DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> File type to print with empty space
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 8 of 8, (reverse)
AuthorThread
04/30/2013 06:21:27 PM · #1
Which file type should I use for picture printing with areas that are empty (ie. areas that would show as the checkerboard on photoshop)? I seem to think that JPG will fill that in with a background color. Let's say I want to print on metal and would like the photo to fade out at the edges instead of having a defined border. Would I have to deal with a .TIFF?
04/30/2013 06:31:17 PM · #2
png
04/30/2013 06:50:07 PM · #3
Yes, .PNG will maintain the transparencies.
04/30/2013 07:28:14 PM · #4
TIFF is the best choice if you have to print that file. PNG and GIF can keep the transparency too, that's why they are always used in websites.
04/30/2013 08:58:29 PM · #5
I think as far as printers are concerned, white=paper; they don't lay down any pigment there. So if you wanted to lay a 2x3 foot print on a 3x4 substrate, just use a white background and add border. Whatever areas are fading into the border, on the screen, will be fading to the substrate, on the print. I don't think transparency is required.

I could be wrong, I haven't done it, but that's exactly how this works when making prints on paper with those sloppy-border presets...
04/30/2013 09:05:29 PM · #6
Bear_Music is right, as long as the printer doesn't have white "ink."
05/01/2013 12:16:56 PM · #7
Well, recall I'm trying to "print" on aluminum (probably not true "printing"). I want the image to fade into the aluminum border. I assume they have some way to get white to show up and that's what I don't want. I'm going to be talking to someone in the print shop today to see what they say.
05/01/2013 12:22:45 PM · #8
Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Well, recall I'm trying to "print" on aluminum (probably not true "printing"). I want the image to fade into the aluminum border. I assume they have some way to get white to show up and that's what I don't want. I'm going to be talking to someone in the print shop today to see what they say.


Who are you using to print on aluminum? If they do not use white ink then any areas that are white will not be printed and will show the substrate. In this case a JPG will be just fine. I know some of the print places that do print on aluminum can use white ink, but is typically something you have to request. If they do use white ink, you will have to use a TiFF to preserve the transparency.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 07/27/2025 10:03:32 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 07/27/2025 10:03:32 AM EDT.