HP Digital Photography

Start with a good image
A good print starts with a high-quality image. One that merely looks good onscreen is not enough. Here’s what to look for in an image file:

Good resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image. The more pixels your photo has, the more clarity and detail it will retain as you increase its dimensions. Resolution is sometimes expressed by the width and height of the image as well as the total number of pixels it contains. For example, an image that is 1600 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high (1600 x 1200) contains 1,920,000 pixels—or almost two megapixels (two million pixels).
 
Most digital cameras offer a range of resolution settings. It’s a good idea to use a higher-quality setting if you plan on printing larger-than-wallet-size pictures. Here are some general guidelines:

Best format
Even if your image is high resolution, you’ll still need to save it in the correct file format: TIFF or JPEG. For best printing results, always save your pictures in the TIFF format (example: family_vacation.tiff). Although this format results in a somewhat larger file size, it will produce the most satisfactory results. The JPEG format (example: family_vacation.jpg) is preferable for e-mailing photos, because it results in smaller, compressed files—ideal for sending electronically.

Quality control
Use a good image-editing program, like HP Image Zone, to remove dust marks and specks on your photos. The printer will pick up imperfections even if they’re very small. You can also use the sharpening filter to more clearly define the edges of objects in your print. HP Image Zone comes standard with new HP PCs and printers. You can also download a free copy of HP Photosmart Essential. This easy-to-use software also lets you edit your photos before you print and share them.

Use a good printer and know how to use it
Once you’re familiar with the features and settings of your printer, you’ll be able to get the best possible results.

Avoid dpi dilemmas
Dots per inch (dpi) is a measurement of print resolution that indicates how many individual dots a device can create on a page per square inch of area. For crisp, colourful, professional-looking prints, choose a printer with at least 600 x 600 dpi. Otherwise, your photos may turn out pixilated (objects will appear speckled and jagged). HP printers offer up to 4800 x 1200 dpi colour prints on HP premium photo paper, for amazingly sharp images.

Printer drivers
Printer drivers act like translators so your printer and computer can communicate with each other. It’s important to use the most current version available for your printer. Printer manufacturers regularly update drivers, and you can download new versions for free to help fix problems and bring significant performance improvements.

Resolution settings
Reference your printer’s manual to learn how to change quality settings. Usually, you want “best quality” resolution for photos. But for wallet-size prints, “normal” resolution may be enough; experiment to see which settings give you satisfactory results.

Paper settings
Paper settings control the amount of ink that’s laid down on paper, so using the setting that matches your photo paper is essential to making good prints. When you find a setting that works for a particular paper type, make note of it so you'll be able to get the same results when you use the paper again.

Clean and clear
Running the cleaner function in your printer every two to three months improves print appearance and prevents problems such as streaking. You can access “properties” settings to perform maintenance such as cleaning the printer nozzles and aligning the print head.

Understand your ink and paper
It may seem like all paper and ink is the same, but your choice of printing supplies can make the difference between a good print and a great one.

Paper and ink selection
There’s a good reason to use genuine HP supplies—they’re specifically developed to work with your HP printer. HP’s newest generation of inks, HP Vivera inks, deliver optimum colour and fade resistance. HP inks are designed for the absorption properties of HP photo paper—these supplies are created and tested together to give you the highest quality prints that resist fading up to 110 years.* Learn more about choosing photo paper for your prints.

Drying time
Before you frame a photo or add it to a scrapbook, be sure to give it enough time to dry. Most HP inks and papers are designed to dry within an hour or so, but it’s best to allow the print to dry for about 24 hours prior to framing or placing it in a photo album.

If you’'re printing multiple pictures, remove them from the printer as they come out and set them aside. This will eliminate accidental smearing or running.

*Based on Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. light fade testing under glass (as of January 2005) using HP Tri-colour and HP Photo inkjet print cartridges on HP Premium Plus photo papers. Get information on additional permanence testing factors.

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