I am back. Just moved from CA for Missouri. I did purchase the Nikon D50 with various lenses. I have a question on printing photos from RAW format. My MP is 6.1, and the images are 3036 x 2010. I am using Raw Shooter, but I guess it really doesn't matter if I was using some other program to convert the raws to tiff-- the PPI is 300, which limits the image size to 10 x 6 or so. When I change the image to larger dimensions, the ppi drops. AM I correct in assuming I do not want to increase the pixels per sq inch in the image information ( in PS as I increase the print size the image ppi is way higher than the 6.1 MP limit) I am not talking about the print size dimensions.
I guess the long and short of it is what ppi can I drop to to still get a good pic in the 8 x 10 or larger size. I would maybe like to get a large print of a pic later that is really good, like 20 x 16.
In addition, what is the best program to print pics at home on a HP inkjet printer. Also, since the images are not true 4x6/5x7/8x10, should I crop them in PS before printing them-- so I don't get any damaging cropping of fitting?
Thx So Much!
Posted by David Redding on August 7, 2006 at 1:05 AM
Evening Joe,
Unless you have a new fangled D50 you only have a resolution of 3008x2000......That what mine produces. Alas that doesnt really matter now does it.
You are correct in wanting to crop to print size........well you really dont have to, but I do unless the picture really calls for an untraditional crop.
As for an acceptable DPI for printing........Ive heard anywhere from 150-300 DPI but that all depends on where you are reading it. My print shop highly recommends I send my files to them at 300DPI.
You can enlarge you prints with PS CS2 RawEditor and it seems to do a good job.......Myself I crop at 3000x2400 pixels (thats an 8x10 @ 300dpi) and get very nice prints. You do have to watch it though because at even 8x10 bad post processing and sloppy focus shows........so make sure you take a good exposure in-camera to get the most out of large prints.
I shot Canon 6.3 Mp images before upgrading, and now shoot 8.2 Mp Canon images.
Shooting in RAW mode, I used Photoshop CS to interpolate (add pixels) to 6.3 Mp images at 300ppi to get sharp prints to 20x30. CS will allow you to open a RAW 6 Mp image through interpolation to 13x19 by selecting the max size and resolution on the preview screen, and I bumped it from there. You can also get very nice and sharp prints at 240ppi from inkjet printers. Prints to 16x20 should be no problem.
Or you can give the original RAW image to your photo processor and let them take care of business, sending a smaller print toned the way you want the enlargement to look so they can match it. Ask them how big they can make an enlargement from your image.
Print ppi depends on the printer. In most cases you don't get to decide (some printers support multiple resolutions but for the most part each has its own native resolution).
If you size your image to something other than the printer's native resolution, the printer will interpolate your image for you. I find it better to do this myself so I can review the results before printing.
Guy
Posted by Bryce Flory on August 7, 2006 at 12:43 PM
for 16x20 prints a 150ppi resolution is more than acceptable... and IMO, that is really the limit of the 6 MP cameras out there... depending on your desired print substrate, that ppi could be different...
There is no such thing as printing ppi.
Printing is done with ink drops, or dots (DPI) = dots per inch.
PPI = pixels per inch, has to do with camera, digital files, and monitor viewing.
You can not have "pixels" in a print.
If you continue to get that mixed up you will get all other kinds of res matters confused as well.
Paul, I think what folks are refering to here is the pixel density of the image that you want to print.. For instance when printing on my Epson 7600, I always use image files that have a pixel density of 360 ppi. Note that this is different from the dot density of the actual print, which in my case is 1440 dpi.
- - - I wrote that mostly for the people who don't know what all of the letters mean and how they are used.
Most people think that they are all intertwined and mean about the same thing.
That's why there is so much confusion about how to res up an image to make a larger print,
or res it down to store it as a smaller file size.
And the industry doesn't make it any easier. They can't seem to coordinate much of anything.
Posted by Bryce Flory on August 8, 2006 at 12:17 AM
i dont really see how/why its confusing... there really isnt that much too it.. i think a lot of it is that people try to over explain it which makes it sound complicated... its not, period.
Discussion
8 repliesI guess the long and short of it is what ppi can I drop to to still get a good pic in the 8 x 10 or larger size. I would maybe like to get a large print of a pic later that is really good, like 20 x 16.
In addition, what is the best program to print pics at home on a HP inkjet printer. Also, since the images are not true 4x6/5x7/8x10, should I crop them in PS before printing them-- so I don't get any damaging cropping of fitting?
Thx So Much!
Unless you have a new fangled D50 you only have a resolution of 3008x2000......That what mine produces. Alas that doesnt really matter now does it.
You are correct in wanting to crop to print size........well you really dont have to, but I do unless the picture really calls for an untraditional crop.
As for an acceptable DPI for printing........Ive heard anywhere from 150-300 DPI but that all depends on where you are reading it. My print shop highly recommends I send my files to them at 300DPI.
You can enlarge you prints with PS CS2 RawEditor and it seems to do a good job.......Myself I crop at 3000x2400 pixels (thats an 8x10 @ 300dpi) and get very nice prints. You do have to watch it though because at even 8x10 bad post processing and sloppy focus shows........so make sure you take a good exposure in-camera to get the most out of large prints.
Cheers
david
Shooting in RAW mode, I used Photoshop CS to interpolate (add pixels) to 6.3 Mp images at 300ppi to get sharp prints to 20x30. CS will allow you to open a RAW 6 Mp image through interpolation to 13x19 by selecting the max size and resolution on the preview screen, and I bumped it from there. You can also get very nice and sharp prints at 240ppi from inkjet printers. Prints to 16x20 should be no problem.
Or you can give the original RAW image to your photo processor and let them take care of business, sending a smaller print toned the way you want the enlargement to look so they can match it. Ask them how big they can make an enlargement from your image.
If you size your image to something other than the printer's native resolution, the printer will interpolate your image for you. I find it better to do this myself so I can review the results before printing.
Guy
There is no such thing as printing ppi.
Printing is done with ink drops, or dots (DPI) = dots per inch.
PPI = pixels per inch, has to do with camera, digital files, and monitor viewing.
You can not have "pixels" in a print.
If you continue to get that mixed up you will get all other kinds of res matters confused as well.
Most people think that they are all intertwined and mean about the same thing.
That's why there is so much confusion about how to res up an image to make a larger print,
or res it down to store it as a smaller file size.
And the industry doesn't make it any easier. They can't seem to coordinate much of anything.