Optimizing for print

[Familyphotog]

How do you prepare your images for print? There are a few things that I do, but I just wanted to check and see if I am missing anything.

 

[Rephargotohp]

Make sure that the image is of suffcient resolution for the print size you are making, check with your lab but in general they require a minimum of 100ppi (250ppi optimal for Photographic process, 300 for Giclee)) for a quality print.
Make sure your image is in the color space that the lab requires

Sharpen the image for the prints size you have chosen

Soft proof the image to the lab's ICC profile to make sure there are no abnormalities or shifts that will be problematic with the print

 

[Familyphotog]

I always save at 300ppi. I resize for the image size clients order and sharpen. Is 300 too much? I thought this was the norm.

 

[Familyphotog]

I just feel like my images are not coming out sharp enough lately. When I blow up to 100% in PS they are a bit grainier than I would like. I think this has to do with the auto iso and it overriding my settings.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I will bump this, as I am sure KMH will see it soon and break it all down for you. I will give you a short version. 300ppi does not matter much unless someone is requiring that number (ie. a publisher). However, sharpening should be your very last step prior to printing.

 

[Rephargotohp]

I always save at 300ppi. I resize for the image size clients order and sharpen. Is 300 too much? I thought this was the norm.

It's actually best to not resize at all and leave your image at it's base Pixel resolution in other words 3000 x 6000 ior what ever comes out of your camera. Often when you resize things, the image can get soft because of "Interpolation errors" (interpolation make pixels that weren't originally there) or if you have over cropped an image and don't have suffcient Base resolution for that print size

It's not always best to look at an image at 100% because you may see things that won't be present in print

Here is an article about sharpening for print

Sharpening for Print and the Web – Home Brews and Nik Sharpener Pro 3.0

 

[Rephargotohp]

I will bump this, as I am sure KMH will see it soon and break it all down for you. I will give you a short version. 300ppi does not matter much unless someone is requiring that number (ie. a publisher). However, sharpening should be your very last step prior to printing.

It depends HOW it is referenced. In an image that is 4000 x 6000, expressed that way, it doesn't matter whether it is 1 or a gazillion PPI. since there IS no inch reference

However if expressed as a 16 x20 @ 300PPI . THEN It IS relevant

OR if your were taking your image resolution and finding the Print input resolution, it would be relevant 3000 x 4000 / 16 X 24 Print = 187.5 ppi which is above what Print labs require

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I will bump this, as I am sure KMH will see it soon and break it all down for you. I will give you a short version. 300ppi does not matter much unless someone is requiring that number (ie. a publisher). However, sharpening should be your very last step prior to printing.

It depends HOW it is referenced. In an image that is 4000 x 6000, expressed that way, it doesn't matter whether it is 1 or a gazillion PPI. since there IS no inch reference

However if expressed as a 16 x20 @ 300PPI . THEN It IS relevant

OR if your were taking your image resolution and finding the Print input resolution, it would be relevant 3000 x 4000 / 16 X 24 Print = 187.5 ppi which is above what Print labs require

I missed where I said PPI in general is irrelevant. What I said was, being at 300PPI does not matter. As in, you do not have to be at 300ppi to get a quality print.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Here is an actual hands on test that pretty much debunks the 300ppi standard. 300 PPI Print Myth

 

[Rephargotohp]

I will bump this, as I am sure KMH will see it soon and break it all down for you. I will give you a short version. 300ppi does not matter much unless someone is requiring that number (ie. a publisher). However, sharpening should be your very last step prior to printing.

It depends HOW it is referenced. In an image that is 4000 x 6000, expressed that way, it doesn't matter whether it is 1 or a gazillion PPI. since there IS no inch reference

However if expressed as a 16 x20 @ 300PPI . THEN It IS relevant

OR if your were taking your image resolution and finding the Print input resolution, it would be relevant 3000 x 4000 / 16 X 24 Print = 187.5 ppi which is above what Print labs require

I missed where I said PPI in general is irrelevant. What I said was, being at 300PPI does not matter. As in, you do not have to be at 300ppi to get a quality print.

What I was refering to was what Keith was going to say

And I never Said you needed 300ppi, I said that you should keep your image at it's base resolution and not interpolate

 

[MLeeK]

I crop to the size I am printing @300 ppi. Sharpen for that size and save. That's it. If it is an enlargement I will run thru fractals.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

One thing not being mentioned is to make sure you turn down any noise. You need to.

 

[KmH]

I always save at 300ppi. I resize for the image size clients order and sharpen. Is 300 too much? I thought this was the norm.

It's an old standard hanging on from back when a $8000 top-of-the-line pro digital camera had 2 whole MP. And even then, it represented a specific type of print film.

Larger prints, like wall size prints, are viewed from further away than desk/gift sized prints are.

Doing the basic, 5th grade math, if a client wants a 24" x 36" wall print, and you stick to 300 PPI (pixels-per-inch) - 300 PPI x 36" = 10800 pixels are needed on the long side of the original. How many pixels does your camera make on the long side? 4000 or so? 5000 or so?

http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adob...ly/prophotographer/pdfs/pscs3_renderprint.pdf

When I blow up to 100% in PS they are a bit grainier than I would like.

What exactly do you mean when you refer to 'grainier', since digital images don't have any grain?

Images destined for print can be sharpened more than images destined for electronic display. During image editing sharpening can be done locally within an image rather than globally to the entire image.
Additionally, there are many techniques that can be used to sharpen a digital photo.

This inexpensive book may be helpful: Image Sharpening