Another newbie printing question

[Robin Usagani]

Lets say I have an image that I sized to be 4x6 with very high resolution (778 pixels/inch). If I send it to an online printing like costo and I want to print 12x18 for example. Do they automatically resize the photo to fit 12x18? I dont have to resize my file to 12x18 do I? The aspect ratio is the same.

 

[oldmacman]

Correct. They are both 2:3 ratio.

 

[KmH]

Lets say I have an image that I sized to be 4x6 with very high resolution (778 pixels/inch). If I send it to an online printing like costo and I want to print 12x18 for example. Do they automatically resize the photo to fit 12x18? I dont have to resize my file to 12x18 do I? The aspect ratio is the same.

For printing a key number is the PPI.

The 4 x 6 at 778 ppi also means the pixel dimensions of the photo are:

4" x 778ppi = 3112 pixels by 6" x 778ppi = 4668 pixels .

To print the same image at 12 x 18 the ppi just gets reduced to:

3112px / 12" = 259 ppi, 4668px / 18" = 259 ppi

Printing at resolutions above 250 ppi is pretty much useless, because the human eye cannot see any improvement in the image much above 250 ppi.

The printers many consumer outlets use have a maximum resolution of 250 ppi anyway.

If you want to maintain 778 ppi and still print a 12 x 18, the photo must have pixel dimensions of:

12" x 778ppi = 9,336px by 18" x 778 = 14,004px

 

[wannabephotog]

Lets say I have an image that I sized to be 4x6 with very high resolution (778 pixels/inch). If I send it to an online printing like costo and I want to print 12x18 for example. Do they automatically resize the photo to fit 12x18? I dont have to resize my file to 12x18 do I? The aspect ratio is the same.

For printing a key number is the PPI.

The 4 x 6 at 778 ppi also means the pixel dimensions of the photo are:

4" x 778ppi = 3112 pixels by 6" x 778ppi = 4668 pixels .

To print the same image at 12 x 18 the ppi just gets reduced to:

3112px / 12" = 259 ppi, 4668px / 18" = 259 ppi

Printing at resolutions above 250 ppi is pretty much useless, because the human eye cannot see any improvement in the image much above 250 ppi.

The printers many consumer outlets use have a maximum resolution of 250 ppi anyway.

If you want to maintain 778 ppi and still print a 12 x 18, the photo must have pixel dimensions of:

12" x 778ppi = 9,336px by 18" x 778 = 14,004px

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm such a noob I haven't even bought my camera yet. I've been researching and studying like mad to make an intelligent decision....but when I see this....gulp....math....I start to feel sick to my stomach.

Do I really need to learn all that or can I just send out to a service with print dimensions? I'm talking about prints for my future paying customers. (I like to plan ahead. Waaaay ahead.)

 

[cardinals1970]

Lets say I have an image that I sized to be 4x6 with very high resolution (778 pixels/inch). If I send it to an online printing like costo and I want to print 12x18 for example. Do they automatically resize the photo to fit 12x18? I dont have to resize my file to 12x18 do I? The aspect ratio is the same.

For printing a key number is the PPI.

The 4 x 6 at 778 ppi also means the pixel dimensions of the photo are:

4" x 778ppi = 3112 pixels by 6" x 778ppi = 4668 pixels .

To print the same image at 12 x 18 the ppi just gets reduced to:

3112px / 12" = 259 ppi, 4668px / 18" = 259 ppi

Printing at resolutions above 250 ppi is pretty much useless, because the human eye cannot see any improvement in the image much above 250 ppi.

The printers many consumer outlets use have a maximum resolution of 250 ppi anyway.

If you want to maintain 778 ppi and still print a 12 x 18, the photo must have pixel dimensions of:

12" x 778ppi = 9,336px by 18" x 778 = 14,004px

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm such a noob I haven't even bought my camera yet. I've been researching and studying like mad to make an intelligent decision....but when I see this....gulp....math....I start to feel sick to my stomach.

Do I really need to learn all that or can I just send out to a service with print dimensions? I'm talking about prints for my future paying customers. (I like to plan ahead. Waaaay ahead.)

I think learning it would be very help. One thing I learned from playing with photoshop in the past is it is easier to take a large picture and make it smaller. Taking a small picture and trying to make it bigger you lose a lot of quality in the picture.

As in the example above if you take a 4" x 778ppi = 3112 pixels by 6" x 778ppi = 4668 pixels and try to make it 12" x 778ppi = 9,336px by 18" x 778 = 14,004px


I would assume you would lose a good bit of quality in the picture but I could be wrong.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Keith, I understand the math. I was just wondering if they will automatically resize it to fit (and reduce the ppi). I dont want my photo to end up with 4x6 in the middle of 12x18.

My reasoning is, I created an action on photoshop to do signature. To keep the size and location of my signature the same, I resized the photo to 4x6 (no resampling). Thats why the PPI is so high.

Thanks,

Lets say I have an image that I sized to be 4x6 with very high resolution (778 pixels/inch). If I send it to an online printing like costo and I want to print 12x18 for example. Do they automatically resize the photo to fit 12x18? I dont have to resize my file to 12x18 do I? The aspect ratio is the same.

For printing a key number is the PPI.

The 4 x 6 at 778 ppi also means the pixel dimensions of the photo are:

4" x 778ppi = 3112 pixels by 6" x 778ppi = 4668 pixels .

To print the same image at 12 x 18 the ppi just gets reduced to:

3112px / 12" = 259 ppi, 4668px / 18" = 259 ppi

Printing at resolutions above 250 ppi is pretty much useless, because the human eye cannot see any improvement in the image much above 250 ppi.

The printers many consumer outlets use have a maximum resolution of 250 ppi anyway.

If you want to maintain 778 ppi and still print a 12 x 18, the photo must have pixel dimensions of:

12" x 778ppi = 9,336px by 18" x 778 = 14,004px

 

[wannabephotog]

For printing a key number is the PPI.

The 4 x 6 at 778 ppi also means the pixel dimensions of the photo are:

4" x 778ppi = 3112 pixels by 6" x 778ppi = 4668 pixels .

To print the same image at 12 x 18 the ppi just gets reduced to:

3112px / 12" = 259 ppi, 4668px / 18" = 259 ppi

Printing at resolutions above 250 ppi is pretty much useless, because the human eye cannot see any improvement in the image much above 250 ppi.

The printers many consumer outlets use have a maximum resolution of 250 ppi anyway.

If you want to maintain 778 ppi and still print a 12 x 18, the photo must have pixel dimensions of:

12" x 778ppi = 9,336px by 18" x 778 = 14,004px

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm such a noob I haven't even bought my camera yet. I've been researching and studying like mad to make an intelligent decision....but when I see this....gulp....math....I start to feel sick to my stomach.

Do I really need to learn all that or can I just send out to a service with print dimensions? I'm talking about prints for my future paying customers. (I like to plan ahead. Waaaay ahead.)

I think learning it would be very help. One thing I learned from playing with photoshop in the past is it is easier to take a large picture and make it smaller. Taking a small picture and trying to make it bigger you lose a lot of quality in the picture.

As in the example above if you take a 4" x 778ppi = 3112 pixels by 6" x 778ppi = 4668 pixels and try to make it 12" x 778ppi = 9,336px by 18" x 778 = 14,004px


I would assume you would lose a good bit of quality in the picture but I could be wrong.

Now that example I understand completely. Bite size pieces I can handle.
Thanks for the breakdown. (Again, sorry for the hijack!)

Sylvia

 

[KmH]

Do I really need to learn all that or can I just send out to a service with print dimensions? I'm talking about prints for my future paying customers. (I like to plan ahead. Waaaay ahead.)

That was just basic multiplying and dividing, in other words grade school math.

If you are planning on having a photography business, you will need to use math in all sorts of ways for your clients benefit, and for running your business.

As a case on point, consider photo print sizes and their differing aspect ratios:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(image)

 

[wannabephotog]

Do I really need to learn all that or can I just send out to a service with print dimensions? I'm talking about prints for my future paying customers. (I like to plan ahead. Waaaay ahead.)

That was just basic multiplying and dividing, in other words grade school math.

If you are planning on having a photography business, you will need to use math in all sorts of ways for your clients benefit, and for running your business.

What can I say? Some people just hate math. I'm no dummy, I'm a previous business owner (retail) and I did my own taxes and accounting. I've worked as a budget specialist and as a statistical analyst. But when I see ratios my first instinct is to run and hide. I can do it if I HAVE to. But I'd rather just be able to tell the developer/printer "I'd like 2 8x10's and 5 4x6''s," LOL.

 

[KmH]

If it's any help, just remember that ratios are just fractions.

 

[Robin Usagani]

OK.. so my super high ppi 4"x6" image will print to fit 12x18 automatically (with lower ppi). I dont have to resize it my self. The store will do that? Correct?

 

[user3977]

yeah they will resize it. usually when you use the software they provide it does it all online then submits it. we dont have a costco near us but if they do anything like sams i would suggest going to walgreens for anything up to 8x10 their prints look 100 times better than sams. but if you want a cheap poster print to embarrass someone sams is great.