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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> How to make my DPI work for me
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07/27/2007 01:36:25 PM · #1
I know what DPI is and I have been told that bigger megapixel camera's do no effect DPI. I have a 9 megapixel camera and I noticed that when I used Adobe photoshop 6.o to fix DPI for print sells that the DPI listed is 96. I can change that DPI to 150, so that is not the problem. The problem is that I don't understand the fact that if bigger megapixel cameras don't matter, why does the megapixels effect the DPI. I hope this makes sense. I just like hitting the button on my camera, the rest of some of this stuff just has not sunk in to the thick cranium that I have on my shoulders
07/27/2007 01:42:26 PM · #2
Megapixel's is the measure of how many million dots the image is made up off.

1 - No matter what the DPI is setup at it will only display at the DPI of your system/display which is either 72 or 96 DPI.

2 - You can set it to any DPI, the camera can put it to any dpi, it will not efefct image quality, the camera, or how it displays on either.

3 - DPI only affects printing.

Theres really nothing to it. WHat your really setting is Pixels Per Inch anyways because your pritner still uses 3 or so dots to make on pixel. You dont need to worry about it or understand it except for when it comes to printing or preping for a submission to a printer.

You could take a 2560x1920 image @ 72 dpi cna d change it to 2560x1920 @ 1 dpi or even 1,000 and it wont affect how it looks or how it displays. As long as when your changint eh dpi you leave the height and width in pixels the same it doesnt resize the image. Photoshop might change the pixel width and height instead of print dimensions instead.... happens sometimes but all u need todo is make sure the pixel dimensions stay the same.


Message edited by author 2007-07-27 13:45:09.
07/27/2007 01:52:45 PM · #3
I think I am understanding this a little better. Thank you. I feel like I was cheating or something when I changed the DPI from 96 to 150
07/27/2007 01:59:59 PM · #4
Originally posted by Madukes:

I think I am understanding this a little better. Thank you. I feel like I was cheating or something when I changed the DPI from 96 to 150


Nope cheating nothing, your computer itself always displays at the same dpi, it wont change that at all.

If your resizing for print or something they say 150 dpi minmum 300 dpi is good. The higher the better in all reality. But lets say your preparing a 5x7, set the dpi to 300 and set the height and width in inches to 5 x 7 or 7 x 5 whatever. It will resize the dimensions of the image (pixels) down to the exact dimensions it needs to print a 5 x 7 at 300 DPI (or pixels per inch if you will).

The only bad thing about thinking about it this way is make sure your not enlarging the pixel dimensions ay a 5 megapixel camera might put out 2560x1920 dont go over this unless you actually want to stretch the image. Whatever ur camera puts out dimensions wise thats your pixels wide pixels tall and times the height and the width and divde by a million and you have megapixels!
07/27/2007 02:21:53 PM · #5
so I could actually set the DPI at 300 which is the way better than 150 and this will not harm the printing of the image. I always shoot at 9 megapixels which is the max that my camera will shoot.
07/27/2007 02:25:49 PM · #6
Originally posted by Madukes:

so I could actually set the DPI at 300 which is the way better than 150 and this will not harm the printing of the image. I always shoot at 9 megapixels which is the max that my camera will shoot.


If your inputing a Size say 8x12 and 300 DPI. Assuming the pixel dimension whatever by whatever dont go higher (which would be the mage stretching bigger) Your in the safe for printing 300 dpi at that size (8x12 for the example)

I sent you a PM as soon as i get the chance I will post the largest size you can print at 300 dpi and the largest size you can print at 150 DPI with images from your camera.

Alot of programs will do this automaticly to a degree liek the printign wizard. But if your submitting to a stock site or a professional printer or a client your gonna want to set this up before sending them the file.

Message edited by author 2007-07-27 14:26:34.
07/27/2007 02:28:01 PM · #7
Megapixels describe how many individual pieces make up the mosaic that is your image. DPI refers to instructions delivered to the printer as to how close together you want those mosaic pieces jammed.

If you have an image that's 3000 pixels in the horizontal dimension and you print it at 300 DPI your print will be 10 inches wide and very fine-grained. If you print the exact same image at 150 DPI the print will be 20 inches wide and the quality will be decent unless you get very close, when you will see a slight difference in graininess.. Print it at 30 DPI and the print will be 100 inches and VERY grainy.

R.
07/27/2007 02:44:31 PM · #8
Okay heres a couple examples of your max's your camera puts out at files thats 3488 pixels wide and 2616 tall or 3488 x 2616.

We start with an image of these dimensions and put in 150 DPI we now know we can print an image as large as 23 x 17 inches @ 150 DPI.


Now we put in 300 DPI and the maximum size reduces down to 8.5 x 11 inchs or so.

Basicly you can print up to an 8x10 or so at 300 dpi with no consequences.
07/27/2007 03:20:37 PM · #9
UNDERSTANDING RESOLUTION


07/27/2007 03:51:25 PM · #10
Yup -- that's a pretty good explanation. Maybe if it was written as the ratio is it people would be a bit less confused:

p/i
07/27/2007 06:14:34 PM · #11
If you send me a PM..I can't get it..I don't know why I can't receive PM's but feel free to email me(on profile page)
07/27/2007 06:16:39 PM · #12
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

UNDERSTANDING RESOLUTION


This is very informative=I can dig it
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