HP Photosmart 385 Printer

I received this printer as a gift. It is truly one of the best printers that I have ever had. For portability, ease of use and picture print quality I give it 5 stars.

This printer has many features. The best feature is that it is a standalone printer that does not require a PC or Mac in order to print the pictures. You can print pictures straight from a camera through the USB port or you can use a flash drive, or any type of SD card. This printer accepts all types of memory cards, even the older ones. You can hook it up to a computer if you want to but it is not necessary. The standalone feature makes it extremely portable. As long as you have access to an electrical outlet, you can print pictures. Taking this small, lightweight printer with you on family gatherings, parties, vacations or other special events is a breeze. I truly love how versatile and portable this printer is.

Picture quality is another feature that I love. The pictures that this camera prints out are great. They are the same quality that you would get from any good photo lab. My father often remarks on how great the color saturation and overall picture quality is. He is a professional photographer and graphic artist. I value his opinion.

There are options that you can use in order to edit and select your pictures prior to printing. You can do this right on the little screen using menu options. There are options to remove red-eye, rotate, crop, and control the picture quality. You can choose how many pictures to print or if you want multiple pictures per page, there is a feature that allows you to add borders. Overall, it is a versatile and high quality picture.

Paper and ink are always a concern with any printer. This printer takes standard 4x6 or 5x7 paper. Any brand of paper will work well; I personally prefer Fuji or HP. The ink cartridge is an all color cartridge. There is only one so when the ink runs low you have to replace it. The cartridges are readily available at any local office supply store or any place that sells HP ink. I do not recommend using refilled cartridges or generic cartridges if you want high quality pictures. You get a decent amount of pictures per cartridge. I have not taken an exact count, but I have only replaced the ink cartridge a couple of times and with a new grandchild, you bet I am printing out pictures fairly often. Pricing for the cartridges is reasonable. You can usually find a good deal online or at one of the larger warehouse stores like COSTCO, BJ's or Sam's Club.

For those of you who love to craft, this printer will accept 4x6 or 5x7 sheets of printable fabric. It will print out great quality photos or artwork onto one of these smaller sheets. It can also print on any fabric that you have treated to accept ink. All you have to do is to iron a piece of freezer paper to the reverse side of the treated fabric and cut it to a size that fits the printer. For quilters and other crafters, being able to do this without the computer can be a real pleasure, especially if your sewing and crafting area is not in the same room as the PC or Mac.

Overall, I love this printer. For ease of use, quality and versatility, you cannot beat it. It is a real workhorse.