Nowadays, printing photos at home is an excellent option because it gives the photographer creative control over the final print. Just follow the simple guidelines below to achieve the best results.
Use the right paper
Whether you are printing digital pictures, producing reports, or making photo enlargements, you’ll maximize the quality of your prints by choosing the right paper.
Specialized inkjet photo paper delivers exceptional image clarity and resolution. More importantly, the photos dry instantly and the images are both water and smudge resistant. The specialty papers typically come in two sizes: 8. 5 by 11 inches for larger prints; and 4 by 6 inches for the tradition photo-print size.
Software for the job
Once your images have been transferred from the camera to the computer, your photo software will determine how well your printed photos turn out. With that being said, make sure you take the time to familiarize yourself with all the key features of your software. Depending on the program, you might be able to:
Remember, all software products are slightly different in terms of features and capabilities. Nonetheless, you’ll always be able to enhance your images and add a creative touch to all your photos.
The feeding and care of your printer
It’s always a good idea to calibrate your printer’s head every time you change the ink cartridge. In most cases, this can be done using the printer’s built-in utility program accessed through your computer. Other ways that you could improve your output include:
o Select “Photo paper” or “Premium photo paper” from the paper-type settings.
o Select “Photo” or “Best photo options” from the printer properties and settings.
o Do your research and find an inexpensive, high-quality source for ink cartridges.
Also, keep in mind that your printer software allows you to organize multiple-size prints on one single page. With this kind of flexibility, you can maximize the use of the paper. For example, you could create rows of wallet-size prints to hand out to family members.
Match pixels and size
If you plan to enlarge your images and then print them, try adjusting your camera to a high-resolution setting. Lower-resolution images should work just fine for e-mail or posting on an Internet site. As a general rule, you should experiment with the different settings in your photo editing program to find out what works best for you.
Getting Creative
Scrapbooking has become a popular trend among digital camera users and a creative way to preserve memories. It allows you to tell a story by combining photos with captions, colorful background papers, and other embellishments that are available from various websites. With the help of graphic software programs, you can create pages, import digital photos and assemble a scrapbook that can be shared via the Internet or saved on a hard drive. There are several other advantages of digital scrapbooks as well: you can experiment with different looks and themes; they’ll preserve your photos; and they can be easily changed or revised?the approaches are virtually limitless.
Wide format printers, also known as plotters, are a special type of printer that have the capability of delivering prints larger then the standard 8-1/2″ x 11″. Their initial high cost makes them an economical investment only to select firms performing specific functionality. Companies that make a lot of custom signs or posters, or that often need to print copies of blue prints will find wide format printers to be cost effective and of great use.
There is some variation among all wide format printers performance and capabilities, like all standard printers. For example, if you are an architect it might serve you to invest in a multifunction wide format printer. Like any other multifunction printer, these printers can not only print but make copies and scans at a larger scale. If image and color quality are of high importance to your firm, investing in a printer that performs highly in delivering color consistency, accuracy, and balance as well as clarity in the entire image may be of value.
Because wide format printers produce prints larger then your standard 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper, for the most part special paper will need to be purchased. It is important to note that most wide format printer paper is produced in rolls (and not sheets like most regular printer paper) in order to create a higher degree of size compatibility. And again, like all other printer paper, wide format printer paper (also widely known as plotter paper) comes in a large variety of options. Depending on your usage, your paper preference will vary. HP is one of the leading producers in wide format printers and their supplementary papers, so the following is a brief run down of the available options in photo paper. These option names and their functions should be easily translatable to other brands of papers compatible with different brands of printers.
HP Universal Bond Paper and Bright White Paper are two of the most commonly used papers for low cost every day prints. Both papers are designed for black and color line drawings and deliver crisp line resolution and high color contrast.
HP Coated Paper has a bright white base that produces vivid accurate colors and dense blacks that work to create fine detailed images. Heavyweight Coated Paper is great for use for long term signs or posters. This matte inkjet paper is affordable yet creates bright, colorful, medium ink density images. If you plan on replacing your signs or posters frequently, Universal Coated Paper is a great alternative to its heavyweight brother. Still delivering quality colors and images, this paper is lower in cost and has faster drying times.
HP High Gloss Photo Paper is a low cost high gloss photo paper that is great for appealing to audiences in visual presentations using graphic or colored displays. Universal Instant-Dry Photo Gloss Paper is another economical photo paper that also looks great in presentations using images; however this paper’s porous medium makes the prints quick to dry, yet still glossy in appearance.
