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Fine-tune your inkjet photo printer
 Estimated time required: 2 hours
 Estimated cost: US$50 and up
Step 1: Getting sharp prints
Most of today's digital cameras are capable of shooting stunningly sharp photos. Sometimes, though, what you see onscreen is not what you get on paper. If WYSIWYG-caliber output is eluding you, it doesn't necessarily mean you need a new printer. You may just need to make a few changes to the printing process itself. A switch to a different type of paper and a bit of testing and tweaking could be all your photos need for that fresh-from-the-photo-lab look. These six steps will show you how to get the best possible results from your inkjet.
Step 2: What you'll need
Before you get started with this project, we recommend that you have the following:
- An inkjet photo printer
- A photo editor (such as Adobe Photoshop Elements)
- Photo paper (as specified by the printer manufacturer)
Step 3: Good paper, great pics
The right paper makes a difference, so for optimal results, use the type specified by the printer manufacturer. Also, make sure you specify the paper type in the printer's setup dialog box. Although you can use inexpensive paper for checking margin settings and general layout, sooner or later you'll need to use that high-quality (and costly) paper to verify your color settings. But you don't need to waste a full sheet for each test. Cut a letter-size sheet in half, then set your printer for a custom size of 5.5 x 8.5 inches.
Step 4: Setting it up
Now that you have the right paper, make sure basic printer functions such as cartridge alignment and ink flow are operating properly--if they aren't, you may see ghost images or horizontal lines running through your images. Most printers check these functions automatically when you replace an ink cartridge, then print one or more test pages. You can also print one yourself by selecting the "Print a test page" option in your printer's utilities software. The test page can help you determine whether an ink nozzle needs cleaning or a cartridge is out of alignment.
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Tests may reveal a clogged nozzle or a misaligned cartridge.
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Poor ink-cartridge alignment produces fringes and blurred images. The photo on the right is improved after alignment.
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Step 1: Getting sharp prints
