I have used a few different mini photo printers over the years and they’ve all been…fine. But when my most recent HP Sprocket wasn’t working properly, I decided it was time to see what new technology was available. Keep reading to see what I think might be the best mini photo printer for journaling:
Photo Printer Search Criteria
The main things I was looking for when I started researching a new photo printer were: photo quality, printer size and refill costs.
First and foremost, I wanted to see an improvement in photo quality. My current HP Sprocket photos were good. I usually printed out a collage of many photos on the 2×3″ paper and then cut them out, so the detail on my images was never super clear. And that was fine because I was just using them in my planner. But after 9 years with the Sprocket, surely technology had improved.
I also wanted my new photo printer to be small and portable. I had heard of the great quality prints from the Canon Selphy CP1500, but it’s too big to travel with and I don’t have anywhere to store it when not in use. Ideally, the new printer would be around the same size as my current Sprocket.
And finally, I wanted to find a printer that I could easily get new paper refills at a good price. The HP Sprocket uses ZINK paper and I could reliably find a good deal for less than $.50 per sheet.
Liene Pearl N200 Photo Printer
The Liene Pearl N200 Pro meets all my criteria and I am super happy with it. The bundle came with the printer and 5 packs of paper/ink cartridges. I got the purple color and there is also a gold color option.
Photo Quality
I chose this printer because it uses thermal dye sublimation instead of using ZINK paper for super clear, crisp prints and vibrant colors. Like I mentioned, I’m always making little collages and cutting them out. But even with my tiny pictures, I can still see a huge quality improvement in color and clarity.
Printing
The app is really easy to connect via bluetooth and then print your photos. I really like how the framing is really accurate. With my HP Sprocket, I used to frame up my photo and print, only to discover that some details had been cut out of frame. This Liene printer prints exactly how it shows in the app.
Size + Sticker Prints
This printer is super portable and I recently took it on vacation without any issues. I loved being able to basically live journal the days. I carried it in my delfonics zip pouch with some other journaling items and everything fit perfectly.
I love how bright and vibrant the Liene photos are, but what I particularly like for journaling is how thin the prints are. The photos on my Sprocket’s ZINK paper were really thick and I had no idea until I saw how thin the Liene prints are. I love that for reducing bulk and keeping my Hobonichi Weeks feeling thin.
The sticker paper is sticky and stays firmly in my Hobonichi Weeks. You can reposition the sticker if you barely placed it in; it won’t rip the paper. But once you press the sticker down, it’s stuck for good.
Refills
The Liene Pearl came with paper and ink cartridges for 50 prints. But looking online, you can easily get 50-print refill kits as well. I hadn’t heard of Liene before and I was a little worried that I would be stuck with a printer brick if they discontinued the ink refills. But it seems that this particular printer has been out for a little while, so I felt a little more confident. But ultimately, I will buy a couple refill packs as stash just in case it gets discontinued.
Extra Bonus
The Liene Pearl N200 Pro uses usb-c to charge which is great because I always have a cable handy. Although so far I’ve only charged the printer once and the battery is still going strong. You can make collages and add frames or filters in-app. I don’t use those features as much for my journaling style, but I am happy to have the option.
To get the most out of each photo sheet, I use an app like procreate or union to create a collage with maybe 6 – 8 photos. Then I just cut the pictures out with scissors and stick them in my planner. I like maximizing the number of pictures per print and how small the cut out photos are.
Overall Thoughts
I am super happy with my photo printer upgrade. The Liene printer has great photo quality, is portable and easy to store, and the refills are easily accessible and affordable. I definitely recommend it if you’ve been looking for an easy way to add photos to your planner/journal.
I hope this review was helpful for you if you’re making a decision on getting a portable photo printer!
