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Thumbnails are reduced versions of larger pictures. They get the name thumbnail because they are often nearly the size of a thumbprint or nail. They are commonly used to organize large albums of pictures in computer programs or Internet galleries. Photographers have used this method to peruse large amounts of their work for years. They call printed sheets of thumbnails "contact sheets." Both Windows and Mac Operating Systems (OS) have also translated this method to their computer programs. The native, or already installed, programs that came with your computer have functions that allow you to select photos and print out contact sheets. This article will tell you how to print thumbnails.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Print Thumbnails in Mac OS

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  1. You may need to import them if you want to work with them at all before printing.
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  2. You need to be able to select all the photos at once in order to make a complete contact sheet.
  3. When the print dialogue box appears, change the format on the left hand side from "Standard" to "Contact Sheet."
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Print Thumbnails in Windows OS

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  1. Click "Pictures" on the menu that opens. This will take you to your native Windows picture gallery.
  2. Either draw a box around the photos by clicking once and dragging a selection box around them with your mouse, or press "Control" and click each photo separately.
  3. Click on the "Paper Size" menu and select "Contact Sheet" as the paper size. You can also select the printer you want to print from and how many copies you want.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Print Thumbnails on the Internet

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  1. Picasa is Google's free picture application that works with their "cloud computing" system, meaning that you can store all your photos on the Internet and access them when you need them.
  2. Then either choose to print that album, or create a folder with chosen pictures. Go to either the "Folder" or "Album" menu on the horizontal toolbar.
  3. Either the Folder or Album menus have this option. Your images should be sent straight to the printer, printing 7 columns across and 6 rows down.
    • You can also print a contact sheet using the Collage feature in Picasa. Click on the "Collage" tab next to the "Library" tab. Select "Contact Sheet" from the list of settings. If you choose this option, the thumbnail size is based on the number of pictures you choose to include in the collage contact sheet. The more pictures you have, the smaller the thumbnail size will be.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I print text under the thumbnail picture, like the name of a painting?
    Community Answer
    Right click and then find the "rename" option in the new window. When you are done, press the enter key.
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