what to know
- Check the user guide to see if your camera has printing software or PictBridge standards.
- Turn off the camera > connect it to the printer via USB, or leave the camera on and connect wirelessly.
- If your camera has an AC adapter, plug it in. Printing can drain your camera battery quickly.
This article contains tips for printing directly from your camera without first downloading the images to your computer.
With some digital cameras, you must download the photos to your computer before you can print them. However, newer cameras allow you to print directly from the camera, either wirelessly or via a USB cable.
Some cameras require specific software to allow you to print directly, while others can only print directly to specific models of printers. Check your camera's user guide to determine any camera limitations for direct printing.
PictBridge is a common software package built into some cameras for printing directly from the camera. For example, it gives you several options for adjusting the size or selecting the number of copies. If your camera has PictBridge, it will automatically appear on the LCD once connected to the printer.
When connecting to the printer via a USB cable, make sure you are using the correct type of cable. Many cameras use smaller than normal USB connectors, such as Mini-B (mini USB) or USB-C.
Because of the extra hassle associated with trying to print directly from a camera via a USB cable, fewer and fewer camera manufacturers include USB cables as part of their camera kits. You either have to "borrow" a USB cable from an old camera or buy a new USB cable separate from the camera kit.
Be sure to turn off the camera before connecting it to the printer. The camera can only be turned on when the USB cable is connected to both devices. Also, it's usually best to connect the USB cable directly to the printer rather than to a USB hub connected to the printer.
If your camera has an AC adapter available, you may want to run the camera from a wall outlet rather than a battery when printing. If you must print from a battery-powered camera, make sure the battery is fully charged before starting the print job.
Printing directly from the camera can drain the camera battery quickly, depending on the model of camera, and you don't want the battery to die in the middle of a print job.
As more and more cameras come equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, printing directly from the camera is becoming easier and easier. Easily join a wireless network and connect to a Wi-Fi printer without a USB cable. Printing directly from the camera over a Wi-Fi network follows a set of steps that are nearly identical to printing over a USB cable.
As long as the printer and camera are wirelessly connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you should be able to print directly from the camera. However, the rule mentioned above about using a fully charged battery applies here again.
Almost all cameras experience faster than expected battery drain when connected to a Wi-Fi network, regardless of why you're using Wi-Fi.
One disadvantage of printing directly from the camera is that you don't have the option to extensively edit the photo to fix the problem. Some cameras do offer subtle editing capabilities so you can fix minor imperfections before printing.
If you're printing photos directly from your camera, it's usually best to print them fairly small. Save large versions of your photos so you have time to do any important image editing on your computer.
