How to Print Photos at Home GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Travel Tech 64 64 people found this article helpful
How to Print Photos at Home
With the right equipment, it's easy and fun
By Kyle Schurman Kyle Schurman Freelance Contributor University of Nebraska-Lincoln Kyle Schurman is a writer who specializes in digital cameras. His writing has appeared in Steve's Darkroom, Gadget Review, and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 27, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Travel Tech Digital Cameras & Photography Tips for Mobile Photography What to Know
The most important thing you can do when printing photos at home is to use high-quality paper.Inkjet printers can produce great-looking pictures, so don't feel the need to invest in a laser printer.Always make sure to edit your photo before you print it. This saves time, ink, and paper. One of the great things about digital photography versus film photography is that you only need to make prints of the photos that look great. Printing your best photos at home is simple and cost-effective, as long as you have the right printer and techniques. Here are some tips to help you get the best results. Use High-Quality Paper
Perhaps the best thing you can do to make high-quality digital photo prints at home is to use specialty photo paper. Either glossy or matte photo paper works much better than standard printing paper. But because specialty photo paper can be expensive, be sure to only print your best photos on it. Match Aspect Ratios
Another key component to consider when printing photos at home is making sure the image you want to print uses the same aspect ratio as the paper on which you’ll print it. If you try to print a photo where the aspect ratio of the image doesn’t match the size of the paper, the printer might inadvertently crop or stretch the photo, leaving you with an odd-looking print. Consider Inkjet vs Laser Technology
An inkjet printer should give you some outstanding color prints, so don’t think you have to invest in a laser printer to achieve great prints. Most inkjet printers can handle the job more than adequately. Watch IPM Measurement
If you’re looking for a new inkjet printer, pay attention to the “images per minute” measurement, which should help you compare models. The IPM tells you the speed of the printer as an objective measurement. Other speed measurements, such as pages per minute (PPM), can be tweaked by the printer manufacturer, so don't rely on them to compare printers. Print at ' Best' Setting
If you have the time, be sure to set up your photos to print at the “best” setting. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference this setting makes versus the “normal” or “fast” setting. Just keep in mind that it does take two to five times as long to print a photo in “best” mode. Edit First Then Print
It may be tempting to print your photo and look for flaws and areas to edit on the print, then make adjustments and print again. But you'll waste paper and ink if you do it this way. Instead, look at the image on a sharp computer monitor, make your editing changes, and only print once. Keep an Eye on Costs
When you're printing photos at home, it's easy to forget about the cost of each print. But printing photos at home does cost money. For example, if you print a series of large color photos you'll use quite a bit of ink. If you have a large number of photos to print, taking them to a professional printing business may actually end up costing less. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What to Consider Before Buying a New Printer The 10 Best Photo Printers, Tested by Lifewire What Is an Inkjet Printer? The 10 Best Printers of 2022 Inkjet vs Laser Printers The 9 Best All-in-One Printers, Tested by Experts Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Review: Crisp Text, Beautiful Photos, and a Duplexing Scanner Epson PictureMate PM-400 Review: High-quality and Fast Wireless Photo Printing The 8 Best AirPrint Printers, Tested by Experts Canon PIXMA TR4520 Review: Entry-Level All-In-One That Delivers The 8 Best Home Printers of 2022 The 5 Best Printers for College Students of 2022 How Much Does a Printer Cost? How to Take a Photo on a Chromebook The 8 Best Laser/LED Printers of 2022 Canon MAXIFY MB5420 Review: An Affordable Workhorse AIO Printer Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies