We all love capturing life's moments with our trusty smartphones. These pocket-sized photo studios are always with us, ready to snap the perfect pic. But let's be honest, sometimes we wish we could hold and display those cherished memories in a more tangible form. It's just all too easy for them to get buried in our ever-growing camera roll and then, we barely see most of them again! Look no further, because this article is all about turning your smartphone photos into physical prints with ease. We'll introduce you to a variety of ways to get your beloved pics out of your phone and into your hands.
In this article, we'll help you discover the world of wireless printing, creative mobile apps, and nifty devices that are all about transforming your digital memories into physical keepsakes! And don't worry, we're keeping it simple and fun, just like those impromptu snaps you love to take. So, no more scrolling through endless albums or wishing you had a printed version of that group selfie from your last adventure. Keep reading to get all the info and tips you need, and let's make your smartphone photography experience even more rewarding! Time to bridge the gap between our digital and physical worlds, one photo at a time.
1. Portable Photo Printers
Imagine being able to print your favorite memories straight from your smartphone anytime, anywhere. With portable photo printers, you can do exactly that! They're super easy and convenient to use meaning you're way more likely to actually make something out of those photos on your camera roll. These compact, user-friendly gadgets have revolutionised the way we bring our digital photos to life, making it a breeze even for the least tech-savvy among us. Portable photo printers connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, enabling you to print without the hassle of cables.
Some of these gadgets even have their own mobile apps, which allow you to edit your photos, add filters, and play with text or stickers before printing. They usually print wallet-sized photos—around 2x3 inches—perfect for decorating your room, sharing with friends, or carrying in your wallet. What sets these printers apart from traditional ones is their portability. Take them to parties, vacations, or family gatherings, and create instant souvenirs. Though the print quality may not be as high as professional photo printers, it's more than enough for capturing the essence of fun, everyday moments. Plus, many portable photo printers produce water-resistant, tear-proof, and smudge-proof prints, ensuring your memories stay intact. In a world where our smartphone galleries are overflowing with photos and memories, portable photo printers provide an easy and creative way to preserve and share those special moments.
If this sounds convenient, fun-sized prints sounds like the go for you, check out Fujiifilm's Instax Mini Link 2 Smartphone Printer or Xiaomi's Pocket Photo Printer.
2. Wireless Inkjet Printers
Many modern printers have wireless printing capabilities that will let you print directly from your smartphone! Simply pair your smartphone to the same WiFi network the printer is connected to and start printing from your Camera Roll (some printers may require you to download their app before you can begin doing this, so check the instruction manual). The best thing about using an actual printer for your photos is they'll be much better quality than a portable instant smartphone printer. Plus it does all of that other regular printer stuff like printing from a computer, scanning, and copying.
If high-quality prints are important to you, you’re going to want to pick out an inkjet printer over a laser printer. Not only do they allow you to print on different types of paper (including glossy photo paper), they’re also typically cheaper to run. Inkjets are less expensive than laser printers and inkjet ink cartridges are cheaper than toner cartridges. Your inkjet printer also doesn’t need a warm-up before printing, so you can get your photos printed faster and more efficiently. For the best quality, you should also look for one with a higher DPI - this is a measure of the resolution of a printed image and the higher the dot density, the higher the resolution.
If you're looking for an affordable option, you could check out are the Canon PIXMA TS6360A Multi-Function Printer or HP Envy Inspire HP+ 7921E All-in-One Printer.
Choose High-Quality Paper
Having a great printer is one thing, but having high-quality printer paper is another. For that glossy, straight-out-of-the-pharmacy-printing-machine look, make sure you pick up some gloss paper. Make sure the paper you choose is compatible with your printer.
Now you’ve got your printer and gloss paper, it’s time to get your phone out! Below are some quick guides on how to print from iPhones and Android smartphones.
How to Print photos from iPhone
AirPrint is a mobile printing solution built into Apple devices that works with most wireless printers. There is no need to setup, download, or install anything. See how easy it is to print with AirPrint from your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
Printing with AirPrint is simple. Just make sure your device and printer are connected to the same network and follow the steps below.
Step 1: Choose your content, open the page or photo you want to print and tap the 'Share' button.
Step 2: Select print icon, swipe the screen to reveal print button on the bottom row, then tap the print icon.
Step 3: Print and enjoy, confirm the correct printer and print setting are selected. Tap 'Print' and collect your pages!
Print photos from Android
Printing on Adroid will be fairly similar. From the gallery app, find the photo, click on the three-dot menu button, and click print. If the printer you are using requires the use of an app, the instructions are slightly different. First, make sure you’ve got the correct app installed depending on which printer model you have. For this example, we’ll be using the HP Print Service Plugin. These apps need to be both installed and enabled on your device to print wirelessly.
Step 1: Go to the Google Play Store and get the HP Print Service Plugin is installed. Install the plugin if it is not installed.
Step 2: Enable Plugin Tap the notification that pops up to enable. (If you miss this you can also go to 'printing settings' in your mobile settings menu to enable.)
Step 3: You've done it, your mobile device is now enabled for mobile printing!
You can now open the photo or page you want to print, tap the menu icon and select 'Print'.
No Print option in your app? Many apps provide a Share option – use that option to share photos and PDF documents to the app to print them.
Other options include using online printing services that allow you to upload photos directly from your smartphone and have them delivered to your doorstep! Of course, this doesn't quite have the level of convenience that these other two options have. Photo memories are priceless so if you haven't already, try one of these solutions today so you can keep your dearest memories close!
