Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

I just rec'd an email from this player asking if the attached picture I took of her could be printed as a 24x36 poster.

I told her that I would research it and get back to her.

Was probably shot at mid field so about 60 yards.
A lot of crop on this one.

Not exactly sure how poor of a shot (this one) can be printed that large and not look like I used my cell phone.

Appreciate comments and opinions.

Goalie Pic

(Download)

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

As good as an action shot it is, DO IT !

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

Thanks Don

tramsey Loc: Texas

At that size it is going to be a little fuzzy but I don't think enough to distract from the action. I would do it.

Excellent shot

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

If you resample to 24x36 using the right software, and then do a good job of sharpening, it doesn't look bad at all (even up close). Here is a 600x600 crop (if viewed in a 600x600 window on your monitor screen this is essentially what your poster will look like).

http://apaflo.com/misc/ee_0010.jpg

If you aren't sure how to process it, find out exactly what printer you'll have it printed on, and I'll make a processed full sized version of it available.

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

Thanks Apaflo

I processed it with photoshop elements 9. Yeah I know I need to upgrade.

Saved it as a 4" x 6", I always do for these pics.

If I can't resize it from 4x6 to 24x36, I'll probably have to go back to my original, PP and save as 24x36.

Do you think that will work ?

The print co said would be best to have a 24x36 picture, but then I emailed this picture and they said it would be okay. I would like to make sure best possible image is used, even if I have to PP again.

Player is having the "banner", now it is a banner not a poster, done at a local printing company.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Those numbers don't mean anything! All that counts are the pixel dimension, at least until you know exactly what the PPI rate is for the specific printer that will be used.

I'm assuming you set 4"x6" with a setting of 300 PPI???? Fine, unless the printer is an Epson and prints at 360 PPI! :-)

And for a "banner" it's hard to say. Worse yet, when you ask they will probably say "It should be 300 DPI", even if the printer works at 200 or 400. If you can get the exact model of printer, that's best.


The key word is "best". Then there is what is probably good enough. Size it for a 24x36 print (at 300 PPI). Then, using a 100% crop to compare, adjust sharpening for best results. A high pass sharpen tool will be most effective, but a second pass with an Unsharp Mask tool helps too. Note that because it has been enlarged significantly the parameters for the sharpen tools will be larger than you'd normally see.

What I'd do... is give it a go with processing. Then crop out a 600x600 pixel section that shows just about the same area as the one I posted. If they are roughly the same, send it to the printer. If yours doesn't look as sharp, let me know and I'll put up an image you can download.

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

Thank you again Apaflo.

When I PP the original picture, I saved it at 6x4 inches,
Length 3600 pixels x Width 2400 pixels.

at 600 dpi both horizontal and vertical..... ?
is this necessary, or should I just always save at 300 dpi ?

So I need to change the "dpi" to the setting of the printer ?

Would it be a good idea for me to go back to the original picture, then follow the suggestions you gave above ?

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

The "dpi" setting is just a tag. It makes no actual difference in what the image is. The important part is the pixel dimension.

Hence if you print with a Canon or HP printer, 300 PPI is right. If you want a 24x36 the image has to be 7200x10800 pixels. If it is anything else, either smaller or larger, the print driver absolutely will resample the image to get that pixel dimension. (An Epson printer uses 360 PPI, and will do the same thing to get 8640x12960 pixels.)

The problem with that comes with sharpening, which if done carefully and correctly will be slightly different due to the pixel size difference. It isn't much though, and if you size and sharpen for 300 PPI you'll have a very hard time telling the difference from a print made with an image sized and sharpened for 360 PPI.

On the other hand, if you leave it at 2400x3600, sharpen it to taste, and tell the printer you want a 24x36 print there will be a very distinct difference between than print and what it would be if you resize and sharpen and have the larger image printed.

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

Apaflo
Thank you again.
It is starting to click for me now.
I'll go back to the original and reprocess it as 24x36. This may help.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Reprocess it as 7200x10800 pixels!

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

Hmm I processed it at 24x36 inches @ 360 dpi

It now shows 8,640 x 12,960 pixels

I'm not sure how to make it 7,200 x 10,800 pixels

Is it necessary ?

Ahhh...... I see now how the math works !
I'll reprocess 24x36 @ 300 dpi, that will give me the 7,200 x 10,800

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Either way is probably fine, but if you know specifically what the printer that will be used works at, that's the best.

kubota king Loc: NW , Pa.

For large prints , I save my photos in Tiff format , and take the photo in Raw format set to the highest quality level . I am very happy with the results ,Tommy

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

I did one 24x36 poster. The picture was done taken in a high school gym of a wrestling match with poor light, no flash, with a d700 using an 80-200 2.8. I normally only keep sharp, clear shots, but this one had a specially flavor to it because it was my grandson. The shot could have been better. I did what I could to improve in pp and had it printed. It came out better than I thought it would, but how it was viewed by my grandson was unbelievable. It is shown to everyone who enters that house. The quality of the print will not mean as much to the young lady as what you have captured. However, my guess is that the poster will be just fine. Go for it.