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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Ken says Size Matters - Help!
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 04/26/2005 07:46:26 AM · #1
From Ken Priest's bio: "SIZE MATTERS! I am among the multitudes here that will tack a 1 or 2 onto anything less than at least 550 pixels. There's no excuse for it really." >

Help a Techie-Challenged person? My Digimax 301 offers 4 sizes - 2048x1536, 1600x1200, 1024x768, and 640x480.

The first choice allows for a huge print area, which seems unnecessary to the majority of us. Printing out 4 x 6 photo's are more common (even 8-1/2 by 11). Resizing by pixels for submissions is beyond my knowledge level at the moment. Anyone willing to increase my levels?

For the life of me, I can't tell which looks better when I have to resize for submission to dpCh.

Nutz. Probably should have checked the tutorial list first, but let this be a good reminder for all of us to do that.

Thanks. K
 04/26/2005 08:05:42 AM · #2
You should always shoot at the highest resolution your camera offers. When submitting to a dpc challenge, you should save the image in your photo editor after manipulating the image at, or near, the resolution of 640x640. Usually people try for 640x480. Right before you do your final save, resize the image to this resolution.
 04/26/2005 08:16:00 AM · #3
Try this Tutorial
 04/26/2005 08:19:36 AM · #4
Yes, you definitely want to always use the highest res your camera offers. You never know, you might get such a great shot that you want to make a large print of it, if you don't like it you can delete it. Another benefit is that it gives you a lot more leaway to crop in during post processing. Most people here use software called Photoshop to do that with, I'm guessing you don't have that, so maybe some more knowledgable people can give you some inexpensive alternatives.

There's a tutorial here, along with many other handy tutorials in the Learn section, drop down link at upper right of your screen.

You definitely want to learn some post-processing software to spruce up your stuff. I hope this helps!
 04/26/2005 08:25:27 AM · #5
To further support the message, keep in mind that a 4x6 printed at the detail-rich 300 ppi level would require 1200x1800 pixels. That's somewhere between the upper two options for your camera. Maybe if all you did was stock for eBay auctions the lower setting would be ok, but even then I wouldn't use it.

You paid for a camera's upper abilities so you should benefit from them. You never know when you'll come across an amazing photo you'd want to hang on your wall. If you don't shoot at maximum resolution, your enlargement options are limited.
 04/26/2005 10:55:09 AM · #6
Originally posted by Olyuzi:
You should always shoot at the highest resolution your camera offers.


Oh, good grief - this is such a DUH! subject for me.

I'm assuming the 2048 x 1536 is the highest? But I remember seeing 72 dpi (not 300.) Is it legal to raise the dpi to 300 in the resizing process?

Maybe this will help me. In our old printing company, my Dad had to convert all photographs to dots (usually, 4 separated colors). Is that the same principle as the pixels? The more dots and the more colors - the richer the printed results? and all this regardless if we were printing 8-1/2 x 11 or 11 x 17 images?

I had read that Tutorial, which is a great step by step, but didn't clarify the concept.

This is helping me already. 2 more steps and I just might get it!

Thanks, Kathy.

Hey, CG - congratulations on your telescope's anniversary. Wow, 15 years of great space pix! :*}}}}}

04/26/2005 11:07:39 AM · #7
Originally posted by Kathy:
Originally posted by Olyuzi:
You should always shoot at the highest resolution your camera offers.


Oh, good grief - this is such a DUH! subject for me.

I'm assuming the 2048 x 1536 is the highest? But I remember seeing 72 dpi (not 300.) Is it legal to raise the dpi to 300 in the resizing process?

Maybe this will help me. In our old printing company, my Dad had to convert all photographs to dots (usually, 4 separated colors). Is that the same principle as the pixels? The more dots and the more colors - the richer the printed results? and all this regardless if we were printing 8-1/2 x 11 or 11 x 17 images?

I had read that Tutorial, which is a great step by step, but didn't clarify the concept.

This is helping me already. 2 more steps and I just might get it!

Thanks, Kathy.

Hey, CG - congratulations on your telescope's anniversary. Wow, 15 years of great space pix! :*}}}}}


For viewing on your screen 72dpi is what is used (96 in some cases). The dpi that results in a print will depend on the print size and the pixel dimensions of the image. One way to try and understand the relationship between pixel dimensions and dpi is to open the image size window and play with different values. Start by unchecking any resampling box so that the dimensions cannot be changed. Notice what happens when you change the dpi. Resampling is required if you want a certain dpi but the pixel dimensions aren't enough.
 04/26/2005 11:10:37 AM · #8
Kathy - don't worry about DPI or PPI (pixels per inch) unless you're printing your images.

When you're producing images for the web or just for viewing on your computer monitor all that matters is the pixel size of your image - that is, the number of pixels across and the number of pixels down.

So yes, 2048x1536 is your highest resolution option. That's 2048 pixels across and 1536 pixels down.

In your photo editing program you should have some facility for resizing the image. When you do so simply choose the largest dimension and set that to 640 pixels. Don't worry about and DPI or PPI numbers you see on there.

Also be sure you keep copies of the original files that came out of your camera. These are useful if you're asked to verify your DPC submission and are also useful if you ever want to go back to the original full sized image.

John

04/26/2005 11:19:43 AM · #9
Originally posted by Kathy:
my Dad had to convert all photographs to dots (usually, 4 separated colors). Is that the same principle as the pixels? The more dots and the more colors - the richer the printed results?


That is exactly it: the more pixels, the greater density of detail. Web images tend to be shown at 72 dots per inch, hence the setting you have found. Print must be higher, as the human eye can detect about 300 DPI (give or take a few). My local print shop prints at 400 DPI.

If you are printing at 400DPI, and have an image that is 2048 x 1536 pixels, you can print it at 5 inches (2048/400) by 4 inches (1536/4) without losing any detail. Print a bigger image, and some pixels must be stretched across the extra space, meaning a loss of detail. Print a small size, and detail will be lost because there may be 2 or 3 pixels vying for the single print dot and an average colour/tone pixel will be used.

For DPChallenge, you are limited to 640 pixels on the longest side of your image. Most people's screens will show an image of that size without adjustment. That means that you have to resample the image for Challenges, but keep the original in case you want it for better quality printing etc.

Photoshop is good for resizing, with lots of options and choices on methodology. A Google search turned up this this Freeware, though I do not know enough to recommend it.

Message edited by author 2005-04-26 11:20:26.
 04/26/2005 11:33:48 AM · #10
Oh, my Gosh. You guys did it - I think I've got it!

I had tried taking a shot of one subject - set at all four level(sizes) and could barely tell the difference (therefore, not understanding the relationship of input and output.)

Thanks to you all - especially in the last three offerings, I know how to test and view the differences. You also made it clear when (and why) I can make logical choices.

This has been so frustrating. I appreciate the time you took to post the explanations.

On a personal note: I'm going to paraphrase one of my favorite country songs "There's something women like about a Canon Man." (Best friend has a 20D) In this case, I'm adding Nikon and Olympus too!

Thanks again, Guys. Heading for a "6" eventually.

Kathy
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