Enlarging passport photo to 5x7
Jun 2, 2020 01:11:25 #
I have a passport sized photo of my great grandfather, taken circa 1935. It is in good condition - no scratches, creases, or other markings on it - and I would like to create a 5x7 print from it. What is the best way to achieve this? Scan, and then enlarge on the computer; or take a digital photo. I would also like to know if anyone has any recommendations for having the print made professionally.
Jun 2, 2020 01:21:35 #
Cheese wrote:
I have a passport sized photo of my great grandfather, taken circa 1935. It is in good condition - no scratches, creases, or other markings on it - and I would like to create a 5x7 print from it. What is the best way to achieve this? Scan, and then enlarge on the computer; or take a digital photo. I would also like to know if anyone has any recommendations for having the print made professionally.
Many places have a DIY scanner.
Realy inexpensive.
You have a clear print, it will reproduce fine.
Then store or discard the scan.
Bill
Jun 2, 2020 01:37:29 #
newtoyou wrote:
Many places have a DIY scanner.
Realy inexpensive.
You have a clear print, it will reproduce fine.
Then store or discard the scan.
Bill
Realy inexpensive.
You have a clear print, it will reproduce fine.
Then store or discard the scan.
Bill
Won't it pixelate when enlarged?
Jun 2, 2020 02:19:53 #
Cheese wrote:
Won't it pixelate when enlarged?
Negligible at 5x7 in B/W.
But try it. No cost till you print. Then cost low, anyway.
Or, scan with your cellphone and print from that.
Bill
Bill
Jun 2, 2020 03:40:56 #
I can't speak from experience, but if you're open to suggestions I would recommend using a macro lens for a photo as small as a passport photo. That should allow you to get in close and fill most of the frame while keeping things sharp. Getting a 5x7 from that should be easy.
Jun 2, 2020 04:05:38 #
An alternative is "Topaz Gigapixel AI". You get a free one month's trial of it.
Jun 2, 2020 05:30:42 #
Cheese wrote:
Won't it pixelate when enlarged?
If the passport picture was taken with film it won't pixelate. May look bad but absolutely not pixelated.
Jun 2, 2020 06:25:02 #
Cheese wrote:
I have a passport sized photo of my great grandfather, taken circa 1935. It is in good condition - no scratches, creases, or other markings on it - and I would like to create a 5x7 print from it. What is the best way to achieve this? Scan, and then enlarge on the computer; or take a digital photo. I would also like to know if anyone has any recommendations for having the print made professionally.
I have copied many photos with my camera with great success. The only issue is you won’t be able to get a full 5x7 from a passport photo and can’t crop it because the passport photo is 2x2 And the subject fills the print and you will have a large boarder on two sides. An easy fix is to print the 7 inch height and cut a custom matting and use a larger frame. Good luck
Jun 2, 2020 09:01:53 #
Cheese wrote:
I have a passport sized photo of my great grandfather, taken circa 1935. It is in good condition - no scratches, creases, or other markings on it - and I would like to create a 5x7 print from it. What is the best way to achieve this? Scan, and then enlarge on the computer; or take a digital photo. I would also like to know if anyone has any recommendations for having the print made professionally.
Do you have a scanner?
If so, scan at a very high resolution. I have scanned a few pictures at a resolution of 12800 (the highest my scanner will do), and it is amazing how sharp large prints turn out.
Since it won't cost you much (few pennies for electricity and some time), you could try at different resolutions and see which you like best.
Jun 2, 2020 12:52:35 #
Cheese wrote:
. I have a passport sized photo of my great grandfather, taken circa 1935. It is in good condition - no scratches, creases, or other markings on it - and I would like to create a 5x7 print from it. What is the best way to achieve this? Scan, and then enlarge on the computer; or take a digital photo. I would also like to know if anyone has any recommendations for having the print made professionally.
For such a simple chore either method, with decent hardware and technique, is equally excellent.
Jun 2, 2020 13:03:12 #
BebuLamar wrote:
If the passport picture was taken with film it won't pixelate. May look bad but absolutely not pixelated.
Did they still use film in 1935 ?
Seriously tho ... if the shot is basically a workman like shot, and it is without a doubt a contact print, the need to make 3X or 4X version of the original is no challenge at all. Even a slightly imperfect original would still look very good at such minor enlargement.
Jun 3, 2020 01:27:58 #
Thanks to everyone who responded. I tried both taking a photograph of the picture, as well as scanning it.
On the whole, the scan provided better results. With the photograph, I had to fuss about with lighting, reflections and the like. It did, however, result in a higher resolution image.
For scanning, I took it to Walgreens, where they have a DIY scanner.
Once I had the scanned image, I was able to play around with printing various sizes and aspect ratios. The best ones were 8x8 and 5x7. The 8x8 is a good head and shoulders shot, while the 5x7 shows more of his jacket and tie.
Someone mentioned that this was a workman like shot. I don’t know what that is. Looks like when my great grandfather has his passport photo taken he must have had a spare copy made, because the exact same photo also appears in his 1935 passport.
On the whole, the scan provided better results. With the photograph, I had to fuss about with lighting, reflections and the like. It did, however, result in a higher resolution image.
For scanning, I took it to Walgreens, where they have a DIY scanner.
Once I had the scanned image, I was able to play around with printing various sizes and aspect ratios. The best ones were 8x8 and 5x7. The 8x8 is a good head and shoulders shot, while the 5x7 shows more of his jacket and tie.
Someone mentioned that this was a workman like shot. I don’t know what that is. Looks like when my great grandfather has his passport photo taken he must have had a spare copy made, because the exact same photo also appears in his 1935 passport.
Jun 3, 2020 07:26:11 #
Workman like just means not messed up, a reasonably well executed photo. If not fancy or perfect then it is plain and not overly far off from perfect.
Jun 3, 2020 10:08:50 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
Cheese wrote:
I have a passport sized photo of my great grandfather, taken circa 1935. It is in good condition - no scratches, creases, or other markings on it - and I would like to create a 5x7 print from it. What is the best way to achieve this? Scan, and then enlarge on the computer; or take a digital photo. I would also like to know if anyone has any recommendations for having the print made professionally.
If you have a scanner, and you haven’t already got a camera copying setup, scan it at high resolution and size the output to your target size. Quicker and easier. Just remember, unless it is tack sharp in the smaller size a small photo will appear much sharper than the same image upsized three or four times.
Stan
Jun 3, 2020 11:09:37 #
fetzler
Loc: North West PA
Scanning a photo is a good option. Generally I have found that paper prints have no more than about 600 dpi worth of information. If the photo is on glossy paper you can try scanning at 1200dpi and then see what you get. In general, I try not to enlarge photos more than 2X.
Photographing the image will work too if you have a macro lens and a copy stand or a suitable wall. You will need even lighting. Macro lenses have flat fields ( no barrel or pincushion distortion).
Photographing the image will work too if you have a macro lens and a copy stand or a suitable wall. You will need even lighting. Macro lenses have flat fields ( no barrel or pincushion distortion).
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