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02/12/2019 09:35:08 AM · #1 |
Hi,
I am asking for some help "for dummies" pls regarding image size and dpi for prints.
I was playing around and posted a picture on my FB page. The original picture was of a dog I took during a competition. The owner of the dog now contacted me, saying she loves the picture and would like to have it printed. I am delighted and want to give her the best possible end product. My problem is that I don't really do prints and the dpi story has always left me a little confused.
I worked on a 3500 x 3500 canvas size, set to 72 dpi. I know that to get a good print it should be 300 or even 350 dpi. Can I just change the settings to 3500 x 3500 and 350 dpi?
Where does the "extra" resolution come from that wasn't there in the first place?
Thanks for your help.
Message edited by author 2019-02-12 09:35:25. |
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02/12/2019 10:21:30 AM · #2 |
Originally posted by kasaba:
Can I just change the settings to 3500 x 3500 and 350 dpi?
Where does the "extra" resolution come from that wasn't there in the first place?
Thanks for your help. |
Yes -- as long as you keep the number of pixels the same you will be OK.
There is no "extra resolution" involved -- changing the DPI only tells the printer how big to print it. Those settings tell the printer to make it 10" x 10". If you were to change the DPI setting to 100DPI (but still 3500x3500 pixels) the printer would (try to) print it 35" x 35" ...
Make sure when you change the DPI that your software is set to NOT resample the image -- that would change the number of pixels and (likely) degrade the image.
We have a couple of tutorials on prepping images for print, about halfway down the page ...
Message edited by author 2019-02-12 10:22:06. |
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02/12/2019 11:18:36 AM · #3 |
Here are a few things to watch out for:
1. After you go through all that work to perfect the color in Photoshop (or whatever your processing software may be), make sure the software color management (e.g.: Photoshop) controls the print colors. In the print dialog, turn OFF color management by the printer. When both the software and the printer simultaneously try to take charge, the results of the fight are ugly.
2. The printer and the software both rely on profile settings for the kind of paper (glossy/semi-glossy/matte/other) to make the ink dots come out correctly. Profiles often are specific to brand and kind of paper and printer. Make sure BOTH the Photoshop print dialog AND the printer dialog settings are set to the same profile, and be sure to use the profile for the kind of paper you actually put in the printer.
3. Make sure the printer settings and the software settings BOTH point to the paper size that you are actually using.
4. Look online for the dots per inch setting that makes your printer happy. I saw somewhere that Canon printers âlikeâ 300 dpi and Epson printers âlikeâ 360 dpi. The print process will usually respect the size you have specified (inches or cm) and will use your dpi information as a starting point to calculate what the print head needs to do. Using idealized starting points for dpi is not mandatory but does make the math easier for the process (might help quality ever so slightly).
5. Almost all printer paper has one side for printing and the other side NOT for printing. Some have faint print with the manufacturer name diagonally across the non-print side. For others, moisten your fingers just slightly and pinch a paper corner â the sticky side is the print side. Put the paper into the printer with the printable side facing the direction of the ink heads. Trying to print on the back side of the paper generally produces a blurry mess. Donât ask me how I know this.
Message edited by author 2019-02-12 11:21:10. |
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02/12/2019 11:36:15 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by bob350:
Here are a few things to watch out for:
1. After you go through all that work to perfect the color in Photoshop (or whatever your processing software may be), make sure the software color management (e.g.: Photoshop) controls the print colors. In the print dialog, turn OFF color management by the printer. When both the software and the printer simultaneously try to take charge, the results of the fight are ugly.
2. The printer and the software both rely on profile settings for the kind of paper (glossy/semi-glossy/matte/other) to make the ink dots come out correctly. Profiles often are specific to brand and kind of paper and printer. Make sure BOTH the Photoshop print dialog AND the printer dialog settings are set to the same profile, and be sure to use the profile for the kind of paper you actually put in the printer.
3. Make sure the printer settings and the software settings BOTH point to the paper size that you are actually using.
4. Look online for the dots per inch setting that makes your printer happy. I saw somewhere that Canon printers âlikeâ 300 dpi and Epson printers âlikeâ 360 dpi. The print process will usually respect the size you have specified (inches or cm) and will use your dpi information as a starting point to calculate what the print head needs to do. Using idealized starting points for dpi is not mandatory but does make the math easier for the process (might help quality ever so slightly).
5. Almost all printer paper has one side for printing and the other side NOT for printing. Some have faint print with the manufacturer name diagonally across the non-print side. For others, moisten your fingers just slightly and pinch a paper corner â the sticky side is the print side. Put the paper into the printer with the printable side facing the direction of the ink heads. Trying to print on the back side of the paper generally produces a blurry mess. Donât ask me how I know this. |
Thank you for all that. I don't print myself, but give it to a printing shop. I know I have to tell them not to touch any color correction etc.
Is there anything else to watch out for when giving it to a shop?
This lady lives far away (about 1000 miles), so I wanted to just send her the file with instructions for the printer and she can have it printed herself. At least that was my idea. The postal service in South Africa is totally useless and courier service is quite expensive. I tried to make it easy for both of us. |
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02/12/2019 11:58:25 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by kasaba:
[
Is there anything else to watch out for when giving it to a shop? |
One thing to watch out for is color space and whether the shop detects and uses the color space of your image or wants you to send a file already in a particular color space.
Different print shops may have different requirements. Some only accept JPG files, others can accept TIFF, PDF, or PSD. Some shops may have file size limitations. File size too big or too small might cause problems. Some only accept flattened files with no separate layers remaining.
Maybe you could contact a local print shop (or even better, one close to where the lady lives) to ask what they need.
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02/12/2019 02:11:35 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by bob350:
Maybe you could contact a local print shop (or even better, one close to where the lady lives) to ask what they need. |
Great idea, thank you |
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08/29/2022 11:59:31 AM · #7 |
Canvas prints are a terrific option on all counts.
They're cheap. Because they're cheap, every dummy and their brother's friend gets them done.
If you have a half decent quality image and can send them a decent sized file, they'll generally do a very nice job with it for not a lot of money.
I use Easy Canvas Prints out of Texas. They're cheap and fast. Out of what's closely approaching 100 prints, they're have only been about four that I wasn't totally thrilled with, and the image itself was to blame.
You will lose some minute detail to the canvas, but it also hides a plethora of small ills.
I don't print anything smaller than 16x20 and have been very happy.
I'm sure there is someone in your corner of the world who can do something for you.
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08/29/2022 03:30:54 PM · #8 |
| Thread necromancy alert... just sayin' |
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08/29/2022 10:52:04 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Thread necromancy alert... just sayin' |
Oops....
Hadn't caught that......(Obviously)
What's really stupid is that I *had* noticed that the previous poster had all the earmarks of a bot, including his three whole days of membership.
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