Essential Steps to get from Screen to Paper: How to Prepare Photos for Printing

Its important you consider how to prepare photos for printing so that the final product matches your artistic vision.

Introduction

Printing your photographs is one of the most rewarding parts of photography. Whether you’re preparing fine art prints for sale, creating a photo book, or just making prints for personal enjoyment, knowing how to prepare photos for printing is essential. This guide will walk you through everything from editing and resolution settings to file types and print labs, ensuring your photos look their absolute best when printed.

For more helpful tips, check out our article on Photography Print Sizes.

Why Preparing Photos for Printing Matters

Digital screens can be forgiving, but prints are not. Subtle issues like low resolution, incorrect color profiles, or poor file formats can become glaring problems in the final print. Proper preparation ensures your photographs are accurately represented, whether they’re hung in a gallery or framed in your living room.

Step 1: Edit and Enhance Your Photos

Editing is the first and most crucial step in preparing your photos for printing. Use editing software like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or Capture One to enhance your images.

• Adjust Exposure and Contrast: Ensure your photos are neither too dark nor too bright. Adjusting contrast helps bring out details.

• Color Correction: Use tools like Curves, Levels, and Hue/Saturation adjustments to achieve accurate colors.

• Sharpening: Apply sharpening to enhance details, but avoid overdoing it. For print, sharpening can be slightly stronger than for digital viewing.

• Noise Reduction: Reduce digital noise, especially for low-light photos or images with high ISO.

  
  

Step 2: Choose the Right Resolution and DPI

Resolution is critical for printing high-quality photos. The standard recommendation for prints is 300 DPI (dots per inch). However, larger prints can be acceptable at lower resolutions (e.g., 150 DPI) if viewed from a distance.

• Calculate Your Resolution: Multiply the intended print size (in inches) by the desired DPI. For a 12x18 inch print at 300 DPI, the resolution should be:

  12 x 300 = 3600 pixels (width) 18 x 300 = 5400 pixels (height)

• Saving for Print: Export your images at the highest resolution possible to preserve quality.

  
  

Step 3: Use the Correct Color Profile

Color profiles determine how colors are displayed on different devices and prints. The most common profiles are:

• sRGB: Suitable for web use but not ideal for printing.

• Adobe RGB (1998): Offers a wider color gamut, better for high-quality printing.

• ProPhoto RGB: Even wider gamut but can be difficult to handle without proper software.

  
  

Ensure you’re working in Adobe RGB (1998) or ProPhoto RGB while editing and exporting for printing.

Step 4: File Formats and Compression

The best file formats for printing are those that preserve detail and color information.

• TIFF: Lossless format preserving all details, ideal for high-quality prints.

• JPEG: Acceptable for small prints but can introduce compression artifacts if overly compressed.

• PSD: Photoshop’s native format, useful for maintaining layers and edits.

  
  

Always save your final print files as TIFF or high-quality JPEGs if file size is a concern.

Step 5: Preparing for Specific Print Sizes

Different print sizes require different aspect ratios. If your photo’s aspect ratio doesn’t match the intended print size, cropping will be necessary.

• Common Aspect Ratios:

  • 4:3 (e.g., 8x10, 16x20)

  • 3:2 (e.g., 4x6, 12x18)

  • 1:1 (Square prints)

• Cropping Tips: Always crop intentionally to preserve composition. If necessary, use Content-Aware Fill in Photoshop to extend backgrounds.

  
  

For a deeper understanding of print sizes, refer to our detailed guide on Photography Print Sizes.

Step 6: Monitor Calibration

For accurate color reproduction, calibrate your monitor using tools like X-Rite i1Display or Datacolor Spyder.

• Brightness: Set your monitor’s brightness to around 90–120 cd/m² for print preparation.

• Color Temperature: Use a setting of 6500K (D65) for standard editing.

• Gamma: A gamma setting of 2.2 is ideal for most displays.

  
  

Step 7: Printing Test Samples

Before committing to large prints, always print test samples. This helps verify colors, sharpness, and overall quality.

Step 8: Choose the Right Print Lab

If you are outsourcing printing, choose a reputable lab that specializes in photographic prints.

• Professional Print Labs: Offer the highest quality prints, including options for fine art papers and large formats.

• Consumer Print Labs: More affordable but may offer limited paper types and sizes.

  
  

Conclusion

Preparing photos for printing involves careful attention to detail throughout the editing, exporting, and printing process. By following these steps, you can ensure your prints will look stunning and professionally produced. Understanding how to prepare photos for printing will enhance your work’s presentation and leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Check out our Print Shop for high-quality prints in all the popular photography print sizes.

What challenges have you faced when preparing your photos for printing? Share your experiences in the comments below!