2 Q's re: Printing Problems

I hardly ever print images. I am using PS6 and a Canon Pixma MP495 all-in-one printer.

Recently I needed two 2.5" X 2" headshots for some official documents. I figured it would be a simple enough task to do myself. So I set up a tripod, mounted the camera, used the self-timer, and took a few 7MP portraits of myself. Then I copied them to my PC. So far, so good.

I opened Photoshop and created a 2.5" X 2" 150 dpi (ppi?) preset crop tool. I cropped a photo of my face. I made some changes to the photo (e.g. removed blemishes, etc. LOL). I saved the photo. Then I selected PRINT from the PS file menu.

The photo printed, but I could not get it to come out the size I cropped it to. I tried over and over. I even tried using the Windows print command as an alternative. The photo kept printing much smaller than I cropped it to and to the 2.5" X 2" size I required.

It also printed much darker than it appeared on my monitor.

I ended up getting pretty frustrated and giving up for the time being. I have until April to figure this out! Any advice?

Dave