Is my printer good enough to make quality photo prints?

Not all printers are equal. An image may look good on-screen, but not so good once printed. Some cheap printers are fine for printing documents but are not capable of photo-realistic results. If your printer has a "photo mode" you should be able to obtain good prints using these tips.

I'm looking to buy a printer - What should I look for?

- You’ll want a printer with at least four ink colors.
- You’ll want at least 300 0r 600 dpi resolution for consumer-level photo output.
- You don't need a special photo printer unless you intend to print a lot of pictures or want the best quality possible. There are many general purpose printers capable of doing a fine job. Ask for one that can print good photos.

File size is very important

For best results, try to print photo files with a resolution of at least 240 dpi (dots per inch).
Anything less could result in prints with a noticeable pixilated look. 
The higher the resolution, the finer the printed image quality.

Photo print size guide

Use this guide to determine the optimal size to print at, based on the photo's size. If you decide to print at 5"x7" or less on 8"x10" size photo paper, be sure to adjust your printer's driver settings to center the photo on the sheet of paper.

Enhance your photos before printing (restored photos should not need adjusting)
It's a good idea to use a photo-editing program to clean up your photos before printing. You will want to do some cropping and dust removal. Your printer will pick up dust spots even if they are very small. You can also use the sharpening tool to enhance a soft focus picture.

Paper - Always use paper designed for printing photos

You’ll get the best results if you use paper specifically designed for your printer. However, you can achieve very good results using other brands as well. Be sure to test a variety of paper types before buying large quantities.

Here's what to consider when buying photo paper:

Whiteness
Whiter papers produce sharper, more vibrant colors.
Weight or thickness
Some projects (like calendars) require a heavier paper stock. But most photo printing jobs only need a standard weight paper.
Paper surface
Glossy papers produce vibrant colors but are susceptible to fingerprints. So matte papers might be a better choice for prints that will be handled often. Be careful with extremely smooth, shiny, or coated papers not specifically designed for your printer. They can cause jams and even repel ink.

Use your printer correctly

Driver settings
Go into your printer's settings on your PC (Start/Settings/Control Panel/Printers and Faxes) Make sure your printer is set for highest quality color photo printing. This may by expressed in dpi, or "dots per inch". If your printer has a "Quality versus Speed" setting choose "quality"

- Always adjust the printer preferences settings to the highest print quality before starting a photo printing session.
- Always choose the highest output resolution (dpi) your printer will allow.
- Experiment with all the quality options your printer offers. You may find variables such as "advanced color settings" that could improve your printing results.

Paper setting
Make sure you’re using the right setting for your chosen paper: e.g., "Photo Paper." Generally, the paper settings control the amount of ink that is put on the paper. "Plain Paper" setting uses the most ink, for example, while the "Glossy Film" and “Photo Paper” settings use the least. When you find a setting that works for a particular paper type, save it and give it a name you can remember.

Printer head cleaning
It's a good idea to run the printer's cleaner function from time to time, in order to get the best quality prints possible.

Image Master   info@imphotorestoration.com