Getting your photos from screen to paper can be a delicate process. This photo printing guide helps you understand exactly how to prep a photo to print so the result matches what you see onscreen.
You’ll learn how to export for print, choose the best photo print size, and make confident choices—guided by clarity, not jargon.
Understand Colour Modes: CMYK or RGB and Colour Spaces
You begin with a choice: CMYK or RGB?
Screens display images using RGB, while most home and lab printers expect sRGB. That means converting your images into sRGB ensures that your printed colours closely match what you saw when editing.
Exporting in a different or unsupported colour space will produce dull or incorrect hues. For precision, working in Adobe RGB during editing gives you greater colour depth—but always convert to sRGB before printing.
Calibrate Your Monitor First
Your screen guide to tone only works if your monitor shows accurate colour and brightness. Regular calibration ensures that the print reflects what you’ve edited—not a distorted guess.
Experts advise recalibrating every six to eight weeks. If you’re unsure, you might compare prints with a lab using a reference image. That step ensures your editing matches real-world outputs—not just your screen.
Check and Use the Correct Resolution and DPI
Prints demand higher resolution than screens. For a clean 300 dpi print, your image in pixels should match:
- Width in inches × 300
- Height in inches × 300
For a 10 × 8 inch print, set your image to 3000 × 2400 pixels at 300 dpi. Lower values risk pixelation. If working with an existing file, use your editor to change DPI without resampling—preserving quality while matching print standards.
Resize and Crop to Match Print Layout
Matching your photo’s aspect ratio with the paper’s ratio avoids unwanted cropping or distortion. For instance, a 3:2 sensor image to print on an 11×15 print fits safely into that intermediate ratio, preserving more of your scene.
Crop to ratio—not the exact size—and leave a small border during the process so nothing ends up too close to the edge.
Apply Sharpening for Print
Printed images often look softer than their digital preview. Adding sharpening tailored to the print size restores crispness. Use your editing software to apply output sharpening—light sharpening for matte paper, tighter detail for glossy stock. Without it, your prints can look flat even after careful editing.
Export Settings: File Type, Compression, and Colour Profile
JPEG remains the most practical format for print labs—but ensure maximum quality (e.g. Lightroom 100% export or Photoshop Quality 12).
A TIFF format is excellent for archiving or professional output, though larger.
Always embed the sRGB colour profile so systems know how to interpret your file. Clear exporting practices ensure that colour and detail appear as intended, not compressed or mismatched.
Home Printing Tips: Paper, Printer Settings, and Workflow
If you print at home, you can control each outcome—but it takes thought. Use dedicated photo paper—matte or glossy—not standard office paper. Select the “Best” quality mode in print settings, even if it takes longer.
Choose a printer that delivers true 300 dpi, and be consistent with ink and paper types across sessions.
Micro FAQ
Q: Should I use 300 dpi for all print sizes?
Yes. 300 dpi delivers sharp and accurate prints, especially for small to medium sizes.
Q: Why convert to sRGB for printing?
Most printers and labs expect sRGB. It ensures your colours look as intended, not dull or off-tone.
Q: Is sharpening really necessary for printed photos?
Absolutely. Calibration sharpens appropriately for paper, restoring detail that otherwise may appear soft.
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Final Thoughts
Knowing how to print a photo well is as much about preparation as it is about the creative process. When you calibrate your monitor, match your resolution, crop with care, sharpen appropriately, and export with precision, your prints begin to mirror the emotion and detail you saw when editing.
At iPhotography, our courses guide you through exactly these steps, helping you understand both “what” to choose and “why” it matters.
That way, your printed images become not just photographs—but expressions you can hold, admire, and share.