| Undeniably, photo prints still remain the
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| | device can create on a page per square
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| most popular way of sharing memories.
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| | inch of area. For crisp, colourful,
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| With the right printer and a handful of
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| | professional-looking prints, you should
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| simple techniques, your pictures can look
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| | choose a printer with at least 600 x 600
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| as sharp as the lab-processed ones. Read
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| | dpi. Otherwise, your photos may turn out
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| on for some great tips for getting the
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| | pixilated (objects will appear jagged and
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| best prints possible.
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| | speckled).
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| Start with a Good Image The first thing
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| | Printer Drivers Printer drivers play the
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| you need to get a good print - a
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| | role of translators, acting as a medium
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| high-quality image. An image that merely
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| | of communication between your printer and
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| looks good onscreen is not enough. Here's
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| | computer. To help fix problems and bring
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| what a good image file would have:
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| | significant performance improvements, it
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| Good Resolution Resolution refers to the
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| | is important to use the most current
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| number of pixels in an image {usually
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| | version available for your printer.
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| stated in dpi (dots per inch) or PPI
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| | Printer manufacturers regularly update
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| (pixels per inch).}. The more pixels a
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| | drivers, and you can download new
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| photo has, the more clarity and detail it
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| | versions for free from the company's
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| will retain as you increase its
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| | website.
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| dimensions. Resolution can also be
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| | Resolution Settings Refer to your
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| expressed by the width and height of the
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| | printer's manual to learn how to change
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| image, and the total number of pixels it
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| | quality settings. Usually, you would want
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| contains. For example, an image that is
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| | 'best quality' resolution for photos;
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| 1500 pixels wide and 2100 pixels high
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| | however, for wallet-size prints, 'normal'
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| (1500 x 2100) contains 3,150,000
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| | resolution may be enough. Experiment with
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| pixels-or almost 3.2 mega pixels.
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| | your printer settings to see which ones
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| Most digital cameras offer a variety of
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| | give you satisfactory results.
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| resolution settings. It's a good idea to
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| | Paper Settings Paper settings control
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| use a higher-quality setting if you plan
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| | the amount of ink that is laid down on
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| on printing large sized pictures. Here
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| | paper; therefore, using the setting that
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| are some general guidelines: Less than
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| | matches your photo paper is essential to
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| 640 x 480 pixels = Wallet-size prints.
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| | making good prints. When you find a
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| Good for E-mailing to friends , picture
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| | setting that works best for a particular
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| displays on the refrigerator etc. 640 x
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| | paper type, make note of it so you will
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| 480 pixels = 4" x 6" photo prints. These
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| | be able to get the same results when you
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| are going to be best for photo albums,
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| | use that paper again.
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| General usage including craft projects
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| | Clean and Clear Running the 'clean'
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| (scrapbooks, stickers, etc). 1152 x 864
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| | function in your printer every two to
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| pixels = 5" x 7" photo prints. These are
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| | three months improves print appearance
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| good for framing for home display,
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| | and prevents problems such as streaking
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| screensavers and photo greeting cards
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| | and clogging. You can access 'properties'
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| 1600 x 1200 pixels = 8" x 10" or larger.
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| | settings to perform maintenance actions
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| Good for framing, screensavers for home
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| | such as cleaning the printer nozzles and
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| or gallery display and photo calendars
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| | aligning the print head. Understand Your
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| Best Format Even if your image is high
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| | Ink and Paper Your choice of printing
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| resolution, you will still need to save
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| | supplies, such as paper and ink, can make
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| it in the correct file format: TIFF or
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| | the difference between a good print and a
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| JPEG. For best printing results, always
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| | great one.
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| save your pictures in the TIFF format
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| | Paper and Ink Selection Using Original
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| (example: my_friends.tiff). Although this
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| | Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supplies
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| format results in a slightly larger file
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| | would definitely assure you of the
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| size, it will produce the most
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| | quality but they come with a price.
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| satisfactory results. The JPEG format
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| | Nowadays, Canon and HP boast of inks that
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| (example: my_friends.jpg) is preferable
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| | deliver optimum colour and fade
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| for e-mailing photos as it results in
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| | resistance up to 110 years. Non-OEM
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| smaller, compressed files-ideal for
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| | supplies are definitely cheaper, but its
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| sending electronically.
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| | debatable whether they can achieve the
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| Quality Control Use a good image-editing
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| | same quality.
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| program to remove dust marks and specks
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| | Drying Time Before you frame a photo
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| on your photos. The printer will most
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| | print or add it to a scrapbook, be sure
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| definitely pick up imperfections even if
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| | to give it enough time to dry. Most OEM
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| they're very small. You can also use the
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| | inks and papers are designed to dry
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| sharpening option to more clearly define
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| | within an hour or so, but it is best to
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| the edges of objects in your print. Use
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| | allow the print to dry for about 24 hours
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| a Good Printer and Know How to Use it
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| | prior to framing or placing it in a photo
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| Once you are familiar with the features
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| | album. If you are printing multiple
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| and settings of your printer, you will be
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| | pictures, remove them from the printer
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| able to get the best possible results.
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| | slide as they come out and set them
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| Avoid DPI Dilemmas Dots per inch (dpi)
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| | aside. This will eliminate any chances of
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| is a measurement of print resolution that
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| | accidental smearing or running.
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| indicates the number of individual dots a
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