How to Print Good Photos
Good photos are hard to come by, and when you take one, you generally want to share it. Photos, when printed out, do not always look as good as they did in the preview screen. This is due in large part to how you are printing them out. There are several things that you must do in order for your photos to come out of the printer looking good, starting with the supplies you use.
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Instructions
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Keep the photo in its original file format when saving it to your computer. The original file format is what the camera that took the photo uses. It is better than saving the photo in other computer formats such as JPEGs or GIFs. These tend to compress the file, which can degrade the photo quality.
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Choose the size photo you want to print. The smaller the photo, the sharper the picture will seem. However, the more pixels your camera has, the larger the photo you can print and still have it come out sharp.
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Select the "Print" option from the tool bar at the top of your program. When the print screen comes up, look for "Printer Properties" and select it.
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Select the printer quality option and choose the best quality.
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Select the resolution option and choose the highest resolution available to you. Higher resolution means more detail, which will result in better photos.
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Click "OK" to go back to the print screen.
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Look for and select the paper type. Scroll through the options and select the type of photo paper that you are using, such as glossy or matte. You will only have this option if your printer is set up with this option. Most printers that are advertised as being able to print photos will have this feature. Matching the paper to what you are using, will help the printer do a better job.
Always use a photo paper instead of computer paper for photo printing for better quality. Also use an ink designed for photos so the ink is less likely to smear. You will have to choose an ink that is compatible with your printer. There is usually a brand name that is recommended in the printer manual, as well as a generic version. The generic is sometimes just as good as the name brand, but won't usually last as long. Chose the one that works best for you; making this choice will require that you test your options.
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Open the photo file on your computer and edit it, if you have the option. Even the simple photo viewers sometimes have a few editing tools such as red eye removers and cropping. Photo editing programs also have other tools such as color enhancements and blemish removers. Adjust the photo to improve the look; use the undo button if you decide you don't like an adjustment.
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Tips & Warnings
Try not to crop pictures too much when you are editing them as you may lose image sharpness. The images enlarge as you crop them, so the more you cut out, the blurrier they may get. If you crop a photo, try printing it at a smaller size to tighten up the pixels.
References
- Photo Credit ink cartridges image by itsallgood from Fotolia.com
