Bizarre question? I'm getting my new printer, supposedly before the end of the day Thursday (a Canon Pixma Pro-100) from Adorama and would kinda like an opinion as to the best types of...

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I'm getting my new printer, supposedly before the end of the day Thursday (a Canon Pixma Pro-100) from Adorama and would kinda like an opinion as to the best types of photographs for 13x19 enlargements. I've never had one made that big (or had a printer capable of it, for that matter) and want to experiment with its capabilities without wasting paper. Just for a test, I took a nice butterfly pic and re-cropped it. Is it good enough (quality-wise) to make a decent print?

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

planepics wrote:

I'm getting my new printer, supposedly before the end of the day Thursday (a Canon Pixma Pro-100) from Adorama and would kinda like an opinion as to the best types of photographs for 13x19 enlargements. I've never had one made that big (or had a printer capable of it, for that matter) and want to experiment with its capabilities without wasting paper. Just for a test, I took a nice butterfly pic and re-cropped it. Is it good enough (quality-wise) to make a decent print?

"... the best types of photographs for 13 x 19" enlargements."

Anything you would like to see bigger and better and feel would be nice to hang on your wall.

XKaliber

flyguy wrote:

"... the best types of photographs for 13 x 19" enlargements."

Anything you would like to see bigger and better and feel would be nice to hang on your wall.

In this case "Good Enough" is all up to you. How demanding are you of yourself and your work? Is this the best photography you can produce at this point, taking into consideration your experience, equipment, and skill?
You will find printing large images to be costly, not only with paper but with ink also. Printing less than your absolute best imagery, then throwing away all the stuff you find disappointing will be an expensive "learning curve" experience.
Good luck on your printing endeavors!

jteee Loc: Montana

XKaliber wrote:

In this case "Good Enough" is all up to ... (show quote)

I agree with XKaliber for the most part. However, that being said, I found myself in the same spot as you (with my new Pro 100) asking the same question. So, as a test, I printed the photo (attached) which was unfortunately taken in mid quality JPEG (I usually shoot RAW but forgot to check before the picture was taken). I printed a 13x19, and surprisingly the quality is pretty much exactly as a test 4x6 of the same photo. So only you can be the real judge. Good luck.

photog601 Loc: New York, NY

I have the same printer and have found that the best photographs to print that large have deep color and are sharp. You bought yourself one great printer! I also use only Canon luster paper it brings out the tone/color beautifully.
my 2 cents

Musket Loc: ArtBallin'

Anything you feel like printing.

lorenww Loc: St. Petersburg

Set your resolution to 300 dpi and view in photoshop.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I just went back, undid my saves in Picasa to revert it to RAW and took it back Image Data Converter (Sony's RAW processor) and tweaked it again...a a bit less noise now. We'll see how it turns out later this week.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

planepics wrote:

I'm getting my new printer, supposedly before the end of the day Thursday (a Canon Pixma Pro-100) from Adorama and would kinda like an opinion as to the best types of photographs for 13x19 enlargements. I've never had one made that big (or had a printer capable of it, for that matter) and want to experiment with its capabilities without wasting paper. Just for a test, I took a nice butterfly pic and re-cropped it. Is it good enough (quality-wise) to make a decent print?

It's a matter of personal taste, really. If the picture means a lot to you, and you like it, go for it. The larger the print and the closer you stand to it, the more any shortcomings will be revealed. There's more to a picture, though, than sharpness.

I hope you didn't pay too much for that printer. In the beginning of August, it was available for $99, with 50 sheets of 13 X 19" paper, after a Canon rebate.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

jerryc41 wrote:

It's a matter of personal taste, really. If the picture means a lot to you, and you like it, go for it. The larger the print and the closer you stand to it, the more any shortcomings will be revealed. There's more to a picture, though, than sharpness.

I hope you didn't pay too much for that printer. In the beginning of August, it was available for $99, with 50 sheets of 13 X 19" paper, after a Canon rebate.

That's the one I got. I've never gotten anything from Adorama before, but they seem to have a good reputation. I ordered it on the 29th, a day before the rebate ended. I did a price comparison on the paper which, to my knowledge, only one store in my area has it. On some things, they are fairly close, if not the same as the big internet/NY superstore prices and on other (most) things, they are ridiculously over-priced...$80 more for a Nissin (sp?) flash I'd like to get some day and, for the paper, $100 vs $75 for Adorama!!

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

If you like the image print it. Remember that when the big print is viewed folks will stand back and look at the whole picture. Only the pixel counters will get up close and look for noise (sometimes noise will enhance the picture jus as grain did in film days They will look to see if everything is tack sharp and never get the feeling of the picture. I had a 4X6 print of this beach pic. Liked the color and the balance. I put few brush marks on in pp I like the look the grain gives. It goes well with a Renior print nearby it (his images were anything like tack sharp) I went 20 X 24. - Just My Not So Humble Opinion. - Dave

MagicMark

planepics wrote:

I'm getting my new printer, supposedly before the end of the day Thursday (a Canon Pixma Pro-100) from Adorama and would kinda like an opinion as to the best types of photographs for 13x19 enlargements. I've never had one made that big (or had a printer capable of it, for that matter) and want to experiment with its capabilities without wasting paper. Just for a test, I took a nice butterfly pic and re-cropped it. Is it good enough (quality-wise) to make a decent print?

Personally, I have a 3 story home with 13x19 prints all over the place, practically every square inch of wall space! They are mostly family photos. You will enjoy making large prints!
8-)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MagicMark wrote:

Personally, I have a 3 story home with 13x19 prints all over the place, practically every square inch of wall space! They are mostly family photos. You will enjoy making large prints!
8-)

Yes, they are impressive-looking. Unlike a 4 X 6, you want to choose the image carefully.

birdseyeview Loc: Indiana

If you want something special try some Pro Master
ultra premium metallic paper! use it on flowers and butterflies and things with lots of color that you want to glow...Don't forget to use the pro platinum paper profile.
your pixma 100 will blow you away if you use a high quality picture in the 16MP and up range.
PS I love mine and have to work twice as hard at my day job to afford this habbit! good luck!

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Yes - bizarre question.
Anything at all.
And I would not worry too much about wasting paper.
You will anyway.
Wanting to see your pics bigger is an addictive thing.
The "waste" you are talking about is less than a cup of coffee.
After you do the first one and see how good it is you won't be able to help yourself. You will look through your files for 5 more to print.
I strongly recommend only using Canon inks and paper.
Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II also known as PP-201 is an excellent paper.
And if you want thicker top of the line paper there is the Canon Photo Paper Pro Platinum also known as PT-101 if your printer will take 300g/m2.

planepics wrote:

I'm getting my new printer, supposedly before the end of the day Thursday (a Canon Pixma Pro-100) from Adorama and would kinda like an opinion as to the best types of photographs for 13x19 enlargements. I've never had one made that big (or had a printer capable of it, for that matter) and want to experiment with its capabilities without wasting paper. Just for a test, I took a nice butterfly pic and re-cropped it. Is it good enough (quality-wise) to make a decent print?