To ensure the best quality from an inkjet printer, consider the following:

• Calibrate computer monitors, preferably with commercially available color calibration devices and software. At the very least, use color profiles. Ensure that cameras, software, monitors and printers are operating as consistently as possible.

• Inkjet cartridges from the manufacturer generally are the best to use. However, many third-party brands are known for reliability, lower-costs, increased longevity or specialist applications, such as black-and-white imaging. Some cheaper after-market cartridges may not always have accurate colors, can fade more quickly and sometimes may not fit the printer, which can invalidate a printer warranty.

• Use high-quality photo paper that has been tested with the inks you are going to use. Be warned — an ink that is light-fast on one paper may not be on another.

• Run a nozzle check before each print run, and clean your heads if any jets aren’t working.

• Don’t print draft images with high-quality settings; they use much more ink.

• Consider using software-automated picture-package options to print multiple images per page whenever possible.

• To shop for printers, and to make the most of them once purchased, visit online discussion groups such as those operated by Yahoo to glean a good deal of reliable, printer-specific information.