To print photos or images at home, an inkjet printer and photo paper are sufficient.
However, the quality of the material is not everything: it is necessary to have a digital file in the right format for the end result to be convincing.
You can have a high end color laser printer in your home, if your image file is of poor quality, it will not look good.
It is therefore essential to know the different file formats to print in good quality.
The different printing formats
There are different printing formats in the world of image printing. The JPEG, for Joint Photographic Experts Group, is undoubtedly the best known to photography enthusiasts. Most photos taken with a digital camera are indeed taken from this format. Easy to work with, JPEG nevertheless suffers from a major drawback: the quality of the image decreases over the course of the backups and the various recordings of the image. It is therefore better to keep it for images that undergo little modification. Less known but just as widely used, TIFF, for Tagged Image File Format, is suitable for images to be printed in high resolution. It is quite close to the EPS format which allows you to modify an image without altering its quality. Finally,PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is especially preferred for images that have a transparent background, such as logos, for example. It is also useful for maintaining optimum sharpness, since the compression is relatively minimal. These printing formats are complemented by the essential PDF. The latter is known to adapt to differences in software and / or software versions between computers. However, on condition that you convert your image into a PDF file of optimal quality.The latter is known to adapt to differences in software and / or software versions between computers. However, on condition that you convert your image into a PDF file of optimal quality.The latter is known to adapt to differences in software and / or software versions between computers. However, on condition that you convert your image into a PDF file of optimal quality.
The RAW format, ideal for retouching
If you are taking pictures using a digital camera, check whether it is possible to save the pictures in RAW format.
If so and you have a large capacity SD card, you may prefer it.
Indeed, the RAW format ensures an uncompressed recording of your photo, which has the consequence of weighing more than a JPEG format.
However, since all data is raw, you can edit photos in excellent condition.
Note, however, that with an average weight of 10 MB per photo, if you wish to have them printed on an online service, it is useful to convert the photos to JPEG or PNG.
Adapt the format to printing constraints
For printing holiday photos at home with a good printer, the JPEG format is sufficient.
When it comes to more complex work (computer graphics, event posters, etc.), it is better to focus on other formats.
In this area of image processing, the TIFF, PNG and EPS formats give a certain freedom to the printer.
The latter can then make some adjustments before printing.
The size of these formats, often large, nevertheless requires direct contact with the printer.
The remark also applies to the PDF which, often large when it is of good quality, is also quite heavy to send by e-mail.
Finally, note that some printers display their preferences for a particular print format.
The choice of resolution
In addition to the print format, another factor must be taken into account to obtain quality images: the resolution.
In this area, we speak of PPP (Points Per Inch) or DPI (Dots Per Inch).
For quality printing, the minimum resolution cannot be less than 200 DPI.
Most of the time, it is set at 300 DPI, a number that determines the threshold below which it will be difficult to print good quality images.
This information is all the more true when the image needs to be enlarged or modified.
Printing photos from your smartphone is possible
Today, it is possible to print high quality photos directly from your smartphone, without having to worry about which aspect ratio is the most suitable. But how to do it? Quite simply by purchasing a smartphone photo printer. This type of device, generally light and designed to be used on the move, is presented as the heir to the Polaroid. Thanks to a Bluetooth or WiFi connection, you can send your photos directly to the printer, which usually takes pictures in a small format. So you can share them in a more traditional way, gift them, display them on your wall, and much more. The perfect gift for those nostalgic for classic photography, the smartphone printer comes in different sizes and prices vary by model.Our selection of smartphone photo printers is a good starting point to determine your needs and desires, and find the ideal reference for you.