Background and Identification

The HP Photosmart is a brand of inkjet printers produced by Hewlett-Packard. Note that “Photosmart” is also the name of a line of HP digital cameras. This page is for HP’s line of consumer-based photo printers under the “Photosmart” name.

Inkjet printing recreates a digital image by propelling droplets of ink onto paper and plastic substrates. Inkjet printing technology was developed mainly during the 1950s, and the first inkjet printer was developed by Ichiro Endo for Canon. In the 1970s, Epson and Hewlett-Packard developed inkjet printers that could reproduce digital images generated by computers. Canon, HP, Epson, and Brother account for the majority of inkjet printer sales in the worldwide consumer market. Inkjet printers are the most common type of printer. HP produced its first inkjet printer (the HP Thinkjet) in 1984.

The HP Photosmart line includes some compact photo printers but mainly features color inkjet printers. Some Photosmart printers include all-in-one capabilities meaning that the printer can print, scan, and copy documents and photos.

HP printers can be identified by the HP logo, which includes the name “HP” in lowercase font inside of a circle. Photosmart printers often include the name “Photosmart” and the model name or number in the upper left-hand corner of the printer’s front face.

Additional Information