Sharpen before printing photos?

[xr250r]

Hello,
This may be a really dumb question, so please forgive me.:o

I send my digital images to a retailer for printing, usually 4x6 or 5x7 sizes. I send the images as-is, straight from the camera. I've been very pleased with the sharpness of the prints, but I was wondering if I would get better output if I used unsharp mask on the images before sending them for printing. What about if I printed on my $99 ink-jet printer?

Thank you.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yes,. sharpening before printing is a very good idea. Especially though as ypu print to larger sizes where the details can really start to shine!

[Hellashot]

Especially though as ypu print to larger sizes where the details can really start to shine!

I usually find the opposite.. the smaller the image the more sharpening you need to apply. If you over sharpen an image you want to print big you'll see the effects of the sharpening while at a small 4x6 size you cannot see because of the small print size.

Usually you need to "over sharpen" for 4x6 printing. Sharpen it until it looks a little over sharpened on your screen before you print.