Compositional Elements

• 1). Find the focal point of the photograph and ensure that this element is easy to read, points to a storytelling element of the image and that the focus is razor-sharp. This can be a person, an object or any main element that the eye is immediately drawn to in the image.
  
  
• 2). Look for the rule of thirds in the composition and see that the main point or subject of the image falls on one of the intersecting lines from this rule. The rule of thirds refers to a compositional technique used in painting and photography where the image is divided into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, and where those intersecting lines occur is where a main focal point of the image should occur.
  
  
• 3). Analyze the layers of the image and look for a distinct foreground, middle ground and background. Storytelling elements should occur in at least one or more layers of the image.
  
  
• 4). Scan the outer edges of the image and see that no clutter or unnecessary objects exist in these areas. Also scan the layers of the image and ensure that no poles, trees or large objects protrude from the subject in an unflattering or unnecessary capacity. Trees sprouting from people's heads are a common mistake in photographs.
  
  

Printing Quality

• 1). Closely examine the grain or pixelation in the print. Grain refers to the snow-like distortion that occurs when a photographic negative has little light present on the transparency. Depending on the desired effect, the grain should be at a minimum. Pixelation occurs when the digital image file lacks the proper amount of data for an enlargement and will render small squares throughout the photograph. For example, if you attempted to print an image downloaded off the Internet at a resolution of 72 dots per inche (DPI), which is the standard for digital screens, your printed image would be pixelated as most images are printed at a resolution of 300 DPI.
  
  
• 2). Notice the contrast of the photograph and be sure that the blacks and whites of the image do not appear washed-out. An image should contain a true black, which is the deepest black possible with no shades of gray. If no black point is present the contrast will be very faint. Similarly, the white sections of the print should be a true white, without any hints of gray or blue present.
  
  
• 3). Look for any ink smudges or lines produced by ink-jet printers. Occasionally, the printer head will smear the ink as it travels across the paper during the printing process. As a cartridge runs low on ink, color distortions will occur on the print.
  
  

Paper Quality

• 1). Carefully handle the paper and see that the stiffness, texture and ink absorption are up to your standards. Hold the photograph at the edges, with white cloth photographic gloves, and gently bend the paper to see that it has a strong stiffness. Look closely at the edges of the contrasting colors of the image and ensure that no ink bleeds exist. Blacks will show a bleed more prominent then most colors.
  
  
• 2). Hold the print flat, at eye level, at a perpendicular angle to any light source and look for bends or dings in the paper. A quality photograph should not contain any dings or bends, which will diminish the quality of the photograph and may interfere with the mounting and framing process.
  
  
• 3). Look closely at the photograph, holding it at different angles at eye level, and see that no fingerprints or smudges are present on the surface. Fingerprints will diminish the quality of the image over time, as oils from a persons hands will cause the chemicals and inks to breakdown faster then normal. Fingerprints on the paper before printing will also effect the ink absorption on the paper.