MANILA, Philippines - With the growing popularity of photo sharing websites such as Facebook, Flickr and Tumblr, people have become satisfied with publishing their images online.

Top local photographer Jun Miranda said this is ideal for those who want to prevent their photos from getting lost and destroyed, and for those who want to share their pictures with as many people as possible.

He stressed, however, that nothing beats an image printed on paper.

"When you just upload your photo on the Internet, you don't show the quality of the image. Only a print can show you how sharp it is, its highlights, and shadows," said Miranda, founder of the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), Manila's premier digital arts center.

"Uploading photos on the Internet is not the best way to showcase your work. Printing is still the best option," he added.

For one, an image is "more alive" on paper, something that the LCD screen cannot provide, said photographer and lecturer Jo Avila. He emphasized the need for proper color management, or "maintaining consistent color across different color spaces."

"There's something about the print, its tangibility that makes the images more alive. That's why you print," he said.

Photo printing may be a thing of the past for some, but not for these 2 men. Miranda and Avila have tied up with multinational company Canon to become its brand ambassadors in an effort to remind Filipinos of the importance of printing high quality photos.

Canon recently launched its newest line of PIXMA printers, all of which are capable of producing sharp printouts and wireless photo printing from iPhone, iPad and other devices.

Jill Santiago, marketing manager of Canon Philippines, said the company wants to go beyond the functional value of photo printers.

Citing studies conducted by the company, she said most Filipinos tend to focus on promos and savings at the expense of good quality prints.

"We want our prints to have an effect on the viewer. We want to wow, impress and delight," Santiago said during the launch.

Photo sharing websites may be here to stay, but one has to print if he wants to show how good a photographer he is, according to Miranda and Avila.

That, they said, is enough reason to keep photo printing alive.

Photo courtesy of Canon