When i sharpen my images for a print, I usually like to do my sharpening when viewing at actual print size. But for some reason, and it may have been going on long before, but i've just realized that when i click to view at print size, the image is actually displayed smaller than what the image size says. For example, I usually work on my rough scans and set the image size to 8x10-300dpi so i can make small test prints. But when i click to view at print size, and i measure the image on the screen, it is more like 7x9 roughly. Why is this?
When PS changes a file to print size, it's assuming a certain monitor resolution. If your monitor shows files smaller than reality, it must have a higher resolution that the PS's chosen standard.
I'm looking at 1280x960 on my 19" (?) CRTs and they also don't display at print size. I view actual pixels to see how sharpening is going to look. I'm often surprised that images that look oversharpened at the pixel level will print very well. Being what it is, perhaps on a Mac view print size works in Photoshop, but not in my world, alas. PD
I find that Photoshop's (well, Elements 4) concept of what an inch is on my monitor is way off. I can see this with the rulers turned on. So, like you, if I try to view at print size, it doesn't match up with reality.
With the rulers on, though, I can change the view so that an inch in Photoshop is approximately an inch in real life. The problem there is that if this view isn't at 33%, or 50%, or 100% or some other nice round number, Photoshop's interpolation to show it on the screen has to do some strange things as far as aliasing and sharpness; So it isn't necessarily useful for certain types of evaluation.
I've tried to find a way calibrate the rulers in PS, but haven't ever found a way. Sorry I can't be more help.
I always heard, could be completely wrong, that you should look at the image at 50% for sharpening as this will give you a good idea of how the sharpening will look in print. I've always done this and never had a issue with sharpening
While I agree you probably should not judge your sharpening while using "print size" I do like to view the image at that size for other things. Here is how you can get Photoshop to display an accurate print size on screen no matter what your screen resolution is (and that is the issue - very few screens are 72dpi any more, which is what that is based on).
First, open an image and have the rulers turned on and then view the file at "print size." You need to have a ruler on hand to do this. Lay the ruler on your screen and see if the measurement matches (one inch on the ruler equals one inch on the image) - it probably will not. In Photoshop go to: Preferences> Unites & Rulers> New Document Preset Resolutions> Screen Resolution>. If measurement did not match then you need to change the number of the screen resolution (say up to 90ppi for instance), then hit OK and select "print size" again and the size of your file should change on screen. Measure it again. You will need to keep doing this until the "print size" matches your ruler. In my case my 30" screen required a monitor resolution of 100ppi, and now when I select "print size" one inch on screen equals one inch!
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With the rulers on, though, I can change the view so that an inch in Photoshop is approximately an inch in real life. The problem there is that if this view isn't at 33%, or 50%, or 100% or some other nice round number, Photoshop's interpolation to show it on the screen has to do some strange things as far as aliasing and sharpness; So it isn't necessarily useful for certain types of evaluation.
I've tried to find a way calibrate the rulers in PS, but haven't ever found a way. Sorry I can't be more help.
First, open an image and have the rulers turned on and then view the file at "print size." You need to have a ruler on hand to do this. Lay the ruler on your screen and see if the measurement matches (one inch on the ruler equals one inch on the image) - it probably will not. In Photoshop go to: Preferences> Unites & Rulers> New Document Preset Resolutions> Screen Resolution>. If measurement did not match then you need to change the number of the screen resolution (say up to 90ppi for instance), then hit OK and select "print size" again and the size of your file should change on screen. Measure it again. You will need to keep doing this until the "print size" matches your ruler. In my case my 30" screen required a monitor resolution of 100ppi, and now when I select "print size" one inch on screen equals one inch!
Tim Ernst in Arkansas