Select Page

Photo Printer Test Image

photo printer test image (vivid color) featured

Testing photo printer takes a bit more effort as pristine appearance is the most anticipated result in this type of printing. When printing photos, you can almost always be sure, that every inch of your printed result will be under high scrutiny. This means, that photo printing must adhere to the highest standards, and unfortunately that is not always the case.

The purpose of this printing test is to challenge your photo printer in the way, that brings out the shortcomings. This in turn will allow you to make adjustments for improvement and ultimately have much better print quality.

You can download our photo printer test pages and use them with any printer model or paper size. These images have 3:2 aspect ratio, which is a common type of frame aspect for printed photography.

Printable PDF page preview:

photo printer test image (vivid color) preview

Photo Printer Test Image (Vivid) will test color performance of your photo printer

Click download button below to get the PDF file required for this test.

Warning: Do not print the preview JPG image itself, as it is highly compressed and it will not meet the required performance criteria for a proper photo printer test page. The tools and guides we offer on this website are entirely free of charge, so please use the appropriate download button to get the necessary testing media for conducting the test.

How to use this test

Important: For testing purposes, do not use lower-grade paper. Please ensure that you use the same high-quality photo paper as usual when printing this printer test page.

Adjust the printer settings: To get the best results, make sure you have the correct printer settings for the type of paper you are using. You can usually find recommended settings in the printer manual or online.

Consider using a color management system: A color management system can help ensure that the colors in your photos are accurate and consistent across different devices and printers.

Check the ink or toner levels: Before printing, make sure you have enough ink or toner in your cartridges. If the levels are low, you may not get the best results.

To print the downloaded PDF test page, follow these steps:

Open the test page in a PDF viewer or image editor.
Go to the Print dialog box and select your printer.
Make sure the printer settings are correct for the type of paper you are using.
Click Print and wait for the test page to print.

Once the print job is complete, analyze the test page to ensure that the printer is producing the correct colors, shades, and gradients. Look for any visible banding, streaks, or other anomalies that could indicate issues with the printer.

How to evaluate this test

When evaluating photo print quality, there are a few things you can look for:

Color accuracy: The colors in the printed photo should match the colors in the original image as closely as possible. Use a reference image to compare the colors side by side. The test image specifically involves a high variety of colors, human skin tones and nature fragments aiming to exercise the full range of the printer’s capabilities and accurately assess its color reproduction, detail clarity, and overall print quality.

Contrast: The range of tones in the photo should be balanced, with rich shadows and bright highlights.

Detail: The photo should be sharp and show fine details like facial features or 3D pixel art model drawing.

Texture: If the photo contains any textures, they should be visible and not blurred or muddied.

Grain: If the photo contains any grain (as in film photography), it should be uniform and not blotchy or speckled.

To compare the printed photo to the PDF on your screen, you can use a color calibration tool to ensure that your monitor is displaying colors accurately. Keep in mind that the colors on your screen may not match the printed photo exactly due to differences in color gamut and calibration between your monitor and printer.

When printing photos, it is recommended to use high-quality photo paper and the appropriate printer settings for photo printing. This test file is set for 15×10 cm or 6×4 inch photo paper.  It’s also a good idea to use the printer’s highest quality settings for photo printing to get the best possible results.

What’s next?

Once you’re happy with your photo printer test image appearance, you should consider several important measures to maintain printing quality over time.

As your printer ages, it may start to experience wear and tear that can affect its performance and output quality. However, regular maintenance and care can help prolong its life and maintain its quality.

To prevent ink from drying or toner from clogging, it’s important to use your printer regularly, especially if you have an inkjet printer. Inkjet printers are more prone to clogging if they are not used frequently.

For laser printers, you can perform regular maintenance tasks such as cleaning the printer, replacing the toner cartridge when it’s empty, and avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures or humidity.

Keep testing regularly

Performing regular printing tests can help you monitor the quality of your printer’s output over time. You should perform these tests every few months, or more frequently if you use your printer heavily. Keeping printed test pages for comparison can help you identify any changes in print quality and make adjustments to improve it.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your printer maintains its quality and lasts for as long as possible.

color test printer maintenance

Color test page

It is important to print a color test page once in a while. This will help you to ensure that the printer is functioning properly and producing high-quality prints. It can also help you to identify any potential issues with the printer early on, so that you can take the necessary steps to address them. Additionally, testing the print page can help you to get familiar with the printer's features and settings, so that you can get the most out of your new device.

printer color test page brands