How to prepare my image size for printing

jeniveeev

jeniveeev

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Hi, hope there is someone who can help with this general question.
When i download my images from camera and finalise any p/p should i be setting an image size or print quality to the photograph/file? i ordered some images from DS Printing and some came back all out of size and the quality of one wasnt great but looks fine on screen!! im just wondering how to get the best out of printing if i need to apply settings in CS4?
many thanks in advance
jen
 
Well all I do is set image to 300dpi which is plenty for printing and then resample to whatever size I am going to get it printed at, i have had no probs doing it this way althought you are going to get conflicting methods :)
 
u8myufo said:
Well all I do is set image to 300dpi which is plenty for printing and then resample to whatever size I am going to get it printed at, i have had no probs doing it this way althought you are going to get conflicting methods :)
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thanks. i too have the image set to 300dpi but i hadnt altered the size (10.02 x 6.66 in the settings box). I sent it off to get printed at 10x8 size.....would this make a difference? i resized them in DC printing's download box to 10x8. Also i have my in camera image settings to "Large"....is that correct too?
thanks
 
Kerioak said:
I would be inclined to use the best quality your camera offers when taking the picture (using Canon I have no idea about Nikon's sizing).

When preparing them for printing ensure the proportions are correct (6 x 4, 12 x 8, 10 x 8 etc) but leave the actual image as large as possible
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thanks Kerioak, its small, med or large and i use jpeg normal or RAW for the quality. sorry for being a bit vague on this subject but when you mention those dimentions above do you mean in my processing software (CS4) , but leave the image large?
 
I would suggest you always supply an image at 300dpi and at the final size on their list of print sizes you require..

One thing I have noticed is that different processing companies will supply a print at different sizes. For example one company may print your image at 18x12 another may only do 18x10 – check their product list and size.

If you have a copy of photoshop or similar why not create some templates at varying sizes e.g. A3 then you can simply drag, drop and pull the image to fill the template.:) - remember to save at 300dpi

HTH
Cyb
 
Cyb said:
<snip>

If you have a copy of photoshop or similar why not create some templates at varying sizes e.g. A3 then you can simply drag, drop and pull the image to fill the template.:)

HTH
Cyb
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If you pull the image to fill out the dimensions you could end up with some very distorted subjects I think :)
 
so if i change the size in photoshop to say 10 x 8, then when i download the images into the reprographics order i will also chose 10 x 8. also, why do i sometimes get the message (if i crop at ordering stage) "the image will be of good quality"? when others say "the image will be of excellent quality"!? what i want is to have excellent printing if i can? cheers
 
my images in the camera are around 2Mb on a ratio of 6x4
thats the only prints i get
so i just do the pp full size and have them printed straight off

if i do some cropping i make sure the ratio is 6x4 and have them printed straight off

i dont really understand having them set at 300dpi..but know others do that
can anyone explain that to me...my software viewer is 72 but i though that was just on the screen

as i say...the shot comes out of the camera at super high quality...even up to 3Mb sometimes...and in the ratio 6x4....how does one improve on that

i am a snapper
 
I only upload them using online printers, max file size, 100% quality in Jpeg at 300dpi.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I only upload them using online printers, max file size, 100% quality in Jpeg at 300dpi.
Click to expand...

i put mine on a stick and go to costco..14p for one....11p each for 500

snaps
 
If you mean DS Colour Labs you need to go and read the stuff on their website about sizing.

A lot of the companies do have slightly different ways of doing it which is a right royal PITA! With DS you need to send the image sized right in the first place. If you send them a big pic they will only print the 8x10 bit in the middle and you will be losing heads, feet and all sorts (I know this from experience :))

So resize it to the right size I think is the way to go but go and have a look at the small print.
 
Hi.

Newbie here so be gentle with me please.

The above advice is all excellent and I can't really add much to it except that, as long as the image is in proportion relative to the size of print you're ordering, then 300 dpi as best quality jpeg or tiff should return a great result.

I think the problem comes if the printing company have to blow up an image to fit but they should have proper re-sizing software for that.

Is it possible you sent the wrong file by mistake? We do see instances where people upload a thumbnail rather that the 'full file'. It's been our experience that many companies will print what they get sent rather than query what would obviously be a relatively small file size.

Hope that helps.

Jonathan.
 
AliB said:
If you mean DS Colour Labs you need to go and read the stuff on their website about sizing.

A lot of the companies do have slightly different ways of doing it which is a right royal PITA! With DS you need to send the image sized right in the first place. If you send them a big pic they will only print the 8x10 bit in the middle and you will be losing heads, feet and all sorts (I know this from experience :))

So resize it to the right size I think is the way to go but go and have a look at the small print.
Click to expand...

Erm, I just used them for the first time this week and got the prints back today. Exactly as I said, max file size, 300dpi, 12x8 prints, perfect. :thumbs:

Oh, it's from a 5d2 as well :)
 
You must be lucky then Ray, I got heads chopped off!

They do have quite specific instructions on sizing that I still think it might benefit the OP to read.
 
I also used them for the first time this week and I sized my image at 10x8 and the print was an exact copy of the file on screen. Excellent.
 
AliB said:
You must be lucky then Ray, I got heads chopped off!

They do have quite specific instructions on sizing that I still think it might benefit the OP to read.
Click to expand...

I ordered 4 prints, just to see what it looks like on paper and if my monitor is calibrated correctly. All 4 came back absolutely perfect, I'm well impressed!
 
haggis said:
I also used them for the first time this week and I sized my image at 10x8 and the print was an exact copy of the file on screen. Excellent.
Click to expand...

just checked their website...fab!
will try them next time for my snaps
cheers:)
 
AliB said:
If you mean DS Colour Labs you need to go and read the stuff on their website about sizing.

A lot of the companies do have slightly different ways of doing it which is a right royal PITA! With DS you need to send the image sized right in the first place. If you send them a big pic they will only print the 8x10 bit in the middle and you will be losing heads, feet and all sorts (I know this from experience :))

So resize it to the right size I think is the way to go but go and have a look at the small print.
Click to expand...


thanks AliB - this is exactly what happened....then sent me prints that only took in the middle of the actual image! (i.e. top and bottom missing)!! im with ya.....ok, back to basics and il read the small print.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I only upload them using online printers, max file size, 100% quality in Jpeg at 300dpi.
Click to expand...

Same here. :)

AliB said:
If you mean DS Colour Labs you need to go and read the stuff on their website about sizing.

So resize it to the right size I think is the way to go but go and have a look at the small print.
Click to expand...

Seems straightforward enough in all honesty. :)

Raymond Lin said:
Erm, I just used them for the first time this week and got the prints back today. Exactly as I said, max file size, 300dpi, 12x8 prints, perfect. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Same here (again)! :)

AliB said:
You must be lucky then Ray, I got heads chopped off!

They do have quite specific instructions on sizing that I still think it might benefit the OP to read.
Click to expand...

Agreed. :)

jeniveeev said:
thanks AliB - this is exactly what happened....then sent me prints that only took in the middle of the actual image! (i.e. top and bottom missing)!! im with ya.....ok, back to basics and il read the small print.
Click to expand...

I read up on DSCL sizing (can be different for particular papers). I edit my raw shots in LR2 and save as a jpeg (100% quality/300dpi) at the dimensions required.

Out of interest, Photoshop has a neat crop ruler tool which will show you what an image will look like at the correct dimensions you need; it's interesting to see how this can affect the final picture.

I've used DSCL three times now and have been impressed with all the prints I have received. :thumbs:
 
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