Question on DPI - DPChallenge Forums

11/08/2005 03:23:46 PM · #1

Sometimes our newspaper has photography contests and asks for pictures to be sent to them in JPG format and 200 DPI. I have PS Elements 3. When I go into Image-Resize-image size, do I put the 200 in the resolution place? Also, should I change anything else (like the scale size, Constraint porportions or the Resample image, etc.)?

Prof_Fate

11/08/2005 03:33:08 PM · #2

I am not familiar with elements, but you have two things to consider - the DPI and the overall size.

A 1000x2000 image is just that- DPI matters when you print. So that image at 200DPI would be 5x10 inches. At 100 dpi it would be 10x20 inches.

So what size do theya want? 5x7 at 200dpi, or 8x10 at 200dpi...etc.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/08/2005 03:40:15 PM · #3

I don't know. Last time they just asked for the jpg format and 200 dpi. Maybe they just forgot to mention the size this time. One other time they were doing it for photographing flowers and I think that time they also put a size. (That time they said that you could send it to them over the internet or mail in a picture.)

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

11/08/2005 04:05:01 PM · #4

I think that dimension matters for on-screen viewing as well as print.
I just helped a friend today with jpegs sent to her. She couldn't view them onscreen and they printed out only portions on a standard sheet of paper. Why? They were, after all, 72 dpi as recommended for e-mail. But they were about 2000 pixels on the short side--28" for print or 2 times as wide as her small monitor could view at once!

So, back to your problem, you need to know how the photos are going to be viewed. Is there contact information for the contest?

And, yes, in Elements the 200 goes in the resolution box. You can then either choose to set dimensions using pixels or the physical measurement of the print (inches).

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/08/2005 04:13:44 PM · #5

Is there some sort of chart or general guideline to go by to know what all of the different settings should be for different things, sizes, etc.

I'm sure there's a contact number. Actually, I think the paper got thrown out with all of the painting that we've been doing. I'll have to watch for them to put the information in the paper again.

wavelength

Nikon D300

11/08/2005 04:14:52 PM · #6

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

err, since the 20D has 8mp, that would be roughly 16x12, which is about at large as even a front page photo would get.

Elements is a little weird when resizing, you have to make sure to go back and set the actual pixels back to their original setting. For some reason, when upping the DPI, it only considers the original inches instead of the original pixels. if you don't re-constrain the actual pixels, you'll end up with a 9000x6800 upsampled picture, which is not exactly ideal. ;-)

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

11/08/2005 04:16:37 PM · #7

Originally posted by wavelength:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
I am not familiar with elements, but you have two things to consider - the DPI and the overall size.

A 1000x2000 image is just that- DPI matters when you print. So that image at 200DPI would be 5x10 inches. At 100 dpi it would be 10x20 inches.

So what size do theya want? 5x7 at 200dpi, or 8x10 at 200dpi...etc.

err, since the 20D has 8mp, that would be roughly 16x12, which is about at large as even a front page photo would get.

Elements is a little weird when resizing, you have to make sure to go back and set the actual pixels back to their original setting. For some reason, when upping the DPI, it only considers the original inches instead of the original pixels. if you don't re-constrain the actual pixels, you'll end up with a 9000x6800 upsampled picture, which is not exactly ideal. ;-)

There's probably a way to lock the pixel dimensions so that doesn't happen.

Message edited by author 2005-11-08 16:17:14.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/08/2005 04:16:47 PM · #8

Originally posted by pianomom:

ah, dang I've had that wrong this whole time. yes, if you uncheck "resample image" it works fine now. cool.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

11/08/2005 04:28:13 PM · #9

Originally posted by pianomom:

Mostly, I've learned guidelines from the forum postings and odd articles here and there. 72 dpi for on-screen viewing. 150 to 300 dpi for print. (I like 180 but for no particular reason.) Then you have to consider the other dimensions. When you're editing a photo in Elements and you resize it--choose the magnifying glass in your tools--you'll notice choices at the top of the screen: "Actual Pixels" "Fit on Screen" and "Print Size" Try those out. The "Actual Pixels" one is a good way to check that you haven't gone all wrong with your settings, especially if you're preparing something for the web.

As for the newspaper, check online. Most have websites these days and there may be guidelines for the contest there. At least there'll be a general phone number--the receptionist should know how to connect you to the right person.