Photo size/resolution for magazine printing
Jan 22, 2021 09:08:31 #
Can someone please supply me with a chart, link or document that explains *in layman’s terms* the photo size/quality necessary for printing in a magazine?
On average, images from 1x3 to 4x7 might be printed by the Editor.
I am Recreational Driving Chair for a carriage organization and write a regular column that includes photos. People constantly submit images that do not meet print requirements.
I have searched online but have not been able to find a suitable “this makes that” explanation for the photography challenged. Remember, some of the readers who I will be providing this information to will be clueless regarding this criteria.
Heck, I struggle with it myself sometimes!
TIA
On average, images from 1x3 to 4x7 might be printed by the Editor.
I am Recreational Driving Chair for a carriage organization and write a regular column that includes photos. People constantly submit images that do not meet print requirements.
I have searched online but have not been able to find a suitable “this makes that” explanation for the photography challenged. Remember, some of the readers who I will be providing this information to will be clueless regarding this criteria.
Heck, I struggle with it myself sometimes!
TIA
Jan 22, 2021 09:11:57 #
If the size of the image on the magazine are only 1x3 and 4x7 you won't need anything more than 3MP.
Jan 22, 2021 09:13:34 #
Simply take the inches of the print size, multiple by 300 pixels, and you have the minimum pixel resolution the files need to achieve.
example:
4inch x 300 = 1200 pixels
7inch x 300 = 2100 pixels
So, the file should be at least 1200x2100 pixels. Larger is fine, like an original 24MP image at 6000x4000. However, the aspect ratio is important. The 3x2 image (6000x4000) doesn't 'fit' into a 4x7 space. So, the image needs to be cropped to the specifics of the aspect ratio if the target usage differs from the native aspect of the file, or the target use differs from any cropping work already done by the photographer.
The experienced photographer can also resize the digital images to the specific size, just replace the recommended 2048 pixels discussed in this post with 2100 in the 4x7in example above:
Recommended resizing parameters for digital images
example:
4inch x 300 = 1200 pixels
7inch x 300 = 2100 pixels
So, the file should be at least 1200x2100 pixels. Larger is fine, like an original 24MP image at 6000x4000. However, the aspect ratio is important. The 3x2 image (6000x4000) doesn't 'fit' into a 4x7 space. So, the image needs to be cropped to the specifics of the aspect ratio if the target usage differs from the native aspect of the file, or the target use differs from any cropping work already done by the photographer.
The experienced photographer can also resize the digital images to the specific size, just replace the recommended 2048 pixels discussed in this post with 2100 in the 4x7in example above:
Recommended resizing parameters for digital images
Jan 22, 2021 09:29:05 #
I owned a sign company and dealt with this issue regarding signage. Small scale printing is no different. Resizing is completely unnecessary. The output software takes care of that. What does matter is the cropping. If you know the aspect ratio of the picture on the page, then crop your photo to that value.
People are so confused about this issue and make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves.
People are so confused about this issue and make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves.
Jan 22, 2021 09:43:59 #
abc1234 wrote:
I owned a sign company and dealt with this issue regarding signage. Small scale printing is no different. Resizing is completely unnecessary. The output software takes care of that. What does matter is the cropping. If you know the aspect ratio of the picture on the page, then crop your photo to that value.
People are so confused about this issue and make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves.
People are so confused about this issue and make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves.
Jan 22, 2021 09:45:59 #
abc1234 wrote:
I owned a sign company and dealt with this issue regarding signage. Small scale printing is no different. Resizing is completely unnecessary. The output software takes care of that. What does matter is the cropping. If you know the aspect ratio of the picture on the page, then crop your photo to that value.
People are so confused about this issue and make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves.
People are so confused about this issue and make a lot of unnecessary work for themselves.
The problem is that many images are sent by people who have zero idea regarding crop factors, aspect ratios, or any other verbiage associated with images. They know how to push a shutter button. Period.
Jan 22, 2021 09:48:51 #
fotobyferg wrote:
The problem is that many images are sent by people who have zero idea regarding crop factors, aspect ratios, or any other verbiage associated with images. They know how to push a shutter button. Period.
Then, the editor either rejects or edits. It's their publication after all.
Jan 22, 2021 10:13:50 #
This might be a useful calculator. Ignore the inscribed pixel checkbox and the formulas in the explanatory notes.
https://www.pointsinfocus.com/tools/minimum-resolution-calculator/
https://www.pointsinfocus.com/tools/minimum-resolution-calculator/
Jan 22, 2021 11:23:19 #
fotobyferg wrote:
Can someone please supply me with a chart, link or... (show quote)
Those are very weird ratios for photos. As some have already said, the most important thing is to make sure you don't play with the size of the photo in terms of how many pixels per inch, but crop the photo to the size the editor is asking for. But in most cases, the editor will do the cropping, so another important detail is to leave room around your subject as you take it's photo. In other words, if taking a photo of a buggy drawn by one horse, don't take a picture with the nose of the horse and rear of the buggy at the edges of the frame when framing the photo. Leave plenty of space around it so that when it's cropped, it's not cropping important parts of the image off. This happens all the time. Also, ask the magazine editor what file format they would like the image in. .jpg, .tif, .psd etc.... And another thing they may want is a certain color space such as Adobe RGB or sRGB etc.. or they may want the raw image and they will do all the editing themselves.
Jan 22, 2021 11:55:07 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Then, the editor either rejects or edits. It's their publication after all.
That’s exactly what she does. I am merely trying to send her more useable pictures by (hopefully) giving guidance to the people sending them to me.
Jan 22, 2021 11:57:12 #
jeep_daddy wrote:
Those are very weird ratios for photos. As some h... (show quote)
My apologies, as I did not mean to imply she was using “weird ratios”....just that some of the photos I submit to her via the membership are not useable.
I am merely trying to send her more useable pictures by (hopefully) giving guidance to the people sending them to me.
Jan 22, 2021 11:57:43 #
bleirer wrote:
This might be a useful calculator. Ignore the inscribed pixel checkbox and the formulas in the explanatory notes.
https://www.pointsinfocus.com/tools/minimum-resolution-calculator/
https://www.pointsinfocus.com/tools/minimum-resolution-calculator/
Thank you
Jan 22, 2021 12:00:58 #
fotobyferg wrote:
My apologies, as I did not mean to imply she was using “weird ratios”....just that some of the photos I submit to her via the membership are not useable.
I am merely trying to send her more useable pictures by (hopefully) giving guidance to the people sending them to me.
I am merely trying to send her more useable pictures by (hopefully) giving guidance to the people sending them to me.
What are the exact 'not useable' issues? The pixel resolution needs don't seem to be too high for the print sizes you referenced. Are the images being unintentionally altered due to the transmission, like unexpected changes as email attachments? Other possible issues?
Jan 22, 2021 12:19:52 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
What are the exact 'not useable' issues? The pixel resolution needs don't seem to be too high for the print sizes you referenced. Are the images being unintentionally altered due to the transmission, like unexpected changes as email attachments? Other possible issues?
I am not sure, as I am not a part of the print process. I am just a minion requesting pictures from membership. I upload what I receive to Dropbox, and do not accept Facebook downloads.
I was told that some of the most recently sent photos were “too small to print.”
Everything else is above my pay-grade. (I’m a volunteer)
Jan 22, 2021 12:33:53 #
fotobyferg wrote:
I am not sure, as I am not a part of the print process. I am just a minion requesting pictures from membership. I upload what I receive to Dropbox, and do not accept Facebook downloads.
I was told that some of the most recently sent photos were “too small to print.”
Everything else is above my pay-grade. (I’m a volunteer)
I was told that some of the most recently sent photos were “too small to print.”
Everything else is above my pay-grade. (I’m a volunteer)
Putting them in the dropbox is the best way to forward the images onto the downstream resources in an unaltered format. But, the files may already be unexpectedly altered when you receive them. Some probing questions and follow-up on 'too small to print' should help to uncover what to inspect in the files as you receive them and to communicate actionable feedback back to the original photographers.
Our community member Moondoggie discovered in this thread the impact of how the images are transferred from a 24MP camera https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-682054-1.html . The method discussed in this linked thread using iPhone and bluetooth would effect the image pixels to fail the minimum requirements of your 4x7 image as discussed above. Similar issues may be involved in your contacts.
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