Modern digital cameras require us to choose a file format for saving our images. The JPEG and RAW formats are the most common choices, but which one to use has sparked debate and led to confusion. This article examines the RAW file format, and provides guidance on how to use it to improve the quality of digital photographs.

My first article for NatureScapes.Net was a whirlwind tour of the world of inkjet printing. It provided an overview of the essentials, such as equipment choices (printer, ink, and paper) and color management. (previous article)

The aim of this article is a little different. It assumes you are familiar with inkjet printing already and want to take your skills to the next level. I hereby present MadManChan's Ten Tips for Better Prints: a collection of tips, tricks, and techniques that I've found useful when preparing my own images for print. I have tried to choose tips that do not require you to spend additional money – e.g., buying custom profiles, your own profiling packages, or additional software plug-ins – but I do assume that you have a recent version of Photoshop, such as CS, CS2, or CS3. I have also tried to choose tips that seem to be less well-known (or at least, I don't see them discussed as frequently).

Photography is in large part about exercising control (or maybe that’s just the excuse I use because I happen to be such a control freak). Since the dawn of photography there has been an effort to control the light, the subject, the print, and all other factors that influence the final photographic image. I love being able to exercise control over the process of producing a photographic image, so I’m particularly happy to have a great many digital tools available for this purpose, not the least of which is Photoshop. Through the use of layers and masks, Photoshop provides an incredible degree of flexibility and control, enabling you to truly achieve your photographic vision.

Introduction

Inkjet printers have made significant progress over the last few years: contrast is higher, colors are more saturated, and print longevity is better than ever. On the other hand, finding all the right settings to make a great print can be an exercise in frustration. At times, the world of inkjet printing seems like alchemy: if you twist this knob, flip that switch, and check the phase of the moon before feeding the paper to the printer, then you might - just might - get a print that matches what you saw on your display!