Inkjet and laser jet systems have been around since the early 1980s. Both systems are unique in their ways but both have their upsides and downsides to what they can do. Inkjet printers are variable printers that are capable of printing with many types of liquid-based agents. The most common liquid that is used with inkjet is ink. With 3D printers that use inkjet cartridges, instead of ink a binding agent which binds the powdered materials together one layer at a time to create a 3D object is used. 

Inkjet printers operate on the basic principle when water boils it makes bubbles. Within the printing head of an inkjet cartridge, microscopic channels are etched into the plate containing circuitry for running the printer head. At the very end of these channels, there is a tiny heating element that heats the liquid ink making a microscopic bubble of steam. This bubble of steam pushes a tiny amount of ink through the nozzle that was etched into the circuitry and is forced out through a hole. Once the microscopic bubble of steam pops, dispensing the ink, more ink is drawn into the nozzle filling in the space of the previous droplet of ink. Then the nozzle is ready to be used again. Most inkjet models use four primary colors CMYK or (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black ). Sometimes depending on the printer additional kinds of inks can be added such as a matt finish which can go on top of the previous layer of inks. CMYK is used in conventional off-the-shelf printers.  Most inks are water soluble, meaning once the ink is dry it will not smudge but if moistened a smudge may appear. 

Laserjet on the other hand is a different kind of electronic printing process. The first paper is pulled onto a photoreceptor drum where it is given a negative charge. The printer uses a laser, set at a certain light wavelength with laser-sensitive powder held in a toner cartridge. The cartridge that holds the laser-sensitive powder dispenses a super fine layer of powder on the paper which is held onto the paper by a static cling applied with a toner roller. The laser is controlled by the computer to shine the laser onto the areas where the powder is wanted then the powder sticks to the paper. A special heated roller called a fuser which fuses the toner powder to the paper and the toner powder is drawn away by something called a corona wire which discharges the static electricity. The powder when cured is almost like plastic. This is a useful trait because it makes anything that is printed waterproof as well as smudge-resistant. This is excellent for items that are exposed to environments that would have a lot of water. Laserjet is capable of printing in color using the same CMYK colors as inkjet. Laserjet is also capable of printing much faster because there are far fewer moving parts to run the paper through. 

Both of these printing processes can print on a wide range of materials but mainly for the average consumer, it will be paper-based stock. Such stock includes standard 8″ by 11″ paper. Both systems can print on plastic or other flat materials as well, depending on what kind of ink or powder is used.