There’s a unique magic to holding a physical photograph. In an age of endless digital clouds and fleeting social media stories, the tangible print from a Canon SELPHY printer feels permanent, real. I remember the first event I took my SELPHY CP1300 to—a close friend’s backyard wedding. I was the unofficial photo booth operator, printing candid shots for guests to take home. But as I packed up, I found myself carefully wrapping the printer, its power brick, and the precious paper tray in sweaters, tucking them into my backpack and praying nothing would shift, crack, or scratch. The investment in such a fantastic little printer felt vulnerable, exposed to the chaos of travel. This is the exact problem that leads people to search for a dedicated protective solution, a bespoke fortress to guard their memory-making machine. The risk of a damaged printer, a cracked paper tray, or ruined photo paper isn’t just a financial loss; it’s a creative one.
- co2CREA hard compact photo printer travel case replacement for Canon SELPHY CP1500 wireless compact printer or SELPHY CP1300 wireless compact photo printer...
- This Canon SELPHY printer protection case perfect fit your Canon SELPHY CP1500 ink and paper compact printer or SELPHY CP1300 wireless compact photo...
What to Consider Before Buying a Case for Your Portable Photo Printer
A protective case for a portable photo printer is more than just a box; it’s a key solution for ensuring longevity, organization, and peace of mind. For photographers, event planners, scrapbookers, and families who love to print on the go, these cases transform a delicate piece of electronics into a rugged, travel-ready companion. The main benefit is comprehensive protection from drops, dust, and moisture, but a well-designed case also serves as an all-in-one organizational hub, keeping your printer, power supply, ink, and paper neatly arranged and ready for action at a moment’s notice.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who frequently transports their Canon SELPHY printer—whether to client sites, family gatherings, vacation spots, or crafting events. They value organization and want to minimize setup time by having everything in one place. However, it might not be the best fit for someone whose printer remains stationary on a desk 99% of the time. For those users, a simple dust cover might suffice. If you’re looking for a solution that combines the printer and protection in one, you might consider all-in-one instant printers that are inherently more ruggedized, though they often sacrifice the superior print quality of the SELPHY’s dye-sublimation technology.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: A great case should have a custom-molded interior that fits the printer like a glove, preventing it from shifting during transit. Check the internal dimensions to ensure there are dedicated, properly-sized compartments for essential accessories like the power adapter, cables, and, most importantly, the paper tray. A case that’s too large allows for movement and potential damage, while one that’s too small creates a frustrating puzzle every time you pack up.
- Capacity/Performance: Look beyond just fitting the printer. How much extra capacity does the case offer? A superior case will have space for multiple ink cartridges and several packs of photo paper. The performance of the case is defined by its organizational efficiency—can you store everything you need for a weekend trip or a full event without needing a separate bag for your supplies?
- Materials & Durability: The exterior material is paramount. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is the gold standard for hard-shell cases, offering an excellent balance of rigidity, shock absorption, and light weight. It’s significantly more protective than a soft neoprene or fabric case. The interior lining is just as important; look for a soft, anti-static, or velvet-like material that won’t scratch the glossy finish of your printer.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features like a sturdy, comfortable handle and a smooth, reliable zipper drastically improve the user experience. A double zipper is often more convenient. For maintenance, a case with a water-resistant EVA exterior can be easily wiped clean, ensuring it looks professional for years to come.
Keeping these factors in mind, the co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer is an excellent choice for protecting your investment, it’s always wise to see what printing technologies are leading the market. For a broader look at all the top models that don’t require a separate case, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- User-Friendly Portable Photo Printer for iPhone, Android & PC - Get beautiful and colourful memories with Liene 4x6 photo printer! After opening the entire...
- Easy to use; Connect to the Kodak Photo Printer app via Bluetooth on your Android or iOS device and enjoy printing instantly your favorite snaps at home,...
- Print and customize your photos directly from your smartphone devices via the Canon Mini Print App.(1)
First Impressions and Key Features
Upon receiving the co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer, the first thing we noticed was its satisfying rigidity. There’s no flex or give to the EVA shell, immediately inspiring confidence. It feels substantial without being overly heavy. Unzipping the case revealed a surprisingly plush interior. The soft, dark grey, anti-static lining is a thoughtful touch, designed to coddle the printer and prevent micro-scratches. The case is divided into two main sections: one perfectly molded cavity for the SELPHY printer itself, and another, slightly smaller cavity for the power brick and cord. A central divider protects the printer from its accessories, and the lid features a large mesh pocket secured by an elastic band. There’s a faint, typical “new case” smell, but it’s not overpowering and dissipated within a day. Compared to generic camera bags or pouches, the custom-molded nature of this case feels like a bespoke suit tailored specifically for the SELPHY line, a significant step up in both form and function.
Advantages
- Excellent hard-shell EVA protection against drops and impacts.
- Custom-molded interior fits the printer and power adapter perfectly.
- Soft, anti-scratch interior lining safeguards the printer’s finish.
- Sufficient space for printer, power supply, and multiple packs of ink/paper.
Drawbacks
- Major design flaw in handle placement causes contents of the mesh pocket to fall out.
- Dedicated accessory compartment is slightly too small to hold the paper tray.
Deep Dive: Performance Under Pressure
A case is more than its spec sheet; it’s about how it performs in the real world. We put the co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer through its paces, using it as our primary transport and storage solution for a Canon SELPHY CP1500 over several weeks, taking it to family events and on a weekend road trip. Our in-depth analysis focuses on three core pillars of its performance: protection, organization, and portability.
Uncompromising Protection: A Fortress for Your SELPHY
The primary job of any case is to protect its contents, and in this regard, the co2CREA case excels. The hard EVA exterior is the hero here. We didn’t intentionally throw it down a flight of stairs, but it endured the bumps and jostles of being packed in a car trunk with luggage and other gear without showing a single scuff. On one occasion, a bag was inadvertently placed on top of it, and the rigid shell didn’t deform in the slightest, shielding the printer within. The manufacturer claims it is shockproof, dustproof, and water-resistant, and our experience supports this. While we wouldn’t submerge it, it easily repelled a light drizzle we got caught in while moving from the car to a venue, with the contents remaining perfectly dry.
The interior is just as crucial. The velvet-like, anti-static lining is exceptionally soft to the touch. Placing the printer inside feels secure, and the custom molding prevents any wiggling or shifting. Over weeks of use, we observed no new scratches or marks on our printer, a testament to the lining’s quality. This was a sentiment echoed by numerous users who praised the lining for keeping their printer in pristine condition. The dual-zipper system feels robust and operates smoothly, closing tightly to create a seal that effectively keeps out dust. For pure, unadulterated protection during storage or transport, this case performs at the highest level, giving us absolute confidence that our expensive printer was safe from harm.
A Place for Everything: Internal Layout and Organization
A well-organized case is a joy to use, and the co2CREA case gets it about 80% right. The main compartment is intelligently designed. The SELPHY printer (we tested with a CP1500, but it’s compatible with the CP1300 and CP1200 as well) slides into its form-fitted slot with satisfying precision. The adjacent compartment is perfectly sized for the bulky power brick and its two-part cable. As one user noted, you do have to take the cord apart for it to fit neatly, but once you do, it’s snug and secure. We found we could also tuck two or three spare ink cartridges alongside the power adapter with some careful arrangement, which is a fantastic bonus for extended printing sessions.
The lid’s mesh pocket is where the organizational story becomes more complex. It’s spacious and clearly intended for the paper tray and flat packs of photo paper. We could comfortably fit the standard paper tray, a full pack of paper, and another spare pack. This “all-in-one” capability is a massive selling point, and many owners celebrate that everything—the printer, power, battery, paper tray, and supplies—can fit inside. The ability to grab a single, compact case and know you have everything needed to start printing is incredibly convenient. The organization, when the case is laid flat and open, is logical and efficient. However, this perfectly laid plan unravels the moment you engage with the case’s primary portability feature.
The Achilles’ Heel: A Critical Look at Portability and a Major Design Flaw
Here we arrive at the single most significant issue with the co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer, a flaw so fundamental it’s baffling how it made it through the design phase. The comfortable, rubberized handle is placed on the hinge side of the case. When you lay the case flat, with the “co2CREA” logo facing up, you place the printer in the bottom half and the paper tray and paper packs in the mesh pocket of the lid. You then zip it closed and pick it up by the handle. The result? The case is now oriented vertically, with the lid (and its mesh pocket) at the bottom. The open-topped mesh pocket, secured only by a loose elastic band, immediately dumps its entire contents.
We tested this repeatedly, and it happened every single time. The heavy plastic paper tray slides right out and crashes down onto the body of the printer below. This is the exact scenario one user review warned about, and our first-hand testing confirmed it’s not an exaggeration. It is a critical design flaw. Having the very accessory meant to protect your printer cause potential scratches and damage is deeply ironic and frustrating. If the handle were simply placed on the opposite side (the front opening), the case would carry like a briefcase, the mesh pocket would be at the top, and gravity would keep everything securely in place.
Is there a workaround? Yes. You can consciously remember to carry the case like a book, ignoring the handle entirely. Or, as we started doing, you can place the paper and tray under the elastic band first, then wedge the printer’s power cord over them to create a makeshift barrier. Another user mentioned putting paper supplies *under* the printer in its cavity, which is possible but not ideal. Ultimately, you shouldn’t have to devise a life hack to compensate for a poor design. For those who will primarily use this for home storage, it’s a non-issue. But for anyone buying it for its portability and relying on that handle, it’s a major drawback that mars an otherwise excellent product. For this reason alone, while the protection is top-tier, we’d advise potential buyers to carefully consider how they plan to carry the case before purchasing.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our findings align closely with the consensus from the user community. The vast majority of owners praise the co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer for its sturdy construction and perfect fit. Comments like “Just as described. Canon printer fits perfectly,” and “Great hard protective case and everything fits well” are common, reinforcing our positive assessment of its protective qualities. Many users, particularly those from Italy and France, highlight the quality of the materials, with one noting the “interior is lined in velvet-like fabric, so as not to ruin what you insert.”
However, the critical design flaw we identified is not an isolated observation. The most detailed negative review pinpoints the exact same problem: “If the handle was on the opposite side of the case the design would work…If you put the paper tray in the mesh pocket like the picture shows, it falls out when you pick up the case by the handle. When it falls out it can scratch the printer.” This shared experience confirms it is a universal issue with the product’s design, not a one-off defect. A few outlier reports mentioned quality control problems, such as one case arriving with a stain and another, more disturbingly, with dead bugs inside, but these seem to be rare exceptions in shipping and handling rather than a widespread product fault.
Alternatives to the co2CREA Hard Case Ecosystem
Reviewing a case for the Canon SELPHY prompts a broader question: is a component-based system the right choice for you, or would an all-in-one portable printer be a better fit? If you’re not yet committed to the SELPHY or are exploring other options, here are three excellent alternatives that offer different experiences.
1. Fujifilm Instax Mini Link2 Smartphone Printer Bundle
- Bundle Includes: Fujifilm Instax Mini Link2 Instant Smartphone Printer (Soft Pink), and 2 x Fujifilm Instax Mini Twin Film Pack (20 Exposures)
- Instax Mini Link 2 Smartphone Printer: Connects wirelessly in a simple, yet super fun way. Connect to your Smartphone via the free downloadable Instax Mini...
If your priority is fun, spontaneity, and a classic instant-film aesthetic, the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link2 is a world away from the SELPHY. This printer is incredibly compact and uses real Instax Mini film, producing those iconic credit-card-sized prints with the white border. It’s less about perfect color accuracy and more about capturing a moment with a charming, retro vibe. Its app is loaded with creative features like adding doodles or video via QR codes (instaxAiR™). This is the perfect choice for parties, social gatherings, and anyone who loves the tangible, immediate magic of an instant photo over the clinical perfection of a digital print. It’s a completely different tool for a different kind of memory-making.
2. KODAK Dock Premium 4×6″ Photo Printer 120 Sheets
- PRINT YOUR MEMORIES: Print your favorite pics instantly from your mobile devices! Using a reliable and stable Bluetooth connection, this instant photo...
- STELLAR PHOTO QUALITY: 4Pass Technology to print flawless photos instantly. Each photo is printed in layers of ribbon with a laminating process so it’s...
The KODAK Dock Premium is the most direct competitor to the Canon SELPHY itself. Like the SELPHY, it produces high-quality, 4×6-inch prints using dye-sublimation (4Pass) technology, which includes a laminating overcoat to protect against fingerprints and water. Its key differentiator is the docking feature, allowing you to place your phone directly on the printer to print. Bundles like this one, which include 120 sheets of paper, offer significant upfront value. If you’re looking for the same print quality and size as the SELPHY but prefer the KODAK ecosystem or find a better value in their bundles, this is the alternative printer to consider.
3. Lifeprint Ultra Slim Portable Photo Printer
- POWERFUL ON-THE-GO DESIGN | At Just 19mm Thick, This Ultra Slim, Sleek, Portable Bluetooth Printer Brings Your iPhone & Android Pics to Life! | Take it...
- HIGH QUALITY 2” X 3” PRINTS | Print Stunning HD Images—Full Color, Beautiful Contrast, Impeccable Detail | Uses ZINK 2”x3” Sticky-Backed Paper...
Lifeprint carves out a unique niche by blending the digital and physical worlds. This ultra-slim printer uses 2×3-inch ZINK (Zero Ink) paper, which has a sticky back, making the prints instant stickers. Its standout feature is “Hyperphoto,” an augmented reality technology that lets you embed a video within a photo. When you view the print through the Lifeprint app, it comes to life and plays the video. This is a powerful tool for social media enthusiasts, vloggers, and anyone who wants to create a truly interactive and shareable physical object. It prioritizes innovation and digital integration over the pure print fidelity of a dye-sub printer like the SELPHY.
The Final Verdict: Excellent Protection with a Puzzling Flaw
The co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer is a product of contradictions. On one hand, it offers exceptional, confidence-inspiring protection. The rigid EVA shell and plush interior lining create a veritable safe room for your valuable printer, and the custom-molded compartments provide fantastic organization for the printer and its power supply. For this purpose alone, it is a resounding success. On the other hand, it is hamstrung by a bafflingly poor design choice in its handle placement, which undermines its portability and can lead to the very damage it’s meant to prevent.
So, who is this case for? We can strongly recommend it for SELPHY owners who need a robust, all-in-one storage solution for at home, keeping everything dust-free and organized in a closet. We also recommend it for travelers who are aware of the handle flaw and are willing to carry the case without using it, prioritizing the superb protection over convenience. If you want a grab-and-go case to carry by the handle to events, this might cause more frustration than it’s worth unless you devise your own packing method. It’s an almost-perfect product, a 9/10 for protection and a 4/10 for portable design, averaging out to a solid but conditional recommendation.
If you’ve decided the robust protection of the co2CREA Hard Case for Canon SELPHY CP1500 Photo Printer is the right fit for your needs, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API