Of the various types of short-run printers, most common is inkjet. Nozzles spray tiny droplets of ink to produce near photographic quality. Factors contributing to optimum fidelity and duration include ink and paper properties. Printers can include a unified color ink cartridge or individual cartridges for three to 12 hues.
UV inks are more resistant to fading when exposed to sunlight. The ink for many printers is water based so must be protected from moisture. Archival matte papers with high rag content are more enduring than glossy photo papers for framing. Some papers absorb and encapsulate ink below the surface to increase water resistance.
Ink is more expensive than other printing methods and the manner in which it is placed on the page can be time consuming. Depending on dimensions of desired output, inkjet printing is best suited for single-sided quantities under a few dozen. For example, 40 to 50 posters at 24" x 36" can cost about the same as 1,000 printed offset. However, if all that is desired is a three at that size, offset printing can cost 18 times more.
Other factors determine ideal printing method. Larger dimensions may exceed press capacity. Roll-fed inkjet printers can print a single image in excess of five feet wide by 40 feet long. Printing on paper, vinyl, fabric and other materials is possible. Such advantages can favor inkjet above other output choices.
Because desktop inkjet printers are so popular, many may not fully appreciate the value of outsourcing such printing needs. See the article, "How Much Is that Printer In the Window?" and "How durable is output?"