Physical copies of photos aren’t as common as they once were. However, many people still love them. Physical photos feel more personal and dearer. The tangible copies are great for memories’ sake.
People had to go to film studio services to get their photos developed from film rolls in the past. Polaroid cameras came as a revelation to most folks.
They could instantly get printed photos, and you had to wait a few minutes to view the final copies.
Things are so much easier today. HP Printers make it possible to get pictures instantly. Let’s find out.
How To Print 4×6 Photos On Hp Printer
To answer how we print photos, we need to look at how it’s done from separate devices.
For Windows:
Step 1: Load paper into the photo tray slide
- Ensure you get 102 x 152mm sized paper.
- Eject all other paper from the tray and insert a 4 x 6 photo paper.
- The shorter side of the paper goes into the tray. The side you want the photo to appear on should face down.
- Place the paper width guide on the edges to align the 4 x 6 photo paper. Load the photos facing up on the reflective side onto the main photo tray for inkjet printers.
Step 2: Open the photo
- Go to the file location and open the photo with paint
- The main menu icon has a print file option. Click on it.
- Go to Documents Properties to access your print options.
Step 3: Print Settings
- Choose the photo orientation, i.e., Landscape or portrait for vertical pictures.
- Choose the tray you placed the 4 x 6 photo paper on.
- Select the paper type.
- Ensure you select the paper size for our case. It is the 102 x 152mm
- A borderless printing photo is recommended, so select the margin to be right at the edge.
Step 4: Set print quality
- Go to advanced settings on the main menu and choose print quality settings.
- Here you have several options, depending on the photo standard you like. Search and select Max DPI for the best results.
- Click OK and select print.
- The HP printer prints the photo. It should take less than a minute.
For iPhone or Android device
Step 1: Load paper into the photo tray
- Ensure you get 102 x 152mm sized paper.
- Eject all other paper from the photo tray
- The shorter side of the paper goes into the tray. The side you want the photo to appear on should face down.
- Place the guides on the edges to align the photo paper. Load the photos facing up on the reflective side onto the main tray for inkjet printers.
Step 2: Install the HP Smart app
Go to the app store for iPhone or Play Store for Android and install the HP smart app
Step 3: The process
- Choose your printer on the app home screen. You can add the printer if you don’t have it paired already.
- Tap on Print Photos on the app.
- Choose the photo you want to print on your iPhone.
- Edit your photo on the Preview panel. The panel allows you to change hues, lighting, scale, resolution, orientation, etc.
- Tap Print. Select the paper type and dimensions.
- Select print to finish the process.
How Do You Set My Printer To 4×6?
The answer to setting your HP printer to 4 × 6 is easy. To get your printer to produce photos in the dimension, you need to make some tweaks and minor adjustments.
The first thing you need is to get the right paper. 4×6 paper is the same as 102 x 152mm. You should get these sizes to print an accurate photo.
You need to feed the shorter side into the photo tray slide for proper dimensions. Getting the right size of paper isn’t enough. For the next step, you should open print settings on your Windows computer.
- Choose the photo orientation, i.e., Landscape or portrait for vertical photos.
- Choose the tray you placed the photo paper on.
- Select the paper type.
- Ensure you select the paper size for our case. It is 102 x 152mm. Use a paper width guide.
The options differ when using a photo from your phone.
- Choose the photo you want to print
- Edit your photo on the Preview panel. The panel allows you to change hues, lighting, scale, resolution, orientation, etc.
- Tap Print. Select the paper type and dimensions.
Always choose a small border to remove the bottom edge. Remember to place the paper on the right side. Plain paper doesn’t do the trick for photos.
What Types Of Paper Work Best With Hp Printers For Photo Printing
You don’t just use any paper with your HP printer. To get the best results, you should search for two paper supplies.
HP Advanced Photo Paper
It is one of the best photo papers in the world. It is perfect if you want a glossy pr reflective photo. It works well with most types of ink and toners
It is thick and durable, and unlike most photo papers, it rarely scratches up. Ink settles on the surface quickly, and you get good photos. It works great for high-resolution shots. The glossy surface also highlights lower-resolution shots.
HP Premium Plus Photo Paper
It is perfect because it comes in the popular 4×6 tray size. Just like the Advanced, it has a glossy surface. The quality is great, especially in its ability to absorb ink rapidly.
The paper shows resistance to water damage, making it a durable option. You could get the matte option if you don’t fancy the glossy paper. The matte paper is great because it better hides scratches and superficial degradation.
HP uses recycled fiber for its 4 x 6 photo paper. It is sturdy and environmentally friendly.
Tips For Getting The Best Results When Printing Photos On An Hp Printer
One of the most frustrating things is getting poor-quality photos. The answer to good photos is easy.
Always get a good paper.
The paper you get determines the print quality. If you get a bad paper, your prints will always look bad. Paper also absorbs ink differently. Always get paper recommended for photos.
Set the DPI to max
We measure print resolution in dots per inch. The resolution will be great if you have a high dots per inch count. Ensure you set the resolution to DPI max. Anything lower than DPI Max doesn’t utilize your printer’s full resolution.
Edit your photos
Your pictures could be better if you edit them properly before printing. You can use a third-party app or even a popular photo editing website to get good photos.
Before printing the pictures, play around with the contrast, lighting, highlights, details etc. Download good-quality images from a trusted website.
Avoid tabbed paper supplies
Tabbed paper isn’t good for printing because of the scaling. Printers use the entire paper, including the punched-out sections. The result is some parts of the portions bleeding into the punched areas.
Ensure the picture gets printed facing the right side
Set the paper right to get the ink on the right side. The glossy side should face down.
Troubleshooting Tips If Your Prints Are Coming Out Blurry Or Not Printing Correctly
Check the printer alignment.
Your HP printer could be printing blurry images due to cartridge alignment issues. The best way to solve the issue is to remove and insert the cartridge properly.
Try printing again once the cartridge is in and see whether you have solved the issue. Check the user guides or website instructions to install cartridges.
Update your drivers
If you keep getting bad prints, it could be time to update your drivers. Driver updates fix most issues and bugs.
You search for driver status on your computer under the device manager. Always keep your printer drivers updated. Contact HP for help with bad drivers.
Ensure the printer is cooling properly
Cooling is a huge issue with some printers. The print performance depends on the heat of the printer’s processor. If the processor isn’t cooling enough, you could experience some thermal throttling. Keep the printer’s vents open, and place the machine in a well-ventilated room.
Clean your printer
Your printer could be underperforming because it is dirty. Many people neglect to clean the insides of their printers. If you don’t clean the printer often, dust will build on the cartridge and the vents. Your printer will overheat, and it reduces the performance.
Change the print speed.
If the print speed is too low, the image will turn out over-saturated. If you set it too high, the image will be faint. Ensure you get the right balance with your printer.
Conclusion
Although physical copies of photographs aren’t as popular as they once were, knowing how to print 4×6 photos on HP printers won’t hurt. Physical images have a more intimate and precious feel to them. The physical copies are excellent for preserving memories.
People had to go to film studio services to get the image developed from photo cassette-like rolls in the past.
Today, you can get your photos instantly, thanks to HP printers. The article answers how you can print photos on windows, your iPhone, and an Android device. You can get crisp photo paper to print borderless photos.
