{"id":11660,"date":"2022-01-19T16:42:13","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T16:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/?p=11660"},"modified":"2023-06-06T21:02:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T21:02:35","slug":"how-to-print-photos-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/how-to-print-photos-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Print Great Photos from Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Print high-quality photos from home using these simple tips.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Whether you are displaying your favorite snapshots on the wall or gearing up for your next holiday card, printing from the comfort of home is a convenient way to print any photo.\u00a0 With the tips in this article, we show you how to print photos that look great and last a lifetime in no time!<\/p>\n

Which is better?\u00a0 Inkjet or laser?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you are trying to decide between an inkjet or laser printer<\/a>\u2026go with an inkjet printer.\u00a0 Inkjet printers are made for photo printing, offering far better color accuracy and sharpness compared to laser.\u00a0 Yes, printing photos with a laser printer is still possible, but the colors will look duller and some of the finer details may be lost.\u00a0 Not sure which printer choose?\u00a0 We’ve included some of our favorite photo printers further down the page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Know Your Printer Settings<\/strong><\/h4>\n

All printers come equipped with customizable printer settings so you can optimize for the perfect print.\u00a0 While the menu and setting options vary slightly between printer brands, all inkjet printers have a \u201cphoto printing\u201d setting which you can find under the printer properties menu.\u00a0 To access it on your laptop, navigate to File > Print with your mouse or type CTRL + P on your keyboard, then select \u201cPrinter Properties\u201d.\u00a0 Here you will find a \u201cPhoto Printing\u201d option, plus a number of other customizable features like borderless printing, media type and paper size.\u00a0 More on that below!!<\/p>\n

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Know Your Paper Type<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The \u201cMedia Type\u201d dropdown under the setting menu includes the paper type options that are available to you.\u00a0 From fine art papers to card stock, you can find almost any kind of specialty paper you need to create a great photo.\u00a0 \u00a0Most printer brands create their own paper to go along with their printers, but don\u2019t feel like you need to stay loyal to the brand, there are ton of alternative options that print just as well, including affordable paper options from LD Products<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Here are some of the most common paper types:<\/p>\n

Glossy<\/strong>\u00a0paper<\/strong> features a highly reflective coating. Common types of glossy finishes include high gloss, soft gloss, and satin finishes which create deep vibrant colors and high contrast sharpness. They are good for albums and displaying away from windows, where the natural light will reflect off the front of your image and distort it. Glossy finishes are commonly used in formal portraiture. Glossy coatings are susceptible to dust and show fingerprints, so they should be handled wisely.<\/p>\n

Semi-gloss<\/strong>\u00a0paper<\/strong> incorporates some gloss, but not as much as high gloss finishes. Common types include satin, pearl, and lustre\u2014the later of which is very popular among photographers for its versatility and good D-max capabilities. Semi-gloss finishes print good, clean colors and strong contrast, and they frame well behind glass.<\/p>\n

Matte<\/strong>\u00a0paper<\/strong> is made from hot-pressed fibre and does not have a glossy coat. Because it lacks a smooth and shiny coating, it can come in a variety of different textures from a soft velvet to visibly-woven high cotton paper to thick, dimpled paper that makes your print resemble a watercolor painting. Matte paper is the best for getting rich and deep dark tones, making it ideal for black and white photographers. For color photographers, matte paper can make colors look \u201colder\u201d than a glossy or semi-gloss paper will. Much like glossy finishes, gallery-quality prints on matte paper may require special handling like cotton gloves to prevent fingerprinting.<\/p>\n

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Optimize for Paper Size<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Photos come in all kinds of sizes: 4 x 6, 5 x 7, and 8 x 10 are a few of the most common!\u00a0 Most inkjet printers come with a built-in photo tray to handle smaller prints like 4 x 6 and some have a rear tray for specialty paper like card stock.\u00a0 You can see the different paper source options in the printer menu on your laptop, or check your printer user guide to see what options are available for your printer series.<\/p>\n

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Pro tip: Before you decide what size to print your photo, play close attention to the pixels!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The more pixels a photo has, the larger the print can be. Whenever you print a photo from your phone or laptop and it looks grainy or pixelated, it\u2019s because it doesn\u2019t have enough PPI (pixels per inch).\u00a0 For best results, you need to determine what the optimal print size is for your photo and print the photo within that range.<\/p>\n

To do this, you first need to find the dimensions of your photo.<\/p>\n

On a PC, right click on the photo and select \u201cProperties\u201d, then go to the \u201cDetails\u201d tab to pull up the dimensions.<\/p>\n

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If the picture opens up in the Windows Photos program, right click the photo and select \u201cFile Information\u201d to bring up the dimensions.<\/p>\n

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Then refer to the chart below to determine what the optimal print size is for your photo.\u00a0 In our example with dimensions of 3088 x 2056, we can print the photo as large as 11 x 14 and not lose any sharpness.<\/p>\n

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Maintain Your Printer<\/strong><\/h4>\n

For best printing results, take the time to maintain your printer.\u00a0 Keep the printheads primed and in top condition.\u00a0 To do this, we recommend printing regularly (at least once a week) and running the cleaning function occasionally.\u00a0 Simple maintenance like this prevents clogs so your cartridges last longer.\u00a0 An idle printer is an expensive printer.\u00a0 No matter what printer you own, ink will eventually dry out if the printer is not used enough.<\/p>\n

We show you how to run a printhead nozzle check, which checks the print quality of your ink cartridges, and run a printhead cleaning on an Epson printer in the video below.\u00a0 The steps are similar for almost all inkjet printers.<\/p>\n