Learn moreTen top tips for perfect photo printing
Photo printing - 10 easy steps for shots as sharp as the photo lab
With the right printer and a handful of simple techniques, your shots can look as sharp as photo lab pictures. Follow these 10 easy steps for perfect snaps everytime.
1. Good Resolution
Make sure you start with a good quality image. The standard unit of measurement for your picture's sharpness is dots per inch, or dpi. For good results, your image should be at least 240 dpi.
2. Best Format
Even if your image has a high resolution, you'll still need to save it in the correct format: TIFF or JPEG. The TIFF format gives the best printing results, whereas the JPEG format is preferable for e-mailing photos.
3. Quality Control
Use an image-editing program to get rid of annoying dust marks and specks on your photos.
4. Printer Specification
Choose a printer with at least four colours and 600 x 600 dpi. Otherwise, your photos may turn out pixelated (objects will have jagged edges). Some printers offer up to 4,800 x 1,200 dpi on premium photo paper.
5. Driver Settings
Always use the most current version of the printer driver available for your printer.
6. Printer Resolution Setting
Printing at a resolution from 240 to 300 dpi is a safe bet for top-quality photos. However if you are emailing a picture, then a lower resolution may be OK and will prevent the file size getting too big.
7. Paper Settings
Always use the correct setting for your chosen paper. "Plain Paper" settings use the most ink, while "Glossy Film" and "Photo Paper" use the least.
8. Clean and Clear
Run the cleaner function in your printer every now and then to get maximum efficiency from your printer. Your printer instructions should explain how to do this.
9. Paper Selection
You'll get the best results if you use a photo paper specifically designed for your printer.
10. Drying Time
Give your prints enough time to dry. If you're printing multiple copies of pictures it's a good idea to remove pictures from the printer and separate them individually to avoid smearing.
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