January 29 , 2012 04:54 PM
in Printing
What does it take to print your own pictures?
When it comes to printing your own pictures at home you can save money if you're savvy and willing to learn. You will need a calibrated monitor, a printer (preferably one designated as a "photo printer") and paper. Many people don't have a calibrated monitor, or if they do it's done by their own eyes. Most of the newer monitors have the ability to do a basic calibration, or the video card controller in your computer does. Here is a website that you can use to assist you http://displaycalibration.com/
Now for the second part, does the calibration match your printer? Does what you see on the screen show up on the paper you just printed? If you want to print your own pictures, you can go to your printer's website to download and install ICC files. You can also use generic ICC files that come with any photo program. It will be necessary to decide about "Color Management" do you want your monitor (video card) or your printer to control the color? This can be decided in the set up. Consumer photo printers have either 4 or 2 ink cartridges. 4 cartridge printers have black, yellow, magenta and cyan; whereas a 2 cartridge printer will have one cartridge that is black and the other has all 4 colors in it.
You can pick up standard paper from any store to make your prints. Most stores sell 3 star paper, fine for everyday projects. It is normally the lowest quality photo paper and you will be hard pressed to find anything but glossy or ultra glossy. You can find better paper online, but the higher the quality the more you will pay.
Now you have what you need. You bought your UPrint digital file. You have your monitor calibrated, your printer set up properly, and maybe you even sprang for the better paper. You should be able to print your files well enough to fill your 4x6 album!
Is this enough? I promise to bring up printing again in another blog. I'll also help you to figure out just what you want to accomplish with your photos. There is so many more things you can do than 4x6 albums!
When it comes to printing your own pictures at home you can save money if you're savvy and willing to learn. You will need a calibrated monitor, a printer (preferably one designated as a "photo printer") and paper. Many people don't have a calibrated monitor, or if they do it's done by their own eyes. Most of the newer monitors have the ability to do a basic calibration, or the video card controller in your computer does. Here is a website that you can use to assist you http://displaycalibration.com/
Now for the second part, does the calibration match your printer? Does what you see on the screen show up on the paper you just printed? If you want to print your own pictures, you can go to your printer's website to download and install ICC files. You can also use generic ICC files that come with any photo program. It will be necessary to decide about "Color Management" do you want your monitor (video card) or your printer to control the color? This can be decided in the set up. Consumer photo printers have either 4 or 2 ink cartridges. 4 cartridge printers have black, yellow, magenta and cyan; whereas a 2 cartridge printer will have one cartridge that is black and the other has all 4 colors in it.
You can pick up standard paper from any store to make your prints. Most stores sell 3 star paper, fine for everyday projects. It is normally the lowest quality photo paper and you will be hard pressed to find anything but glossy or ultra glossy. You can find better paper online, but the higher the quality the more you will pay. Now you have what you need. You bought your UPrint digital file. You have your monitor calibrated, your printer set up properly, and maybe you even sprang for the better paper. You should be able to print your files well enough to fill your 4x6 album!
Is this enough? I promise to bring up printing again in another blog. I'll also help you to figure out just what you want to accomplish with your photos. There is so many more things you can do than 4x6 albums!
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