Print sizes

[Magellan]

Hi all
I’ve been trying to have a print done by colab; just as a tester. But each time it tells me the file is too small and that print quality will be affected. I’m trying to get a 12x8 inch print from a 15.8mb tiff!! Is this right? What size of print should I get from tiffs of this size and jpegs of 3-4mb.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Cobra]

Can't help with the 1st bit but I have produced acceptable results
( better than the on site tog according to the person concerned )at 10 x 8 from 3 4 & 5Mb Jpegs

 

[frank]

You could always give photobox a look, I have sent 3-4 mb photos for print and been very happy with the prints. I had a 30" x 20" printed and was amazed at the quality of the print, which if memory serves me correct was 5 mb jpeg that I uploaded for it. I still use them. It's best if you can keep the resolution as high as possible, I reckon 240 PPI or above will give the best results.
Photobox will give you 30 prints free just for joining their site, no credit card details required, so you've got nothing to lose trying them.<Begging Mode On> BTW if you join let me know your email and I'll refer you, that way I get 30 prints free as well <Begging Mode Off>
http://www.photobox.co.uk/static/resolution_guide.html

 

[Magellan]

Thanks Frank; that resolution guide would seem to suggest that I should not have had any problems with those file sizes. I don't have many prints done to be honest; so when I do I wanted the best, I looked through previous posts and cololab seemed to get the best reports. Regarding the photobox offer I'll pm my email to you.

Has anyone else got any idea why this is happening?

Mike

 

[Chappers]

I wonder if they are getting hung up on pixel count. Now a 12 x 18 @ 300dpi needs a file around 25mB. However dpi is not the be all and end all. I've had 18mB files printed to 20 x 30, with no problem. It's all about how you handle the pixels. (And knowing the guy that does the printing helps as well.)

You could try resizing the image to around 25mB and then re jpeg the images. You're not over compressing the images, which is a good thing. One other tip, don't over sharpen. as most printers will add sharpening at the print stage as well.