Content starts here
Introduction |
|
|
|
Learn to use a scanner to add detail
to small photos and create stunning enlargements in a few easy steps.
|
|
|
What's wrong with just
printing a bigger copy? |
|
The top image is an enlargement of a low-resolution photo. Distortion
is clearly visible and quality is poor—far from ideal for
printing. The image on the bottom is an enlargement of a high-resolution
photo. Details are crisp and great for high-quality photo printing.
|
|
Well, if you have a high-resolution
digital original, nothing. But what if you didn't take the photo?
Maybe it was e-mailed to you, or perhaps you only have a small hard
copy and no digital file. In that case, it probably doesn't have
enough resolution for a detailed enlargement.
So what's resolution? And why does it play a part in transforming
small photos into larger ones?
It's all about pixels. Pixels are little squares of data that make
up an image. The more pixels there are in a photo, the higher the
resolution of that photo (or the sharper and more detailed that
image is).
Photos that have been optimized for e-mail look fine on your computer
screen, but their bad for printing.
The following steps are a great technique for making enlargements
of the following:
- Wallet-size photos
- 4" x 6" photo prints (when you don't have a digital file
to work from)
- Low-quality e-mail photo attachments
- Photos taken with a camera phone
|
Step 1: Print an original
with your HP Photosmart printer |
|
|
|
First, make sure you have a high-quality
print to begin with.
NOTE: If you've already got a good print to work from, continue
on to step 2.
Step 1: Print your photo at the size it
looks best. For example, if you find that printing bigger than 4"
x 6" results in a loss of detail, then consider that your maximum
print size for this step.
Remember to use the best photo
paper you can to optimize the quality. HP
Photosmart printers are also your best bet for brilliant prints
at any size.
|
Step 2: Scan your original
at high resolution |
|
|
|
Next, take your printed photo and increase
its resolution using an HP
Scanjet photo scanner.
Step 2: Scan your photo at a higher resolution.
Setting the resolution to around 300ppi
(pixels per inch) is usually sufficient, but the larger you want
to print, the more resolution you'll need. 600ppi
should be enough for almost any project.
Don't forget to save your scan for other projects or prints in the
future.
Learn more about resolution and Determining
largest print size.
NOTE: The higher the resolution setting, the longer it will take
your scanner to complete the scan.
|
Step 3: Printing your
enlarged copy |
|
|
|
Once you've created a high-resolution
copy of your original photo, you're ready to print it!
Again, make sure you're using genuine HP photo paper to ensure the
best print. Also, your printer settings should be set to Best
Quality.
To take your prints to the next level, explore the HP
Photosmart Pro B8850, capable of producing stunning gallery-quality
prints up to 13" x 19"!
Learn more about HP Photosmart printers in our photo
printer buying guide.
|
Why HP photo scanners
are best for enlargements |
|
|
|
The HP
Photosmart G4050 is optimized for rich, detailed photo scans
and is easy to use. It also comes with software that allows you
to make edits to your photos once you've scanned them. Here are
just a few of the changes you can make:
- Remove red eye
- Remove dust and scratches
- Crop
- Adjust color
HP Photosmart scanners also allow you to scan film negatives and
slides, so you don't even need a digital copy or an actual print
to make a quality enlargement! Explore the HP
photo scanner buying guide to find scanners with this feature.
|
Learn more |
|
|
|
Del.icio.us
Digg
Magnolia