Depending upon whether that ink is dye or pigment-based, the ink may change the color of the paper, or simply dry as a deposit on the surface of the paper. It prints by putting microscopic drops of ink onto the paper. Inkjets rely on liquid ink, deposited onto the page through a print head that uses dozens of micro-nozzles. While the most basic definition of printing is the same across both inkjet and laser printers – putting letters and images onto paper – the two methods achieve this result in very different ways. Printing technology basics: Inkjet vs laser Without the need for various internal drums and rollers, inkjet printers can offer full-page printing with a much smaller footprint than most laser printers, even while offering copy and scanning capabilities. However, there are more and more inkjet printers being sold with refillable tanks that can offer similarly affordable printing, provided you're willing to pay more upfront. Toner is incredibly cheap on a per-page basis, and won't dry out like old ink cartridges might. Laser printers usually have the lowest cost per page.

Laser printer test sheet