Brother ColAura Color Photo and Label Printer,White

When we first heard about this--and saw the footprint, I felt like I was missing something, as between the comparatively small size (somewhere between the size of Big Mac & Double Big Mac) and lack of complicated control panel, this isn’t what comes to mind when you think “full color, photo quality printer”. Now that we’ve spent the better part of today putting this through its paces, it’s all clear--and very cool. First, this is one of those ZINK photo printers so it prints photo quality without toner or ink. Unlike other color printers, with Zink all the “color” is in the paper--not sure what that means or how it works, but I don't know how a 747 stays up in the air either and that doesn't stop me from getting on a plane. Anyway, in terms of easy both using it and getting it to work & play well with wifi etc, this reminded me a lot my Brother PC labeler, except;This prints full color, photo quality labels from my phone as well --which is great for on site tweaks as it means I don't have to boot up my laptopThis prints those photo labels up to just about a foot and a half long (and depending which tape you use up to 2” wide)--which comes in handy as we create experiential POS for retail and trade show exhibits--and as of 3 months ago, the on-premise ‘presence’ for certain liquor brands--all “highly rectangular” stuff (shelf talkers, table tents, booth signage) that needs lots of rounds of testing & (on location) fine tuning-- that always needs to look like the final finished printed piece. Until now we’ve been spending a small fortune on getting this done -- and that’s without the rush charges--This not only fits in my laptop messenger bag It even prints those ZINK labels pre-scored so peeling off the adhesive back is easy and doesn't take its toll on your nails, teeth...or the label. The PC interface also has pretty much the same options as our existing P-touch so multiple prints and all those other handy features are there. If you’re looking to print 8x10 or 5x7 or 3x5 prints--- stick with your whatever, though if you’re like us, and need a photo quality (aka “professional” quality) full color printer, between the VC500W’s Zink-based, print quality, the compact size, and the same hassle-free easiness as our P-touch labeler, this is our new MVP Most Valuable Printer.

Wow! Don’t waste your money on any other sticker printer that you want to print in color! I bought a few different printers to do crafts with my daughters and I didn’t like any of them. I bought this as an upgrade, even though it wasn’t that much more expensive and I love it! Printer quality is top-notch. I have had no issues with connecting and printing from my cell phone and my tablet!!! That was a big issue with the other printers I had, they would they would freeze up. This one does not freeze up! I don’t write many reviews, but I felt I needed to for this device because it is so cool! It’s making the crafting easy and fun and instead of focusing on trying to work the printer we are focusing on the crafts!! Worth it!!

This printer falls short of the hype.1) Labels are not water resistant and run easily, even just a wet finger will smudge the label.2) Colors are not true. Blue seems to be the most challenging.3) Refills are crazy expensive and I've had the machine chew up almost whole reels.4) Not very sticky, even on flat clean surfaces.

I watched a review on youtube before buying it and the video showed a pixelated text and not great image quality. Not sure what they were doing but the one I have prints HQ text with great image quality. It is not professional portrait image quality but it is pretty great for mysterious magic paper. Recommended for the price.

The Brother ColAura is a fascinating addition to my crafting arsenal, blending technology and creativity in a way that truly enhances my projects. Its innovative approach to crafting and the quality of output it produces deserves commendation. However, there's a slight caveat that prevents me from giving it a perfect score: the limited selection of templates available.The device itself is a marvel of engineering, offering crisp, vibrant colors and a user-friendly interface that makes crafting both enjoyable and efficient. Whether for personal projects or professional designs, the ColAura brings a level of precision and versatility that is hard to match. Its ability to seamlessly integrate into various crafting endeavors is a testament to Brother's commitment to quality and innovation.However, the area where the ColAura falls short is in its template library. For a device that holds so much potential, the limited range of templates feels like a missed opportunity. More diverse templates would not only enhance the user experience but also unlock new creative possibilities, catering to a wider range of styles and preferences.Despite this shortcoming, the Brother ColAura remains a standout product. Its performance is reliable, and the quality of work it produces is consistently high. The ease of use and the quality of the final product it delivers are commendable. It's a product that, with a few enhancements to its template library, could easily become indispensable to crafters of all levels.In conclusion, I award the Brother ColAura 4 stars. It's a product that offers a lot of promise and delivers on many fronts. With an expanded selection of templates, I believe it could easily become a 5-star staple in the crafting community. For anyone looking to elevate their crafting projects with a touch of technology, the ColAura is a worthy investment, albeit with a small area ripe for improvement.