How large to go?

Digifrog

Digifrog

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Scott
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Hi TP

I need some good advice please. When it comes to taking photographs I like to think I know what I'm doing, when it comes to printing them I would like to know better what I'm doing.

At the mo I'm shooting with the 10mpx Nikon D80. The native size of RAW files is 2592 x 3872 or 10.8 inches x 16.3 inches @ 300 dpi.

I normally crop and print at these settings to a 15 inches x 10 inches (or 15 x 8 or therabouts @ 300dpi) without any noticeable depreciation in image quality.

My question is this. I have a couple of images cropped at the 5:4 ratio, which is 2592 x 3240 (8.64 inches x 10.8 inches @ 300dpi). This is one of the images in question...

6135182047_e0aca7c964.jpg

I think I can probably get away with printing these 5:4 crops at 31.25 inches x 25 inches @ 300dpi, question is, is 300dpi the best res to use? Also, what would be the biggest recommended size possible and what dpi to do it at without any real loss of image quality. I was told for printing you should use the largest size that 300dpi will allow, always use 300dpi.

I should invest in Photo Resize (Genuine Fractals Pro) but for now all I have is CS3. I would also like to know which enlarging process is best to use in CS3. I normally use (up to now) "Bicubic (best for smooth gradients)" but CS3 is indicating that I should use "Bicubic Smoother" (best for enlargement)"

Could someone please carefully clarify for me please, or should I really get Genuine Fractals to do this?

Thanks

Scott
 
I hit the enter key before I was finished.

I posted the link to give you an idea of standard sizes. I have this morning ordered a 36x24 inch print. I processed it in CS5 and then cropped it at 300dpi. Looking at it in the CS5 'print size' it looks fine and one thing you have to remember you're going to be looking at it from a greater distance than say a 7x5 print.

For the sizes you are talking about I doubt if you would need to buy any extra software.

Most printers use 300dpi and you will get away with less if you want a really large print.

FWIW I use the 'Bicubic Smoother' for very large poster prints
 
This is one of those "how many angels can dance on the end of a needle" questions....

The bigger the print - the further you tend to look at it from.... so unless there is a special requirement - like a group photo of hundreds of people, most images you can print ant almost any size - as long as you don't walk up to it with a magnifying glass....

The content of your image holds very little fine detail - except for the wood - so the key things are the subtle graduations - and again unless you are going to be close - don't worry about it...

The 300dpi thing dates back to a few historic reasons in the early days of digital - the printing device used will run at either 300ppi or 360ppi (not dpi)

Unless the lab has requested it - send the file at the largest size you have - as the lab will usually have very specialist RIPS or back office lab which will do a better job anyway.
 
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