When starting to shop for a Canon printer, your first big decision is whether to choose an inkjet printer or a laser printer. The main difference between an inkjet and laser printer is how the image is created. Whether your printer uses ink or toner depends on the type. Inkjet models use liquid ink—or a combination of inks—while laser printers use toner—a dry material.

Laser printers are fast and efficient for large printing jobs, but inkjet printers are generally superior at printing images, particularly photographs. This is why you will find more color inkjet printers and more black-and-white-only laser printers.

If printing photos is something you do regularly, then you will likely want to shop for a photo printer within the inkjet category. Canon photo printers are some of the best photo printers available, which makes sense given that Canon began as a company by making cameras.

Wired printers will physically connect to your computer with a USB cable. You can place it near your computer on a large desk or a nearby surface. Wireless printers, alternatively, can be placed just about anywhere as long as they are on the wireless network you are using. This makes wireless printers easy to use if you want to print photos from a phone or a tablet. You can even find portable printer models.

When shopping for printer paper, consider keeping a range of options on hand. Plain multipurpose paper is great for casual printing. It is good to have something a little heavier for printing resumes, cover letters, invitations or presentation packets. For pictures, the obvious choice is Canon photo paper.

It’s also best to have extra ink or toner in case you run out, but keep in mind that printer ink can dry out over time if it goes unused.