Image Editing 101

Introduction

There may be times when you want to print physical copies of your digital photos. In this lesson, we'll talk about some of the most popular printing services, along with some tips on preparing your images for printing.

Photo-printing options

There are several things you'll need to decide whenever you print your photos. For example, do you want them printed on glossy or matte (nonglossy) paper? What size should the prints be? For example, you might choose a small, inexpensive size, such as 4" × 6" (also known as 10 × 15 cm). This size is usually the least expensive option, so it's a good choice if you're printing a lot of photos. In the image below, you can see a group of 4" × 6" prints:

You can also have your photos printed at a larger size, such as 8" × 10" (also known as 20 × 25 cm). Keep in mind, however, that larger sizes are generally more expensive. Below is an example of an 8" × 10" print:

You'll also need to decide how you'll print your photos. We'll talk about some of the most popular options for photo printing below, including in-store printing, online printing, and printing at home.

Printing at the store

There are many stores that offer photo-printing services, including drug stores such as Walgreens and CVS, as well as large retailers like Walmart and Target. You can either bring in your camera's memory card or a flash drive containing the images, or you can upload the photos from your home computer.

Once they're printed, you'll be able to pick them up from the store. In many cases, the printing process will be very quick—often less than an hour. Most stores also offer other custom photo products, such as photo books and greeting cards.

Online photo printing

There are many online photo-printing services—such as Mpix, Shutterfly, and Snapfish—that allow you to upload photos from your computer. The photos are then printed and shipped directly to you (or to anyone else you'd like to share them with). Almost all online services offer other photo products as well, such as photo books and calendars.

Printing at home

You can use your own printer to print photos. While printing at home may be more convenient, it also has several disadvantages. For example, printing photos uses a lot of ink, and you'll also need to buy photo paper for better results. Even then, your photos may not look as good as professional prints. If you want high-quality prints at home, you can purchase a photo printer. However, photo printers can be very expensive, so you may not save any money over other printing services by choosing this option.