Arts and Entertainment > Photography > Photo Quality Ink Jet Printers: Why Mine Gathers Dust
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Richard Killey
I have a photo quality ink jet printer that can print very good colour photos, on photo style paper. I was intrigued when a number of well known retailers started offering to print digital photos for less than it costs me for the paper alone.
So, I ordered a group of 4x6 prints from one of them, by uploading the files to their website. If a store that does this is convenient to you, you can pick them up. If not, they will ship them for a small extra charge.
I ordered mine on a Tuesday, after supper, and they were delivered via regular mail that same Friday. I was impressed. That same store now has a walk-in 1 hour service for the same price.
To test the effect of extra pixels, I sent them the same photo 6 times. The only difference in the photos was the resolution:
- 150 dpi (600 pixels x 900 pixels)
- 200 dpi (800 x 1200)
- 250 dpi (1000 x 1500)
- 300 dpi (1200 x 1800)
- 350 dpi (1400 x 2100)
- 400 dpi (1600 x 2400)
The photo was a picture of a couple I know. One of them had highlights in their hair, and gel had been used, so hair was sticking out somewhat. When I looked very closely at the photos (naked eye only, no magnifiers) at fine details like the hair, I could detect a minor difference between the 150 dpi and the 400 dpi, (actually, there was even a bit of a difference noted between 150 and 200) but if the photos are destined for your photo album, you would never know the difference, in my opinion.
On a 4x6, lets say you go with 200 dpi just to be sure. That is 800 pixels by 1200 pixels. That is about 1 mega pixel. If you go to your local digital camera reseller today, you probably cannot buy a serious camera that is less than 2 or 3 mega pixels. A 2 mega pixel camera gives you almost 1200 x 1800, which at 200 dpi lets you print a 6 x 9 print. At 150 dpi, you can get an 8 x 10 easily from a 2 mp. (p.s. the store I used will NOT print anything less than 150 dpi)
Based on my tests, a 2 mega pixel camera can print a fair quality 8 x 10 print. If you just need 4 x 6 prints, you will get great prints from even a 1 mega pixel. Need I remind you that the current pricing is less than I pay for the paper alone.
Do I use my fancy photo quality printer anymore? Not very often.
Richard Killey is an amateur photographer who shares the love of his hobby with readers of his website. Visit http://www.photosbyrichard.ca to read other articles of interest.
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