups of people standing around your printer table impatiently waiting for their photos to print. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think you might be taking your photo booth to events with more than 50 people, don\u2019t settle for a slow print time. Printers can get backed up quickly at high-volume events and it’s better to err on the side of speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Printers offer different print sizes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Different photo booth printers will offer varying ranges of photo sizes that they can print. The most common size is a 4 x 6-inch (or A6) print. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some economical printers, like the Canon Selphy CP1300 below, can only print one size of paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you can make due with limited paper sizes may depend on what kind of layout options you plan to offer to your clients. Photo strip cutting<\/a>, where the printer automatically can instantly cut a 4 x 6-inch print into two identical 2 x 6-inch prints, is a must-have for traditional events like weddings<\/a> which most often request prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 x 6-inch prints with the ability to have them automatically cut should cover most photo booth scenarios. Anything larger than a 4 x 6-inch print is usually too inconvenient for participants to figure out how to get home in one piece.
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Media for dye sublimation printers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Paper for most dye sublimation printers comes on rolls rather than individual sheets. The paper rolls are typically sold as a kit that includes dye films or ribbons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dye
Paper and dye ribbons for a photo booth printer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You’ll encounter some options for paper beyond the size. Some premium papers will give you the option between a glossy or matte finish. You might also run into perforated paper or adhesive-backed paper to turn your photo booth prints into stickers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our best advice is to research the cost of paper and dye kits before you purchase any printer<\/strong>. After all, print media is how printer companies have traditionally made most of their profits, and you might be buying a lot of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some printers will have third-party options available at a lower cost, but most often with speciality photo booth printers, you’ll be restricted to paper and dye made by the printer manufacturer. We\u2019ll include links to kits whenever possible in our photo booth printer recommendations below.
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FURTHER READING: <\/strong>How Can I Print With A Dye Sublimation Printer?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dye sublimation printers are known for quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like with any type of printer, the quality of the prints they are capable of printing depends a lot on the model. As a whole, dye sublimation printers are regarded for producing excellent images\u2014as good or better than inkjet printers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Printed
Participants enjoy the quality of dye sublimation prints at an event<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The minimum print resolution for all the models on our list is 300dpi and there are some models that can print even higher resolutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that higher resolution prints on inkjet printers can result in a slower print time and higher ink consumption. There are very few situations where a 300dpi resolution would not be sufficient for a photo booth printer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wired and wireless connections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How your printer connects to your photo booth software is an important consideration for the best photo booth printer to suit your needs. When printing from mobile devices like an iPad, the easiest way to connect your photo booth to a printer is a wireless connection via AirPrint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\nDon’t be fooled by printer wireless jargon\n<\/p>\n<\/p>Some printers advertise that they are “wireless-enabled” or “compatible with iPad” but only work with the printer manufacturer\u2019s apps and are not actually AirPrint compatible. That’s a problem because you’ll need to print from a photo booth app, not their proprietary app.\n<\/p>\nLearn More<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

The problem is, most dye sublimation printers do not support AirPrint out of the box. In fact, none of the printers on our list support AirPrint natively. You will need additional software and a computer to use a dye sublimation printer with your iPad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is, we\u2019ve done all the research and have a relatively simple way to make it work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using wireless print server software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"printopia
Printopia software running on a MacBook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you have a dye sublimation printer (excluding the Canon SELPHY CP1300) you will need to use software to set up a wireless print server. This requires plugging the printer into a computer that is running wireless server software during your photo booth activation.
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We recommend a couple of programs you can use. Both of these programs include a free trial. We encourage you to test with your printer before making any purchases:
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