Post Editing for Print - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR

07/28/2005 02:27:07 PM · #1

I am entering some pictures in the local fair and have never post edited a printed picture. What are some tips to get the most out of prints. Most of my pictures are 2 megapixal at 1200 x 1600. Please help. Got to get this done by next week and have 10 pictures to do. If I get some time tonight, I might add them to the site to get feed back on them as well. Thanks

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/28/2005 02:28:40 PM · #2

A lot depends on how large the image area has to be!

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

07/28/2005 02:33:28 PM · #3

If you're printing at 11 x 14, you're going to want to upsize at least 50%.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR

07/28/2005 02:34:51 PM · #4

I need to print around 8x11, can do 5x6, but seem to get counted down for that!

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

07/28/2005 02:41:18 PM · #5

if you interpolate the images up (resizing in 10% steps bicubicly with bicubic smoother if possible) to about 2000 x 3000 you're almost at 300dpi which is more than enough. Realisticly you probably only need to get to around 2200 on the long side (200dpi).

Message edited by author 2005-07-28 14:41:39.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR

07/28/2005 02:49:44 PM · #6

I will try that. As far as USM goes, How much is necessary to keep an image sharp in print. I have heard that you don't have to use it as much for print as you do for screen. After resizing up, do I need to apply USM? Do I resize before I start messing with saturation, levels, cloning, etc...

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/28/2005 02:50:58 PM · #7

Right now, your uncropped image is 8x10.666 at 150 dpi, which is adequate for output on a Fuji Frontier printer. Before upsampling, I would print one test (you can use "strips" at 100% crop of several images) and evaluate first, since even the best upsampling via software may be no better that what a good printer will give you. If you have a Costco account, you can get an 8x12 print for $1.99.

If you have to crop, I would just float the image on a white background.

I usually apply moderate USM to images that size, somewhere around
88%/1.3 dia/TH = 5.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR

07/28/2005 03:00:23 PM · #8

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Thanks General, but I don't really know if I understand what your saying in the first part, but let me see. Are you telling me that if I keep it the original size, edit, and take to a print shop, that they probably can do as good or better than I can by resampling? Also, I don't have a Costco here, I live in a town of about 28,000 people and the closest town any larger is 200 miles away. I do have a Walgreens, Walmart, Sears, and Target. Do any of these guys do good prints. I was going to just print on my HP Printer with my 6 color cartridge in.

Boy, there is always something to learn and I am just trying to learn to take good pictures that look good on the screen, Don't print too often, but would love to!!!

Thanks guys, This has been a great help.

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

07/28/2005 03:09:26 PM · #9

just my opinion but if selling I wouldn't use an inkjet. I would rather get a print from the walmart or walgreens machine, BUT ONLY if it is the big fuji machine, NOT the do it yourself dye-sub machine. Don't get me wrong the dye-sub is good but I think the fuji out does it by far.

Only downside is that I don't think any of these can do anything other than glossy or larger than 8x10 without sending out. May want to check that immediately if those are options you need.

This may not be an issue if just showing your work but if they are buying them you want to make sure it is cost effective to you and of good quality to them.

Also a lot of the WalMarts now let you submit the images online and pick them up at the store an hour later. Might be worth trying.

Message edited by author 2005-07-28 15:11:29.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/28/2005 03:10:22 PM · #10

All of those places will have these printers, my supermarket has one. The quality of the prints will vary with the lab and how well they maintain/calibrate their equipment. If the Sears has a "Photo Center" inside, I'd try them or WalMart first.

Assuming you are printing an uncropped image, I'd go to Image Size and set the shorter dimension to 8 inches; you should be at 150 dpi. DO NOT resample!

Now make the canvas size 8x12 (1200x1800 pixels) and you should have white strips on each side. These are to make sure the print facility doesn't crop your photo.

I would now print this test image at 4x6 at a few places to check the color--these prints should cost no more than $0.29. Once you decide on a lab, find out what size prints they can make, and resize the canvas accordingly. If they only can make an 8x10 print, you'll need to either crop the photo, or shrink the image to about 7x9.5 on an 8x10 canvas.

Check out some of my butterfly prints to see what that would look like (ignore the captions I put on for what you're doing).

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/28/2005 03:12:39 PM · #11

Oh, if it wasn't clear, I'd only use the big Fuji or Noritsu machnes too, I don't even own an inkjet printer.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR

07/28/2005 05:32:11 PM · #12

Again thanks guys. You have been a big help. I had thought about doing the online thing with Walmart. The one thing is that these prints will not be sold right now (Maybe in the future... if I could only get as good as some of you guys!!!) The pictures will be put on a poster board and displayed at the fair in a hot humid room. If they win, they get to go to State. Last year I didn't mount them correctly and lost out on a State Entry.

Maybe this year!!!

Thanks again. This site is awesome when it comes to helping us less knowledgable beginning photographers. You all are great. Thanks

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED VR

07/28/2005 05:39:04 PM · #13

Another Question???? When do most people neatimage. I have been doing some the first thing in post editing, but recenlty been reading some posts where they did all of their adjustments and saved for DPC and then put it through neatimage. Which way is more effective and perfered. I am a procedure type person, so sometimes expermenting is not something I can do without lots of thought.

Nuno

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/28/2005 07:56:24 PM · #14

Two things to notice: be aware of USM. The Fuji labs tend to sharpen the image in the uploading it to the printer so.. Don't exagerate. The first wedding that I shoot I did the USM has I used to do to get good sharpness at the monitor. In about half of the prints I could see the oversharpning in the images. Probably none of the clients noticed it but I learned that prints are a lot sharper than inage on screen. So be gentle.

Secondly about neat image: I only do it when I need to. If you have to upsample the images do all your color corrections and exposure corrections, then upsample, then neat image, then sharpen. This way you can be more certain to don't do things double time.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/28/2005 07:59:58 PM · #15

Originally posted by Nuno:

I agree--I see a lot of oversharpened images in the printing industry.