72dpi print issues

JayB

JayB

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Hey folks, I'm hoping someone can help me on this issues. Basically, done wedding photos and exported them in lightroom in 72dpi like a prick for some reason, Anyhow all the photos are now 72dpi and they want them printed, I know 300dpi is preferred for printing. Hers my problem, my pc took a hissy fit and has to have windows reinstalled, I have the Raw files still on many backups but I didn't backup the lightroom catalogue. Is there any way to make the files properly 300dpi again to print or am I going to have to go and re edit every photo again to export them properly?
 
If you have the raw files they will be the original size of the sensor of the camera that took the pictures.

The Lightroom export function takes the raw file and compresses it down to whatever resolution you tell it to. If you saved that export function as a preset you've lost that but it only takes a minute to rebuild it.

Re-add your raw files back into a fresh catalogue.
Create an Export setting "for Print" at 300dpi or whatever you want
You can then batch export the whole lot to your "print" folder (or wherever you like) ready to ship off to the printer.

It's fairly simple - if I've understood your question correctly.
 
What are the pixel dimensions, i.e. width and height in pixels?
 
JayB said:
am I going to have to go and re edit every photo again
Click to expand...

If you're talking about things like cropping, and other image edits then "probably". The catalogue is where all the edits are stored unless you saved the edits back to the original image (select all - ctrl+S).
 
JayB said:
or am I going to have to go and re edit every photo again to export them properly?
Click to expand...


Yes, I think you'll have to!

I never work in catalogue mode but in sessions!
 
Retune said:
What are the pixel dimensions, i.e. width and height in pixels?
Click to expand...
^ that

Because PPI in export can be as meaningless as a file flag, or it can mean that the image was genuinely resized. The OP hasn't given enough detail to know which.
 
You could reinstall Windows to a new drive and then get to your catalogue on the old drive again (if it is still intact and not been corrupted).

Another option could be to do a repair and fix which should leave your catalogue untouched and accessable again.
 
you say you have the files in many backups! what backups?
If the original files are still in your explorer.
create a new catalogue in LR and re-import the raw files.
 
Now I've re-read the original question - it looks as if yes you'll have to re-do your edits. Grit the teeth, start up the coffee machine ...

Assuming that the Win reinstall involved formatting the drive ands thus the removal of all apps and files (like the LR cat) that were not backed up? That seemed to be your implication.
 
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Thanks guys, Yes the lightroom cat has my edits but as it was not backed up I can not import the cat into lightroom again if it wasn't backed up. The backups I have are all raw files, I backed up the exports photos from lightroom but upon looking at them the jpeg files that I exported are all 72dpi. The dimensions are around 6000 pixels on longest side. Upon uploading to a few photo website they still good quality and they state 255 dpi for an 18x12 print. so am I right in saying as long as the pixel of the images is big enough it doesn't really matter what dpi it is?
 
droj said:
Now I've re-read the original question - it looks as if yes you'll have to re-do your edits. Grit the teeth, start up the coffee machine ...

Assuming that the Win reinstall involved formatting the drive ands thus the removal of all apps and files (like the LR cat) that were not backed up? That seemed to be your implication.
Click to expand...

Exactly, I normally back all up every week but dont know how I missed this one. School boy error, thankfully I have several backups of the RAW files.
 
JayB said:
Thanks guys, Yes the lightroom cat has my edits but as it was not backed up I can not import the cat into lightroom again if it wasn't backed up. The backups I have are all raw files, I backed up the exports photos from lightroom but upon looking at them the jpeg files that I exported are all 72dpi. The dimensions are around 6000 pixels on longest side. Upon uploading to a few photo website they still good quality and they state 255 dpi for an 18x12 print. so am I right in saying as long as the pixel of the images is big enough it doesn't really matter what dpi it is?
Click to expand...
Yes. A digital file cannot be measured in inches, so DPI is irrelevant until it's printed - and at that point the pixel dimensions are more important than a redundant flag in the file properties.
 
JayB said:
The dimensions are around 6000 pixels on longest side. Upon uploading to a few photo website they still good quality and they state 255 dpi for an 18x12 print. so am I right in saying as long as the pixel of the images is big enough it doesn't really matter what dpi it is?
Click to expand...
Yes, like Alastair says it's just a flag in the file if you haven't resampled ('destructively' resized) the image. If you have 6000 x 4000 pixels, then you still have a 24 megapixel image, which I assume is what you started with. This is equivalent to 20 x 13 inches at 300 pixels/inch, so more than enough for that photo printing site.
 
Thank you for the responses folks, got one printed today at local shop and it looked 100%, thanks for the info and help.
 
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