achammar Loc: Idaho

Hi All!
Which of the 2 will make the most difference on whether an image will be good for printing.
I want to upload images that look very good on screen, but still not be good enough to print bigger than a 4 x 6 at most, and preferably not even that. My originals are 300 DPI and about 3800 x 2600 in dimension.
I not real sure how the 2 work together as far as what makes them view good, but not print good. I can change the DPI and the dimensions both very easily, but what would be the best one to change. I know I will change both to smaller, and that around 72 DPI is what monitors display at, but which is most important for being able to view well, and which is most important to not be able to print them. Just looking for some info on how the 2 work together...
Thanks all!
:-)

BuckeyeTom73 Loc: Chicago area

In really rough numbers, you need 200 to 300 ppi for a print to be viewed up to about 4 feet. If more than 4 feet then you can get away with fewer ppi. [Note - I use ppi -- pixels per inch -- as printers use dots per inch and the two are not at all related except in the printer driver software.]

So your 3800 by 2600 (approx 10 MP) should get you 8 x 12 at least with no problem. You can get away with 12 x 18 if you expect it to be viewed from 4 feet or more.

If you can't get a good print larger than 4x6 then there is something else at play. It may be a printer setting (if you print) or something in post processing that is damaging the image.

fifthwish Loc: SE Florida

I have had images taken from a Nikon D100 and D70 printed up to 34 X 51 several times and have been extremely well pleased with the printed results. I send all my big enlargements to a company in Bew Mexico.

Excellent company to deal with that are extremely professional

PHOTOART IMAGING

Hollyak Loc: E. Texas

I think y'all misread this question? I think they are wanting to be able to display a good picture but that others cannot print.
Good question, I thought.

achammar Loc: Idaho

Ya, this is true. I just don't understand the relationship between DPI and dimensions.
The images I take though I can print at 13 x 19 (that's the largest my printer will print), but I am sure I could much much larger if I had a printer that would print them. The 13 x 19's are clear as a 4 x 6 and absolutely gorgeous.

Anyway, as Hollyak stated, I just wanted to know a good combination of size and dpi to display on the web nicely, but print crappy...

Thanks!

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

If you want to send someone an image that they can display on-screen but not print well even at 4x6, try something around 500 pixels on the long side. Forget the PPI figure as it is meaningless. ALL that matters is the pixel dimension. Something around 500x300 will display but be virtually unprintable as a decent image. If anyone tells you to make it 72PPI, they do not know how this works.

But remember, some people may print it anyway and not care how lousy it looks.

achammar Loc: Idaho

Ok, thanks. I will use that as my starting point. 2 of you now has used the term: PPI... I used DPI...are they the same thing?

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

PPI is Pixels per inch. DPI is dots per inch and is a printing term. But don't worry, everybody uses it wrong! :-) Kinda like learning curve - steep means easy, shallow is hard - but they get that backwards too!