Re: Photo printer - good quality?

From: Ilan (Ilan_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 11/17/04

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    Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 15:53:03 -0800

    Hi Chuck,

    I've had pix taken by my 2MP camera developed by an online photo service,
    and the quality is excellent, so if the printer is good, I would hope to
    acheive the same results. Are you saying that I should take the sample
    pictures I printed, the picture I had previously developed, my memory card,
    and photo paper, and bring them to the store to test their printers there,
    before I buy? Will they allow that? If so, that's certainly not a bad idea
    - thanks!

    Ilan

    "Chuck" wrote:

    > The 2MP camera is a bit low in resolution for high quality pictures of any
    > size. 3.2MP or more is better. Next the basic resolution of the printer is
    > enough to get a very good quality print. It may be that the commercial
    > photoprinting you use runs the image thru some sort of optimizer program
    > prior to making the print. Next as you mentioned, you are using different
    > paper than the commercial operation. I believ you can do a bit better for
    > the price on a differnt model printer. There are several that will allow you
    > to plug in the memory card, and print from it. In high quality printing
    > modes, it's difficult to find individual dots on a photo quality printer.
    > I'd print a few pictures and have the commercially printed ones, as well as
    > the memory card, and then go to my local printer store. Also bring a few
    > sheets of the photo paper of your choice.
    >
    > My 4 color printers currently in service
    > HP 512C (Poor photo quality, slow)
    > Canon S760 very good photo quality, tanks can be refilled.
    > Epson R300 very good photo quality, Tanks are not easily refillable
    > (chipped)
    > Brother MFC 420cn Good to very good photo quality, a bit slow, don't know
    > if tanks are refillable.
    >
    >
    > "Ilan" <Ilan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > news:F5C68296-AB90-40D2-9080-A293390ABC0A@microsoft.com...
    > >
    > > Hi Len,
    > >
    > > Thanks for the advice. When I tested out my printer, I was printing 4x6s,
    > > printing straight off of my memory card, using "premium" photo paper, and
    > > on
    > > the "best" quality setting. Yet the picture still came out slightly
    > > granier
    > > than it had with regular development. There's no point on spending a
    > > couple
    > > of hundred dollars just to be unhappy with quality, so I decided to return
    > > it
    > > and will look for something else (or just continue having them developed
    > > for
    > > me).
    > >
    > > Sincerely,
    > > Ilan
    > >
    > >
    > > "Len" wrote:
    > >
    > >> Ilan
    > >>
    > >> The HP245 is a fine printer for printing photos. Keep in
    > >> mind that a good phot depends on alot of factors,
    > >> including:
    > >>
    > >> 1. Resolution of image - the higher the better - rule of
    > >> thumb is 300 pixels per printed inch, i.e. to print a good
    > >> 8 x 10, you would want a file at least 3000 x 2400 pixels.
    > >> You can 'get by' with 200 pixels per inch if your camera
    > >> is low res / megapixels, i.e. a good 4 x 6 should be at
    > >> least 800 x 1200 pixels.
    > >>
    > >> 2. The format the file is in - tif's print better because
    > >> they have more pixels, jpegs 'lose' pixels/quality
    > >>
    > >> 3. type of printer paper - use a good quality 'photo'
    > >> paper, not standard paper
    > >>
    > >> 4. printer settings - read your manual, make sure you
    > >> select the right paper, quality ( photo vs draft, etc),
    > >> and size settings.
    > >>
    > >> hope this helps
    > >>
    > >>
    > >> >-----Original Message-----
    > >> >Hi! I have been using a Canon PowerShot A60 digital
    > >> camera (2.0 megapixels),
    > >> >and I love it. I take a lot of pictures, but just for
    > >> personal use
    > >> >(vacations, parties, etc.). I just purchased an HP
    > >> Photosmart 245 photo
    > >> >printer and tested out a few sample pictures, printing
    > >> directly from my
    > >> >camera's memory card. The pictures came out ok, but
    > >> there is definitely a
    > >> >loss in quality compared to the same picture that I had
    > >> devloped from an
    > >> >online service.
    > >> >My question is: Should this printer give me pictures that
    > >> are
    > >> >indistinguishable from regularly depeloped pictures, and
    > >> if not, are there
    > >> >any reasonably-priced printers (under $150) that do?
    > >> >
    > >> >Thanks!
    > >> >Ilan
    > >> >.
    > >> >
    > >>
    >
    >
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