About to give up on printing at home!

[barryburgard]

I could use some advice please. My prints from my printer (Canon S900) are almost always pixilated (sp). That is, they are grainy. I see the same result on prints from 4x6 to 8x10. I use high quality photo paper from Kodak (including the new professional paper). I set the printer according to the paper so it is in the High Quality mode. I take the pictures with the Canon Digital Rebel set to large/fine resolution. I have used Elements 2 and now 3 for processing the pictures. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

Barry

[robertwgross]

Barry, check on a few things in one of your typical problem image files.

(1) Find the overall file size in bytes or megabytes.
(2) Find the file format, e.g. TIF 16-bit, TIF 8-bit, JPEG, etc.
(3) Find the embedded dimensions for printing, e.g. 4"x6".
(4) Find the embedded DPI setting for printing, e.g. 300 DPI.

Then check on one thing in your printer.

(5) Print quality setting.

---Bob Gross---

[fslshooter]

When Wal-Mart opened a Super Center 2 miles from my house I began using them for all my prints. If you have a similar service near your home, I suggest you get your images print ready, write the files to a CD and take it to them. More often than not Wal-Mart processes my order while I'm shopping elsewhere in the store. IMHO their service is no only less expensive and higher quality but also more permanent. My 2 cents FWIW.

[Radtech1]

Based my experience with the 9000 series printers I will bet that the problem is the Kodak paper.

Try using Canon ink and Canon paper together. The Canon rep at MicroCenter told me that the Canon ink and paper are a "System" designed to be used together. The ink has an enzyme that disolves the top layer on the paper allowing the ink to bond with the paper on a molecular level. This enzyme then re-hardens, sealing the image.

Inside I was saying, "Yeah, Yeah, whatever, you're an idiot if you expect me to believe that steaming load..."

BUT,

I have to admit that I get silky smooth prints when I use Canon/Canon. Conversly the ink (especially the back) tends to puddle up into little tiny ity bity pools (think the size of pepper grains) on the paper when I use Kodak paper.

For "Proof" work, where second rate quality is OK I use Epson paper ($20.00 per 125 sheets at Costco) and bulk ink from Oddparts.com. But for anything I show or hang it is Canon/Canon

Rad

[infinity5235]

If they are pixilated it could be that you are saving JPEGs as JPEGs. Each time you do this in Elements you are throwing away needed information. Make all your corrections in Elements and then save the picture in a psd file (elements) and then print from that.

Good luck,

Roger

[barryburgard]

Thanks to all of you. I am and will look into all of your suggestions.
You have restored some of my sanity. I have so little left!

Barry

[Hellashot]

I have a Canon i560. I tried using Kodak ultima paper and also got grainy, poor results. I found that epson high glossy or premium glossy ( don't know what it's called, it's 10mil 68lb I think) worked best and a lot cheaper than Kodak.

I even tried canon paper with less than perfect results. I'm able to get 100 sheets of 4x6 epson 10mil paper for $15 to $18 in stores near me.

Might be worth trying out.

[barryburgard]

The Canon paper with the Canon printer worked wonders.

Thanks

Barry

[rgravel]

When Wal-Mart opened a Super Center 2 miles from my house I began using them for all my prints. If you have a similar service near your home, I suggest you get your images print ready, write the files to a CD and take it to them. More often than not Wal-Mart processes my order while I'm shopping elsewhere in the store. IMHO their service is no only less expensive and higher quality but also more permanent. My 2 cents FWIW.

Couldn't agree more. I don't bother printing at home anymore.

[PhotosGuy]

Couldn't agree more. I don't bother printing at home anymore.

Me, too. The local Walgreens uses a Fuji Frontier 350 which is great for the small stuff & the big stuff goes to a local pro lab.