Sell Photo Printing On the Go with Portable and Cloud-Ready Printers

Cool compact, connected, these engaging devices create tangible keepsakes, and technology is moving them in exciting directions.

If there is any photo accessory that can win friends, it’s the portable photo printer. These cute, compact critters are the ideal answer to that age-old admonition, “I never see all of those pictures you’re always taking.”

Rather than asking tech-challenged grandma to log onto her computer to see the latest pictures of Jack’s soccer goal or Sara’s baby, your customers can simply take their printers with them and hand out prints—instantly. Think of it as a 21st century version of the classic Polaroid print, or a great gift that is, in effect, a more permanent form of social interaction.

With recent developments in wireless connectivity—Google Cloud Print (GCP), Apple AirPrint and GCP-ready printers like Kodak’s Hero All in Ones and HP’s e-AiO units—users don’t even need to take the printer with them; they can print remotely using various apps and Wi-Fi enabled devices without the need for drivers or a PC connection.

In other words, consumers can now send prints directly to a full-size printer located at grandma’s house or practically anyplace, almost instantly, and they’re not limited by the capacity or print sizes offered by compact portable units.

                            TAKE-ALONG COMPACT PRINTERS
Portable printers have sold steadily for years, and the original concept is pretty straightforward—a lightweight, compact, dye-sublimation printer that turns out high-quality 4x6 prints in under a minute, can operate on batteries or AC for printing in the field or at outside events, and has a small LCD for previewing the images.

Typically a portable unit prints images off a USB-connected computer or other device, or by inserting a memory card into its built-in multi-slot card reader. The idea is to take it along to events, sports matches, etc., and hand everyone instant prints of your best shots.

Technology has increased the appeal of portable photo printers on several fronts. The latest dye-sub prints are far more archival than those of even a few years ago. Canon claims that prints from its Selphy CP800 compact photo printer will last “at least 100 years,” and Epson asserts that prints from its Epson PM 225 Charm are “fade resistant up to 200 years.” They’re fast too—the Canon turns out a 4x6 print in 47 sec, and the larger, heavier Epson can do so in a claimed 37 sec.

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