A photo impact printer is a type of printing press that slams itself into a material in order to transfer ink to it. Photo impact printers often have several features including the ability to start and stop the repetition, change the repetition speed, and recalibrate the machine. They are considered highly industrial and can be used to print shapes and text on virtually any material. While photo impact printers are rather reliable and efficient, their supply costs are high and they are high maintenance. As a result, photo impact printers are no longer used for the most part and more advanced technologies have replaced them.

How does a Photo Impact Printer Work?
A typical photo impact printer contains an ink tray/cartridge, insertion chamber, hammer, and other mechanisms that allow the user to print text and graphics onto a variety of items. Some photo impact printers may also contain photo editing software and can also be designed for engraving. A photo impact printer dips the “hammer” into the ink and slams itself on a material in order to print ink in the shape of a customized line of text or specific image on it. Engraving is performed in the same manner, but the image is simply cut into the material, not applied by ink. Photo impact printers vary drastically from one another and can incorporate silk screens, metal printing, and a wide variety of other features and mechanisms.

Current Applications
Photo impact printers are most commonly used for printing designs, logos, trademarks, engravings, pictures, and text onto jewelry, Zippo lighters, awards, cars, and virtually every other type of hard, portable surface. Photo impact printers can also be used to print t-shirts, corrugated plastic signs, etc. Although they have all these uses, digital laser printers and line matrix printers have practically replaced photo impact printers.

Advantages and Disadvantages
Photo impact printers have several advantages that others do not. For example, photo impact printers can print both text and graphics on virtually any surface, including metal and fabric, even if the object is curved or has an awkward shape. Photo impact printers provide a clear, crisp image and can even be used in engraving. However, photo impact printers have several critical disadvantages. For example, they are forceful and can damage some materials, particularly wood and glass. They are also messy and often need repair. Many persons in the printing industry once used photo impact printers, but they simply do not compare to more advanced technologies.