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