Tips for better photo printouts

By Reuben Lee
Dec 02, 2002

You can have the best photo printer in the world but if the images captured by the camera don't live up to expectations, it'll all be for nothing. Therefore it is essential you find the right digital camera for the job. To do that, consider the print size you intend to make. Generally, a decent 4R print (or 4 x 6-inch) requires a sub-megapixel camera capable of 800 x 600dpi images. A 5R print (5 x 7-inch) typically needs a 1.2-megapixel with up to 1,280 x 960dpi, while 8R prints (8 x 10-inch) will at least require a 2-megapixel camera of 1,600 x 1,200dpi resolution. For those who want to produce A4 or larger prints, you should consider a 3-megapixel or higher camera.

Of course, most people will argue that a 4-megapixel camera will be more than adequate for most printing needs. But users should be aware that with higher resolutions, the tradeoff is a higher camera price, slower image processing and more space used up in the camera’s memory. Another issue is which image file type to save the pictures in. Most cameras store the captured images in JPEG format. While this is relatively smaller in size, JPEG compression causes slight image degradation. Therefore, wherever possible, images for print should be saved in TIFF for best results.

One of the advantages of digital photography is the ability to edit your images before printing, especially where the desired effect cannot be achieved by the digital camera. For example, in under-exposed images, users can control the saturation levels of the various component colors to give the image a more balanced tone. The more adventurous can also experiment with special effects tools to add a creative touch, such as black and white or sepia tones.

Currently, there are two types of mass-market photo printers. Dye-sublimation printers, which fuse layers of film onto a special paper, are generally more expensive but produce prints faster and include a protective layer that keeps it resistant to water and dirt. A 4R dye-sublimation printer typically costs between S$350 (US$196) and S$800 (US$449). Inkjets, on the other hand, are cheaper to own and run, thanks to less expensive ink, and can print up to A4 or even A3. However, the prints aren't very water-friendly and smudge quite easily if not handled properly. Users should note that inkjets come in two flavors. Those with four-color ink systems produce nice photos, but for best results you should consider a six- or more- color printer.

Glossy or photo paper is not cheap. Thus it is good practice to do a test print on plain paper to check for the correct size and resolution settings before making the actual print. This is useful, especially for 4R photos which can be quite tricky if you use paper media with perforated edges.

There are many different types of paper media for inkjets. To achieve the best-quality prints, it is advisable to use glossy paper media, preferably from the printer manufacturer. This is because these media are designed to work best with the inks to produce better and longer-lasting printouts. Using other brands of paper or inks may not produce the desired quality and may sometimes even damage your printer. Like the glossy photo prints you get at photo kiosks, it is important to handle the inkjet glossy photos with care before and after printing. Try to keep the paper media in a clean folder when it is not in use and avoid touching the print side surface. A finger print or stain may cause the ink to be only partially absorbed, resulting in a drop in print quality.

A printer, like all other electronic appliances, needs to be well-maintained. For inkjets, it is important to use it once in a while to prevent the ink from clogging the printhead. Should clogging occur, you should run the printer utility software to clean the printhead before printing. This can help ensure a better print quality. Users should also ensure the printer is subjected to minimal dust and dirt by using a dust cover. As small as it may be, tiny particles of dust can accumulate over time and trap ink on rollers and other parts of the printer. This, in turn, can cause unsightly ink smudges on the printouts.