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Not every digital scrapbooker prints their layouts but for those that do what are the issues arising from it? This article covers some of the information you may need if you decide to print your layouts.

PRINTING AT HOME

If you print at home there are a number of variables you will need to take into account. Some of these variables include

• Cost: of not only the printer but also inks and paper


• Size : a wide format printer is required for prints any larger than 8.5x11 (or A4) size. You may also prefer a printer capable of printing borderless images.


• Quality: A printer designed to provide photo prints is often recommended over standard color printers. If you are printing layouts as part of a business you may need to consider a laser jet or even a dye sub printer.


• Use: will you be using it for other tasks than printing digital layouts for example you may wish to also print on CD's to label them or you may prefer a multifunction printer that also includes a scanner. If you have a digital camera, then a printer that reads memory cards may suit your needs better.


• Your existing system: Your computer hardware system may be more compatible with the same brand of printer. You may also need to consider updating existing hardware or software to improve your printing results.

Printers

Use the links below to explore types of home printers available in both standard and wide format sizes.

MAJOR PRINTER MANUFACTURERS

Hewlett Packard                                                www.hp.com

Epson                                                                www.epson.com

Lexmark                                                            www.lexmark.com

Canon                                                               www.canon.com

REVIEWS ON TYPES OF PRINTERS

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1003

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRINT.HTM

http://www.computer-and-printer-reviews.com/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/printers.html

http://printscan.about.com/

http://reviews.cnet.com/Printers/2001-3155_7-0.html?tag=ont-pri

http://www.wide-format-printers.org/

http://www.large-format-printers.org/

For specific information or recommendations from other digital scrapbookers at SBB try the following threads. Search using either the printer name or by more generic terms such as wide format or ask a question of the members

http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/chat/forumdisplay.php?f=20

Inks

It is generally recommended that if you want the best results from your printer then you should use the inks recommended by your manufacturer. (This may also be a warranty issue so read the fine print)

The ink and printer has been designed by the manufacturer to work together for the best results. However generic brands or refills may provide equally good performance. The only way to know is to try it with your printer.

The Wilhem research institute http://www.wilhelm-research.com/   is widely regarded as the leading expert on printer inks (and papers), their performance and their attributes such as archival properties.

The links below will lead you to more information regarding inks

http://h30039.www3.hp.com/scrapbooking/articles_howtos/HP_ink_guide.asp

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=inkjet-printer.htm&url=http://www.inkjet-cartridges.net/inkjet_cartridges.htm

http://www.shortcourses.com/how/printers/photoprinters.htm#Liquid%20Ink-jet%20Printers

http://www.livingroom.org.au/printers/archives/ink_cartridges/index.php

To buy ink cartridges simply do a search through her favorite search engine such as Google for print cartridges.

For specific information or recommendations from other digital scrapbookers at SBB try the following thread.

http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/chat/forumdisplay.php?f=21

Paper

Another important factor in the quality of print you can create is the choice of paper you use. Again, it's widely recommended that you use the paper recommended by the printer manufacturer, however there are plenty of other options.

The Wilhem research institute http://www.wilhelm-research.com/   is widely regarded as the leading expert on printer paper (and inks), their performance and their attributes such as archival properties.

There are lots of different types of papers and sizes available including:

• Glossy ( various grades)


• Semi gloss( luster or pearl finish)


• Dual Sided


• Matte


• Watercolor


• Fine Art


• Fabrics (canavs, cotton, silk, linen)

Each paper will yield different results, having different properties and interacting in unique ways with the inks.   Larger printer companies may offer paper sample or trial packs for free or at a low cost which can be helpful in determining the best type of paper for your needs.

It is also important that when choosing to print you look at the printer options and choose the paper type that is best represented in the list. This can have a dramatic effect on the results as it tells the printer the optimum ink settings. (Screenshot from a HP Photosmart 7660) Read any paper packaging to determine the recommended printer settings.

You should also care for your paper as recommended by the paper manufacturer. Generally this means keeping it within its original packaging and flat, avoiding excessive handling and controlling temperature extremes.

Paper can be purchased from a variety of stores including stationers, department stores, office supply stores, camera sellers and even the local grocery. To purchase online, search for printer papers with your favorite search engine.

Other information regarding paper can be found here:

http://www.inkjetart.com/

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2/3/11/164&pq-locale=en_US

http://www.acdsystems.com/English/Community/ColumnsArticles/TechTips/tech-2003-11-06.htm

http://bj.canon.co.jp/english/photopaper/index.html

http://www.hp.com/sbso/product/supplies/more_media_tech.html

http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/prod_html/galerie/htm/techinf.htm

For specific information or recommendations from other digital scrapbookers at SBB try the following http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/chat/forumdisplay.php?f=21

Getting the best out of home prints

The first task to ensure good prints is to ensure you have adequate file resolution. The accepted resolution for printing quality is 300dpi (dots per inch). In almost every software program you can set your canvas to 300dpi and begin building your page.

This does not only include the layout as a whole but all of the elements, including photographs in the layout. If the elements are not of print quality you will not be able to print a quality result. Actual physical size, pixel size and resolution all work together to determine the optimum print ability.

Magazines require a minimum of 300dpi for layouts accepted for printing.

INFORMATION REGARDING PRINT RESOLUTION

http://www.scantips.com/calc.html

http://www.takegreatpictures.com/articles/default.asp?aid=279

http://www.scantips.com/basics2i.html

http://www.techcolor.com/help/resolution.html

http://www.phototechmag.com/previous-articles/2002/sharma-mj/sharma.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/print_set_resolution.asp

Your printer ink and paper all work together to provide optimum printing results but there are other factors to be taken into account.

There are infinite variables that affect this process and it can be frustrating to print a layout only to find it doesn't look anywhere as good as it does on screen.

The first step to trouble shoot your print results is always to check the functioning of your printer. Use your manufacturers guide to determine how to troubleshoot or identify issues. The most common culprits are things like low ink levels, blocked print nozzles (especially if lines are appearing on your prints or you are using refill cartridges), dried out inks (liquid ink is especially prone to this and shortens the life of your print cartridge), and dirty printers. Printers accumulate dust, ink flakes etc and these can affect its performance. You can purchase printer cleaning kits or read your manufactures guide for recommendations.

It is also possible you have chosen the wrong paper type or not optimized the printer choices (generally found under printer preferences) to tell the printer what sort of paper it is using. This can be characterized by slow drying pages (too much ink), patchy spots of inks or uneven coverage, visible pixel dots or droplets, smearing or stickiness. The paper type you have chosen may also not be the best to get the result that you want.

Your monitor may be affecting what you see. The age of the monitor can have a significant impact on viewing colors – in general it is believed that a monitor has a life of around five years before needing to be replaced – for larger screens the time is even shorter.

If color is important to you then it is prudent to purchase a monitor specifically recommended for color work. The monitor color depth should be set at the largest possible depth, millions of colors if possible for accurate reading of tonal and hue information.

Update your graphics driver to ensure it is running at peak performance. You can find the manufacturer information of your graphics driver by choosing Active Desktop> Customize my desktop> Settings > Advanced> Graphics.

Gaming affects your monitor's performance, particularly game guns because of their intensity. Consider having a separate monitor for gaming.

Monitors tend to attract dust and other dirt particles, clean the monitor screen regularly with recommended substances.

There is actually a reason for boring grey computer desks – they reduce the light reflecting into the monitor therefore altering your perception of the colors. In fact lighting plays an important part in ensuring that you are seeing true colors. The monitor can pick up colors reflecting form clothing, walls, and objects on the desk or any other large items nearby. Non-directional lighting assists in seeing colors more accurately – a bright light over the desk, light bulb, halogen or fluorescent lighting will all cast a color over the monitor.

Another possible area of conflict is color calibration or color profiling. Put simply, accurate color calibration means that what you see on your monitor is what you get. In most cases the computer system works well together without need for changes however sometimes there are conflicts or a compatibility issue. Understanding color calibration is a fairly complicated process but there is information available.

In a Windows system you can make manual changes to your monitors color profile by right clicking on your desktop and choosing Active Desktop >Customize my desktop. Then choose settings. You can make changes to color display here. Click on Advanced to make further adjustments or view current settings. It is not recommended you make any changes unless you know what you are doing.

After you have investigated the above options if you are still not satisfied by the results you are getting then it is recommended you look into purchasing software that is specifically designed to help with the color calibration process. Owners of Photoshop and PhotoShop Elements have a head start as the program contains a plug in called Adobe Gamma that assists in color calibrating – look in your program's help files for more information. There are also other software programs available   - run a search on color calibration software – to find a program that may be useful. There are also professionals who for a fee will provide color calibration services. It is recommended if you are using color calibration software you should recalibrate every month or so to ensure that the system remains accurate.

To reduce the occurrences of color conflict and International Color Consortium was formed which established ICC profiling. ICC profiles are small text files attached to an image that tell the computer the original color data and how best to interpret the colors given the specific device. This has not resolved the entire issue however but is important to be aware of.

GENERAL PRINTING INFORMATION INCLUDING COLOR CALIBRATION

http://h30015.www3.hp.com/hp_dpc/get_started/maximize_printer.asp

http://h30015.www3.hp.com/hp_dpc/create_share/prevent_photo_fading.asp

http://www.printimagematching.com/what_is_pim.php

http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/prints.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/default.mspx

http://www.color.org/wpaper2.html

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,115656,00.asp

http://www.nyip.com/tips/digital_dialog0703.php

http://www.nyip.com/tips/epson0704.php

http://www.sphoto.com/techinfo/index.htm

http://www.lexmark.com/uncomplicate/sequentialem/home/0,7070,204816596_365822966_0_en,00.html

http://www.digicamhelp.com/inkjet-printers/digital_photo_printing.htm

http://www.canonprintplanet.com/

http://www.printondemand.com/index.cfm

http://www.photoimaging.com.au/

For specific information or recommendations from other digital scrapbookers at SBB try the following http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/chat/forumdisplay.php?f=4

OUT SOURCED PRINTING

Perhaps you would prefer to out source the printing of your layouts, particularly if you have an older model printer or only a standard size when you require a wide format model.

Again there are several considerations you may want to take into account when choosing a print processor including;

• Cost – including postage if applicable


• Size – some processors can only process standard sizes


• Location – online or physical store


• Quality – there are differences in the quality between processors

It may be worth trying prints at several stores, either online or physical to determine which prints you prefer and compare the costs involved.

Problems commonly encountered include stretched or distorted images, or unexpected crops of photographs, incorrect color hues, pixelated printing (see resolution information above) and a variety of other errors.

LINKS TO ONLINE PROCESSORS

US

http://www.agfanet.com/en/

www.shutterfly.com

http://www.dotphoto.com/

http://www.ofoto.com/Welcome.jsp

http://www.clubphoto.com/

http://www.snapfish.com/

http://www.ezprints.com/

http://www.winkflash.com/

http://www.digitalcameradeveloping.com/

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_home.jsp

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=175779&path=0%3A5426%3A175779

http://www.fotogiftsxl.com/

http://www.photoaccess.com/

http://www.imagestation.com/

http://www.cardstore.com/asp/webstore/

http://www.amazingmail.com/

http://www.printingforless.com/custompieces.html

Copy Shops

www.kinkos.com

Review of online services: US: http://prwdot.org/photo_shootout/

Price per print comparison list: US: http://www.olegkikin.com/onlineprinting.php?orderby=p46

Canada

http://www.futureshop.ca/photo/

http://www.japancamera.com/

http://www.photolab.ca/loblawspow/main.jsp

http://www.ldphotostation.com/index.html

http://www.staplesphoto.ca/index.jsp

http://www.clearphoto.ca/

http://www.blackphotocentre.com/blacks/main.jsp

Australia

https://www.printingonline.com.au/

http://www.frogprints.com.au/services/digitalphotos.cfm

http://www.agfaphoto.com.au/print.htm

http://www.momento.com.au/

http://www.beauphotos.com.au/

http://www.fujicolor.com.au/en/Content/Home.asp

http://www.photostation.epson.com.au/index.asp

http://www.extrafilm.com.au/

http://www.camerahouse.com.au/newsite/welcome.asp

http://www.bigw.com.au/

http://www.kinkos.com.au/

UK

http://www.photobox.co.uk/

http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/fdi/

http://photos.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html

http://www.klick.co.uk/ggl/

http://www.bonusprint.co.uk/digital/

http://www.fotoinside.co.uk/

http://www.findspot.com/online-photo-printing.htm

To find the location of physical stores near you or other online printing services conduct a search with your preferred search engine.\

Other printing options

Your layouts can be commercially printed on a variety of products, including creating puzzles, transfers, key rings, mouse mats, canvas frames or calendars. Investigate the novelty printing options at most online or physical processors.

DISPLAYING PRINTED LAYOUTS

You now have beautiful prints so what to do with them?

The obvious options are available. Albums are available in many sizes, types and colors. The most common size available is 12x12 but albums are also available in 5x7, 6x6, 8x8, 8x10, 8.5 x 11 and more. Place your printed layouts into the album and display on a bookshelf or coffee table for friends and family to flick through. Appropriate albums are usually found at stores that sell scrapbook supplies.

Creating coffee table books is a popular choice with many scrapbookers. This service is available both through stores and online, allowing you to create a professionally bound book of your pages.

Photo Frames are available in a huge range of sizes and colors and are perfect for displaying a special page. Frames can be hung on the wall or propped on a shelf or other surface for display. It is not always easy to find frames for non traditional sizes such as 8x8 or 8.5 x11 but they are available, or consider having a framer make a frame to suit.

There are plenty of other creative alternatives as well

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS

Online (International)

http://www.scrapbookbooks.com/digital.html

http://www.mypublisher.com/default.php

US

http://www.shutterfly.com/photobooks/index.jsp

http://www.imagestation.com/photo-gifts/

http://www.apple.com/ilife/iphoto/books.html ( FOR MAC)

AUST/NZ

http://www.momento.com.au/sample.asp

http://www.image-designer.com/p2.htm

Links for albums

Online (allows international ordering)

http://store.scrapbook.com/scrapbooks.html

http://www.cropaholics.com/albums_refills/index.html

US

http://www.pfile.com/scrapbooking/index.html

http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?CATID=40760

UK

http://www.thepapertrailcompany.com/

http://www.aspinaloflondon.com/select_style.asp?CategoryID=2&RangeID=2

Aust/NZ

http://www.karensscrappin.com.au/kupboard/

http://www.scrapbookstreet.com/category9_1.htm

http://www.nzscrapbook.co.nz/

The information in this document is by no means exhaustive, neither are the links listed however it should be a good starting point for digital scrapbookers who are new to the field.

NB. SBB has no affiliation with any businesses listed or linked to in this article.

No portions of this article are to be duplicated or copied. No part may be reproduced in any form without the explicit written consent of www.scrapbook-bytes.com or Shelleyrae Cusbert (author).