Printing Your Digital Pictures

Nov 8, 2008 by Admin

Having the right printer can make the difference between great pictures and so-so pictures.  You’ll want to take care to make sure you are printing out your photos so they are striking.  This involves configuring the printer and setting it up for maximum quality.

You’ll want to be sure to use the current drivers for your printer.  Drivers are software interpreters that let your computer and printer communicate.

But printer manufacturers are constantly revising these drivers. Always use the most current drivers to ensure peak performance and picture quality. Check your printer manufacturer’s Web site regularly for downloadable updates.

Understanding a Printers DPI

The higher your printer’s dots per inch (dpi) specifications, the slicker the prints it will produce. Avoid images that suffer from frayed and jagged edges by using a printer with 600 x 600 dpi or better printing capabilities when producing hard copies of color digital photos.

Check your printer owner’s manual for instructions on how to change print quality settings.  some printers offer bonus features such as automatic contrast and smoothing adjustments that you can also use.
Different types of paper—such as high gloss or card stock—require varying amounts of ink and touch ups. When setting Printing Preferences, be sure to adjust the settings in your printer to accommodate the type of paper that you’re using to guarantee first-rate results and avoid wasting expensive stock.

Understanding Printer Paper

Standard printer paper isn’t suitable for creating pleasing photo prints. Unless you’re printing documents, choose a glossy or matte finish photo paper instead. Black-and-white prints generally look best on matte finish papers, color on glossy.

Multiple varieties of paper stock are available, designed for a wide range of specialty uses. These special-purpose materials can enhance any photo printing project. Whether incorporating your photos into decals, business cards, or t-shirts, browse the selection at your local office supply or electronics retailer to see your options before starting a new project.

It’s a good idea to run printer alignment, color calibration, and print cartridge cleaning functions every 90 days. These functions (accessible from the Printing Preferences menu) prevent blurring, streaking, and off-center photo prints.

Understanding Printer Ink

You’ll need to consider your choice of ink as well.  Of course, The safest way to pick an ink is to choose a brand from the same company that manufactured your printer. Various types of ink provide differing degrees of water-, smudge-, age-, and fade-resistance. Which ink you should pick depends entirely on how much you’re willing to spend for various image-enhancing qualities.

Before placing photos in an album or framing them, give the ink around 12 hours to dry.