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How to Print Good Pictures

A good picture deserves a high-quality print. Unfortunately, many photographs come out pixelated, blurred or overly inky when printed at home. Due to errors in scaling at the time of printing, a picture might also be too small or too big for the size paper size you're using. Distortion is also a common flaw --- subjects might be stretched or tightly compressed toward one side of the frame. The next time you want to make a flawless print in the comfort of your own office, there are some steps you can take to help.

Things You'll Need

Printer
Photo-specific printing paper
Black and color ink cartridges (specific to your type of printer)

Instructions

- 1
  Load a few sheets of photo-specific paper into your printer. Although ink-jet printers typically produce the best results, Laser-jet printers will produce an acceptable print.
- 2
  Insert fresh black and color ink cartridges in your printer. If you have recently replaced your cartridges, there should be enough remaining ink for a satisfactory print.
- 3
  Browse to the location of the image you wish to print. Press "Ctrl" and "P" to open the printing prompt window.
- 4
  Edit your printing preferences by clicking the "Properties" button in the prompt window. For best results, change the printing task to "Photo," the quality to "High" and the type of paper to either "Glossy" or "Matte" depending on which type you are using.
- 5
  Preview what the resulting print will look like by clicking "Print Preview" in the prompt window. This allows you to spot and correct any scaling errors or image distortion before proceeding with the printing process.
- 6
  Apply your settings by clicking "OK." Click the "Print" button from the prompt window when you are ready to print.
- 7
  Remove the picture from the printer carefully to avoid disturbing the ink. Place it in a well-ventilated area for at least a half-hour to allow it to dry.

Photography