Printing is the process of transferring an image from one medium to another, either by means of a machine or manually. It is used in many industrial, commercial, and artistic applications, including publishing, transaction printing, and photography.
In printing, there are five major types of printing processes: gravure, flexography, letterpress, screen, and lithography. They are distinguished by the method of transferring the image from an image carrier (or plate) to the substrate, which is typically paper. In direct, or single-pass printing, the image is transferred directly from the image carrier to the substrate; in indirect, or double-pass printing, the image is first transferred from the image carrier to a blanket cylinder and then to the paper.
Most modern computer printers are ink jet or laser printers. Unlike the typewriter-like devices of old, these are generally very fast and inexpensive to operate.
If you have a Windows or Mac device, you can print files from a variety of desktop programs by using the Print feature in the File menu. To do this, open a file and then select the print button from the upper toolbar.
Similarly, on an Android device, you can also print from a number of apps that have printing capabilities. For example, Google Cloud Printing allows you to send an image from your phone or tablet to a compatible printer and adjust your settings before it prints.
For those who want to get their photos printed professionally, there are a number of online photo shops to choose from. These sites allow users to upload digital images and have them printed in a matter of days at affordable prices. Some even offer free sample prints to help users determine whether or not the service is a good fit for them.