Continuous inkjet
CIJ prints from a distance onto almost anything, at very high speeds, with a wide range of inks. It needs ink and make-up fluid and periodic servicing, and its dot-matrix characters are functional rather than pretty.
Thermal inkjet
TIJ gives sharp, high-resolution print from a disposable cartridge with no maintenance. It needs a flat surface passing within a few millimetres, and its ink cost per print is higher for large messages.
Laser
Lasers have no consumables and produce permanent marks. The purchase price is higher, the material must respond to the wavelength, and fume extraction and guarding are required.
How to decide
List your substrates, speeds and environments. If the surface is curved or irregular, start with CIJ. If it is a flat carton and appearance matters, look at TIJ. If volumes are high and the material is laser-markable, compare lifetime cost with a laser.
