Are you the owner of a standard home printer? Enjoy printing photos of your vacations, friends and family? If so, you’ve probably run into situations where the quality of your print isn’t up to scratch. All too often, standard printers produce images that are of the grainy, wrong resolution, aren’t as sharp as anticipated and ink-log your paper, creating a soggy mess. Fortunately, most of these mishaps only occur due to improper settings selected on your printer. There are a number of steps one can take to get the highest quality out of a standard printer, and in this article, we go through some of the easiest methods you can utilise to print professional quality images even at home. Read on to find out more!
1. Adjust Your Printer Settings
The first and easiest step to take when looking to improve your print quality at home is to have a look at your printer settings. Regardless of whether you own a Brother 2130 ink printer or a $29 printer that you purchased online, adjusting the settings of your printer is one of the best ways to start printing higher quality images. Most home printers are set to print at a maximised speed to accommodate black and white documents. These settings aren’t the best when printing images out, so head to the settings option of your printer and select a pre-set that fits your particular needs at the time. You’ll find that your printer will then adjust to a speed that is ideal for your requirements, and your photos will come out looking so much better!
2. What Kind Of Paper Are You Using?
When you’re looking to print high-quality images with a standard printer, it is so important that you choose the right paper for the job. It is impossible to expect professional results if you’re printing on standard A4 paper – you’ll need to head out and purchase glossy photo paper instead. Translating a digital photograph from your monitor to a physical photograph requires you to use the highest quality photo paper that you can get your hands on. Standard paper is often unable to handle the amount of ink used to print photographs, resulting in a wet and soggy mess. Avoid this from happening by using glossy photo paper that doesn’t absorb ink or become warped during the printing process. Most printers will recommend a particular brand of paper that works best, so have a look at your printer manual to find out the best options to purchase!
3. Work With High-Resolution Files
If you’re trying to print a tiny photo with a low resolution on a standard sheet of paper, chances are it’s going to turn out grainy and underwhelming. This is why working with high-resolution files is essential if you’re looking to print professional-looking images and photos at home. The higher the dpi (dots per inch) of your photo, the better the quality. If you’re printing digital images from your DSLR camera, select the largest file size on your camera when you’re shooting. This ensures that you’re working with a file that is adaptable to all paper sizes, without losing significant detail and quality. Remember – you can always downsize a file, but it is impossible to upsize one without losing detail.
4. Don’t Skimp on Ink Quality
In cooking, if you’re going to skimp on quality ingredients, chances are your dish is going to be subpar in quality. Similarly, when printing, it is important that you don’t skimp on printer ink quality. The lower the quality of your ink, the less impressive your prints will be. This is why we always recommend purchasing genuine and high-quality ink from a trusted provider. Avoid buying knock-offs as they usually tend to offer a lower quality of print and may even end up spoiling your printer in the long run.
5. Maintain Your Printer’s Health
Last but not least, taking care of your printer’s health is one of the best ways to ensure that it not only prints out high-quality images but also lasts a long time. It is important to periodically clean your printer head as well as perform printer cartridge or head alignment. You should also always ensure that you turn your printer off when not in use and that you avoid drinking beverages around it or getting any water into any components of the printer.
Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.
