Access a high-quality inkjet printer. Such printers will often have “Photo” in their model name, which means you'll be using adequate inks for your expense of purchasing fine art paper. Archival inks, which are tested to last for hundreds of years, are available; the printer manufacturer’s website will provide this information. Some printer inks are intended for use with either glossy or matte paper only, so determine this detail before purchasing paper.
Select a paper that is suited to your intended outcome. Papers have a variety of brightnesses, thicknesses and surface finishes. Your image may benefit from an off-white background, or a glossy surface versus a matte one. Some printer manufacturers make fine art paper as well, though a variety of brands exist that are solely dedicated to producing quality papers.
Clean the print heads on your printer. Fine art paper can be costly, so reducing banding and color shifts through the cleaning process will help save your fine art paper. Follow your printer’s software instructions through the process of making test prints on one or two sheets of plain paper.
Open the image in your computer’s imaging software. Make any changes to contrast, color or cropping that may be necessary or desirable.
Select "Print" from the "File" menu in the imaging software. Depending on the software, click on the "Properties" or "Page Setup" button to open further options.
Choose the paper size, orientation and source. Most printers will default to legal size, or 8 1/2 by 11 inches. You may select from a list of other sizes, or enter in a custom paper size. Choose either tall (portrait) or long (landscape) for the orientation. Select either roll or sheet for the source.
Select the type of media being used. The instructions with your fine art paper may suggest a certain media based on your printer manufacturer. If not, choose the media description closest to your paper based on its thickness and whether the surface is glossy or matte. Experiment with different media types for best results.
Choose the highest print quality available. Different terms describe this option depending on the printer manufacturer, but it will usually be the top or last quality in a list of options.
Load the paper face-up, as explained in the paper’s instruction information. Press "Print." If the image has problems with its contrast or color, you may need to make adjustments and reprint.