Printing big puctures

bb40

bb40

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will
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Hi guys

I'm looking for plain English idiots guide to print big pictures. Obviously I won't be printing them myself but I would like to know how you can tell how large you can print your pics without them looking distorted or if there is anything I need to do to enlarge it before sending it to get printed. Also can you recommend any printers that give good results.

Thanks in advance and please keep it as simple as you can.(I'm not the brightest star in the sky) ;)
 
The D300 has a maximum image size of 4,288 x 2,848. If you tell the lab to print at 300 pixels per inch (ppi) the maximum print size will be 14.29" x 9.49". You could print at a slightly lower resolution of 240ppi, in which case the maximum print size will be 17.87" x 11.87".

To print any larger than these sizes you'd need to increase the size of the original files (using Photoshop or similar) but you can't go too far without reducing image quality.
 
Thanks for reply ozei. Disappointed to find out that's the size I can go to. I was looking to get a landscape printed at 36" x 16" Would this be possible or would the quality of image be affected to much. The file i have is at the max figures you quoted. Thanks again.
 
Do you have photoshop?
 
I would be gobsmacked if you didn't get a dcent print that size from a D300. I'd resize it in Elements and as you're in Glasgow get it printed at Loxley colour in C/nauld. Give them a phone, they'll keep you right.
 
admirable said:
I would be gobsmacked if you didn't get a dcent print that size from a D300. I'd resize it in Elements and as you're in Glasgow get it printed at Loxley colour in C/nauld. Give them a phone, they'll keep you right.
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Thanks admirable. Would I be better if I wanted an image printed that size to do a photomerge?
 
bb40 said:
Thanks for reply ozei. Disappointed to find out that's the size I can go to. I was looking to get a landscape printed at 36" x 16" Would this be possible or would the quality of image be affected to much. The file i have is at the max figures you quoted. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

To get a 36" x 16" print from the D300's native resolution (4,288 x 2,848) you'd need to print at 119 ppi - so yes, the quality would suffer compared to a 300 ppi print. On the other hand, the natural viewing distance of a 36" print is quite large so the decrease in quality might be acceptable.

Alternatively, you could try increasing the file size to 8,640 x 3,840 and print at 240 ppi - that gives 36" x 16".

The only way to find out if the prints are acceptable is to try it. You could send the lab a 119 ppi file and a 240 ppi file and print both to see how they compare.
 
Ozei said:
The only way to find out if the prints are acceptable is to try it. You could send the lab a 119 ppi file and a 240 ppi file and print both to see how they compare.
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So the only way to see is by getting actual prints done? Is there no way of viewing what the file will look like on screen? Obviously you won't see the whole thing at once but a portion would be good enough to decide whether the quality was acceptable.
 
Ozei said:
To get a 36" x 16" print from the D300's native resolution (4,288 x 2,848) you'd need to print at 119 ppi - so yes, the quality would suffer compared to a 300 ppi print. On the other hand, the natural viewing distance of a 36" print is quite large so the decrease in quality might be acceptable.

Alternatively, you could try increasing the file size to 8,640 x 3,840 and print at 240 ppi - that gives 36" x 16".

The only way to find out if the prints are acceptable is to try it. You could send the lab a 119 ppi file and a 240 ppi file and print both to see how they compare.
Click to expand...

I've done just that. I've ordered print at 240ppi via whitewall. Only cost £15.95 plus postage for a 37" x 14" print so not a big expense. I did enlarge thru elements and looked ok on screen and the picture isn't exactly going to be viewed up close anyway so if there is a little bit of distortion it shouldn't be to noticeable hopefully.
 
A 119 ppi?? You would definitely have a terrible print then.

Check this link out http://www.urban75.org/photos/print.html....scroll down to see the second table...it gives you a better idea in words about the type of image quality you will get for your file size.
 
Firefire said:
A 119 ppi?? You would definitely have a terrible print then.....
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I'd agree - although Whitewall's FAQ page seems to be saying they can print up to 60" x 50" from a 10MP camera (the D300 is 12.3MP). The Nikon D200 is 10.2MP and has a maximum image size of 3,872 x 2,592 - so a D200 file would have to be printed at 65 ppi to reach 60" without resizing. :eek:

The FAQ page doesn't say what ppi they use to reach 60" x 50" so I assume they're using heavy interpolation rather than lowering the ppi to 65 - https://uk.whitewall.com/service/Faq.
 
bb40 said:
I've done just that. I've ordered print at 240ppi via whitewall. Only cost £15.95 plus postage for a 37" x 14" print so not a big expense. I did enlarge thru elements and looked ok on screen and the picture isn't exactly going to be viewed up close anyway so if there is a little bit of distortion it shouldn't be to noticeable hopefully.
Click to expand...

Will - have you applied the relevant profile suggested here https://uk.whitewall.com/service/Faq. If not I'd phone them in the morning and stop the print run. Even if you have, it might be an idea to have a chat with them anyway re ppi etc.
 
Phil1974 said:
So the only way to see is by getting actual prints done?
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At the end of the day yes (IMO). Even with a top notch monitor (properly calibrated) prints can still turn out looking very different.
 
I've got damn good A3+ prints from my old 6.1MP D70 (3000px x 2000px). Viewed at a normal viewing distance, they're indistinguishable from the same size prints from a D700 (with significantly more pixies). Yes, look ay them through a magnifier and the D70 ones may be slightly pixelated but at normal viewing distances, they're more than OK.
Genuine Fractals used to be the upsizing software that was recommended, other methods and software may have taken over now.
 
Just a quick update guys. Received print back today from whitewall and I'm more than happy with. Thanks to all for info received. Cheers 👍
 
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