A guide to inkjet printer supplies

When printing your pictures at home with your inkjet printer, you want to be sure to get the best possible results to fully enjoy your memories. You have a lot of options when choosing printer supplies—from ink quality to the many different types of paper stock—all of which combine to form a satisfying result.

The following general printer information will help enhance your knowledge of printer supplies and enable you to create prints that will put a smile on your face.

Paper size

Like the photos you'd get from your local or online retailer, the most popular paper size for viewing and sharing photos is the standard 4 x 6-inch print. Slightly larger 5 x 7-inch prints or smaller wallet-sized 2 x 3-inch photos are also popular alternatives.

Many current printers will take different sizes of paper, but you can always purchase letter-sized photo paper, fit multiple smaller photos on the same sheet, and then simply cut them out with scissors. The Microsoft Windows XP Photo Printing Wizard will give you several ways to optimize a letter-sized piece of photo paper.

Many digital photo editing and library programs also offer options for maximizing the use of a letter-sized piece of photo paper.

Taking stock

Today's photo paper comes in many styles, weights, and photo finishes. You have a number of choices in finishes, including matte, glossy, and varying degrees of gloss, often referred to as semi-gloss or satin-gloss. Color prints tend to look best on a glossy finish paper, while black-and-white and sepia-tone photos look better on a matte finish because of its low contrast.

Get creative

You can have a lot of fun using specialty papers to create projects with your digital photos. Ideal for gifts and crafts, your options include:

Choosing photo ink

Choosing ink for your printer can be as intimidating as choosing a paper type from the numerous options available—especially since the cost of ink can be many times greater than your paper investment.

Naturally, the easiest and safest route is to purchase brand-name ink by the manufacturer of your printer. Sticking with brands associated with your printer will probably yield the best results. Keep in mind that some manufacturers won't cover printer damage directly attributed to third-party inks.

Different inks also have different archival qualities, or resistance to color fading. Check the Web site of your printer manufacturer to see what recommendations they may have for choosing inks.

Use your ink wisely

If you are going to print a large quantity of photos, it makes sense to check the prices at an online or retail photo printer to see if they are a better option. It may make more sense to use their service instead of using your ink and paper for such a large job.

Practice "selective printing." Take the time to think about what you want in paper form versus what you can live with on your computer or in an online photo album.

Keep replacement cartridges for ink on hand, but make sure they remain in their sealed packaging. Another tip: some printers sell individual color ink tanks instead of one color cartridge that handles all three colors, so you save money by only purchasing the color that ran out.

Keep these things in mind when shopping for printer supplies and when printing, and you'll be much happier with the prints that you create.

Marc Saltzman is a prolific freelance journalist, author, and radio and TV host. He specializes in video gaming, consumer electronics, computer software and hardware, portable devices, and Internet trends. Along with his weekly syndicated columns with Gannett News Service, USAToday.com, CNN.com, and CanWest Media, Marc currently contributes to more than 40 prominent publications, including USA Today, AARP The Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, National Post, Microsoft Home Magazine, PC Gamer, and Electronic Gaming Monthly. Marc has authored 12 books and is a regular on-air technology expert on Next @ CNN, an award-winning tech show seen on CNN and its affiliates.

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