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Introduction 1-5
Reference Guide
Nine Factors that Affect Print Quality
Understanding all the factors that contribute to print quality is the only way to ensure
perfect printing each and every time. This section details nine important factors; by
controlling them, you can achieve the very best print quality possible.
1. Use the highest quality type of image possible.
2. Check to make sure the image is in focus and exposed properly.
3. Scan it with the best scanner possible.
4. Scan it at the proper resolution.
5. Color correct and sharpen the image with software.
6. Ensure your color profile accurately reflects the exact ink and media you are using.
7. Use the best diffusion pattern available in your RIP.
8. Use only the best possible ink and media combinations.
9. Make sure your cartridges are aligned and firing properly.
1. Original Image Type
The type of original image will determine the quality of your final inkjet print. The best
image type is an original transparency (not a duplicate). They are extremely crisp with
superb edge definition. Print film photos are not as good as they are already one genera-
tion removed from the original film. Also, because of the emulsion process of photo
prints, edge definitions tend to be lost. Color prints can be used, but they have to be of
very good quality to produce acceptable scaled prints. Digital photo files are the newest
image type. Many are unacceptable for large-format printing as they contain only a
small fraction of the information contained in a film transparency.
For example, many digital cameras can only create a 1 MB file. This is not enough
information for large inkjet prints. A file must be at least 10 - 12 MB for a fair print and
30 - 50 MB for a good E-size print (see scanning section). Only the best commercial
digital cameras can achieve these files sizes. Digital files from other sources such as
CD stock photography are usually created from scanned transparencies, so they may be
suitable for inkjet printing. Check with the manufacturer to ensure that the images are at
least 10 - 12 MB and were created from high-quality drum-scanned transparencies.
The better CDs have images of 28MB or more stored in a TIFF format. These are
preferable for great quality prints. If you use a file stored in PhotoCD format, make sure
you use the highest resolution available. Images stored in compressed files such as
JPEG, LZW, GIF, etc. can lose valuable data during the compression process. Avoid
images stored this way if possible. If you have to use a compression file format for
whatever reason, use JPEG. It is closer to a “lossless” compression.