Photoshop paper-printed results

Resource after resource points me to creating web graphics, web text, web gifs but I seek a resource of creating a document in photoshop, designed for an 11 x 8.5 inch piece of paper that when printed, will be crystal clear.

Most of my efforts, in fact all of my efforts have fallen short (smudged or jagged print and graphics) so I'm missing something. I'm not saving it in the correct format, I'm not printing it with the correct settings, or something else. But what is it?

Assume my HP color printer is set correctly and direct your comments, ideas, thoughts and experience toward the Photoshop 7 platform. Thank you.

For print, your resolution needs to be at 300dpi.

Ok, fair enuff, 300dpi but how do I ensure a project I'm working on finishes with that setting and, I assume, clarity? Do I create the image in 300dpi and it takes care of itself?

Excuse me, I think my rookie is showing.

When the work is done, go to Image > Image size and make sure you are still at 300dpi. If this has changed, and is lower, then you have a problem. This is because if you try and bump it back to 300 the clarity of the image will decrease. You cant increase resolution and keep your canvas size the same without losing quality. Now, for printing. You have a few options. Save as a PDF or you can print to file, making a postscript file, then run that through Adobe Distiller which also makes a PDF. Or you can save it as a TIFF and import it into a page layout program.

And yes, unless you change something deliberatly, or use the crop tool with a different resolution set, the program will take care of it.

in case your question is still not answered - what are your source files? Are you talking about images you pick off the web (sites or e-mail), or images you scan yourself? And are they graphics or photographs? Professional photos or snapshots? Which HP printer are you using? Let me know and I might be able to give you some pointers.

Almost answered. First, want to thank you both (and anyone else who may jump in) for taking the time to contribute to my future knowledge.

Perhaps if I elaborate my scenario, it will help with direction. I was asked to create a one page flyer for an unremarkable project so, with the best intent, I crack open a new document in Photoshop. I make it 8.5 x 11, but only 72dpi (I now realize that 300dpi mistake) and began to edit, add, and design. I finish the project some hours later and, after indexing the layers, I am forced to save the flyer in a format many could use and print from. I decide .bmp (again, I see my error, both .pdf and .tiff would be more suitable).

When I finally print the product on my HP Deskjet 960Cse, highest rez setting, the flyer is marginal but the text is horrible -- appears fuzzy and unrefined. Darn annoying after my time commitment.

So, your continued comments and critique are requested.

72 dpi is most appropriate when designing for the web. 300 dpi is average for printers, although specialist ones can be much higher and produce a much sharper image. I realise it doen't help much now, but for the future, design for the intended medium.

I'm not sure but when you save as tiff all the text becomes rasterized. If it is at 300 dpi it really shouldn't be a problem, but I'm sure your small text is still not that crisp. If you are going to start doing more brochures use a layout program like quark, in design, pagemaker(last resort) or even freehand. Do all you graphics in photoshop and import them to your document. Photoshop can be used for doing things like this but it is not what it was invented for. These other programs I mentioned before will make your task soooooooo much easier, espcially when handling type, paragraphs, and general layout situations. Good Luck.