The convenience of digital cameras and cameraphones means we've never taken more photos than we do now. But few of us print the results of our photographic endeavours, leaving images languishing on hard drives and discs. This is a shame, because photo printers are now affordable to buy and use, and offer additional features that will benefit all computer users.

The term 'photo printer' can cover a variety of product types, from dedicated devices that only produce prints of digital photos, to high-end inkjets that handle text jobs too. Dedicated photo printers often have special inks that are designed to last a long time without fading. Such supplies can be expensive, too - particularly when a higher-priced inkjet printer will do a decent job on photos. Even some laser printers work well with photos, although inkjets still tend to fare better when used with dedicated photo paper, and colour lasers aimed at camera enthusiasts are pricey.

Over the following pages, we review three single-function and five multifunction printers. Multifunction printers can scan and copy as well as print. A few can also handle faxing, although this generally suggests that such a model is aimed at businesses, and may not be great with photos.

Scanning is a useful feature for the dedicated photo fan, and it rarely adds more than £20 to £40 to the price. Some manufacturers focus almost entirely on multifunction printers, so it may be that the best model for you has scanning capabilities anyway.