Printing poctures help

[luv2sleep]

Hi. My pictures look great in the camera and on the computer after I upload them but awful printed. The quality of the photo is somehow lost. Is it the printer? I have a home printer copier fax combo from Canon. If you print your pictures at home, how do you make them come out as good as what you see on the computer?

Sorry for the title typo. It's supposed to 'pictures'. But I'm sure you all figured that out, lol.

 

[wiigirl]

I use a Canon SELPHY CP800 to print my pics and they usually turn out pretty good. Its only ~$120 on Amazon.

I used to use a regular photo printer but it didn't really give me the prints I was wanting.

 

[luv2sleep]

I use a Canon SELPHY CP800 to print my pics and they usually turn out pretty good. Its only ~$120 on Amazon.

I used to use a regular photo printer but it didn't really give me the prints I was wanting.

Is that a pure photo printer?

 

[havoc315]

Make sure you're setting the resolution properly for high quality photos.
Your printer may be defaulting to a lower resolution quick print.

 

[luv2sleep]

Make sure you're setting the resolution properly for high quality photos.
Your printer may be defaulting to a lower resolution quick print.

Oh I bet that's it! I saw that option but didn't switch to it. I'm going to try that. Thanks!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Two things, first I calibrate my monitor and second I set my printer settings to match what I'm seeing on the computer screen.This may take some experimentation. Well maybe three things. I only use Epson printers for my photo printing. I use a R1900 and an older R800. These aren't the newest in the Epson lineup, but work well when I want to print my own. When I need to print a large volume, I outsource it because it is cheaper. I use Snapfish or the local Walgreen's.

 

[wiigirl]

Is that a pure photo printer?

Yes.

 

[havoc315]

Two things, first I calibrate my monitor and second I set my printer settings to match what I'm seeing on the computer screen.This may take some experimentation. Well maybe three things. I only use Epson printers for my photo printing. I use a R1900 and an older R800. These aren't the newest in the Epson lineup, but work well when I want to print my own. When I need to print a large volume, I outsource it because it is cheaper. I use Snapfish or the local Walgreen's.

Important and true point. I rarely print my own --- Print 5 or 6 high quality photos, and feels like my ink cartridge is shot.

 

[luv2sleep]

Yeah I don't think I'd print a ton at home. Took some quick pics yesterday to add to my son's super star of the week school poster.

 

[mamaCta]

Check your paper.
We just bought a new Epson photo printer. Prints look like **** on "everyday" paper, but wonderful on premium paper.

 

[mom2rtk]

I love my Epson printer. I scrapbook and never know in advance what size photos I will need, so really prefer to print at home.

The trick is to be willing to sacrifice some paper and ink to test it out for best results ahead of time. It's about getting the right settings for the right paper. I use Epson ink with Epson papers and get a great result.

Yes, it's more than the cost of sending it out to be printed. But you can't beat the convenience.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Check your paper.
We just bought a new Epson photo printer. Prints look like **** on "everyday" paper, but wonderful on premium paper.

Exactly, I use only premium Epson papers. It has become such a habit, I didn't even think anything about it!

 

[luv2sleep]

Humm that's probably part of the problem. I'm not using Canon or premium paper. Need to get some!

 

[photo_chick]

Hi. My pictures look great in the camera and on the computer after I upload them but awful printed. The quality of the photo is somehow lost. Is it the printer? I have a home printer copier fax combo from Canon. If you print your pictures at home, how do you make them come out as good as what you see on the computer?

Sorry for the title typo. It's supposed to 'pictures'. But I'm sure you all figured that out, lol.

First... let me say I'm a print snob. I'll get that out of the way up front.

Inkjet printer/scanner combos are notoriously low quality. Even with good paper you may not get good prints. Our you may spend a lot more on paper and ink trying to get one good print than you would have if you'd had a lab print made.

What I print with at home... I use an Epson 2880. My monitor is calibrated to it exactly (you have to buy a device like a Sypder or Huey for this). I use Red River, Inkpress, Hahnemuehle or Ilford papers.. depending on the finish I want.

If you want a good, cost effective high quality paper try Red River's Ultra Pro Satin. Better quality than both the Epson and Canon equivalents for less money.

 

[luv2sleep]

Thanks for the tips! Glad to know this is a fixable problem.

How is it that you set your computers to match the printer settings? How do you find out the printer settings?

 

[photo_chick]

Thanks for the tips! Glad to know this is a fixable problem.

How is it that you set your computers to match the printer settings? How do you find out the printer settings?

You actually don't set the printer up to match. You set the monitor up to match the printer. When you put the color calibration device on your monitor it reads the colors from it and sets up a profile to adjust to the right color. Then you have to get the right ICC profiles for your printer to use in whatever software you're using for printer. And lastly, after I've made a print, I will go in and fine tune the calibration to make sure the monitor matches the print output.

When I print I also disable all color correction on the printer. All the color adjustments I make are software driven.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the tips! Glad to know this is a fixable problem.

How is it that you set your computers to match the printer settings? How do you find out the printer settings?

Not sure if this is what you're asking, but I mentioned having your settings match. What I was talking about was selecting the right setting for the paper you are using at the time you print. My printer has options for ultra premium glossy paper, plain paper, premium paper, semi-gloss etc. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly which one is the best match until you print some small versions as a test. But the look will definitely be different depending on the setting you choose.

I also choose (for each print job) whether I want to print draft, text, text & photo, photo or best photo. For photos, I always choose "best photo".

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

You actually don't set the printer up to match. You set the monitor up to match the printer. When you put the color calibration device on your monitor it reads the colors from it and sets up a profile to adjust to the right color. Then you have to get the right ICC profiles for your printer to use in whatever software you're using for printer. And lastly, after I've made a print, I will go in and fine tune the calibration to make sure the monitor matches the print output.

When I print I also disable all color correction on the printer. All the color adjustments I make are software driven.

I would slightly disagree. On my Epson's when I hit the print button I can make adjustments to the printer. Right above the cancel button there is a button titled "Options". Under "Advanced" you can fine tune your printer. This, the calibration to the monitor and the things photo chick mentioned should provide you with a good output.

Its funny when you start getting into this thing we call photography. It starts out just pushing a button on a p & s. We start having fun taking pictures and before you know it, we're spending thousands of dollars on equipment, studying books and videos, calibrating monitors and adjusting printers. How does this get out of control?

 

[havoc315]

I would slightly disagree. On my Epson's when I hit the print button I can make adjustments to the printer. Right above the cancel button there is a button titled "Options". Under "Advanced" you can fine tune your printer. This, the calibration to the monitor and the things photo chick mentioned should provide you with a good output.

Its funny when you start getting into this thing we call photography. It starts out just pushing a button on a p & s. We start having fun taking pictures and before you know it, we're spending thousands of dollars on equipment, studying books and videos, calibrating monitors and adjusting printers. How does this get out of control?

But we NEED those things.... Once the point of a good camera, without good lenses? And really need a good tripod.... Need that software for good post-processing, oh really need the better photo printer...

Makes you envious of the person who is simply happy with posting their iphone pictures on facebook. Who *needs* more than that?

 

[luv2sleep]

Well I was frustrated that my P&S pictures printed out better than my auto focused pics take with the DSLR camera. I don't need the pictures to be perfect it I'd like them to look close to what I'm seeing on the monitor like they are with the P&S. I don't think I'm going to get additional items to calibrate the monitor. I do plan to get better paper and make sure the printer settings are optimal though.