Picture Viewing Distance
Apr 24, 2016 12:21:03 #
Some while back on another thread, soneone posted a table of viewing distances. The upshot from the number was that if a picture had a diagobal of D that the viewing distance should be about 1.5xD. e.g. A 3 by 4 print has a diagonal of 5, so the viewing distance should be 7.5 . I expect this has something to do with some optical property of the human eye, but am having trouble identifying the basis. If the OP sees this, perhaps he/she might enlighten.
Apr 24, 2016 12:34:18 #
I was not able to find the origin of this rule of thumb but I know it goes way back, might even predate photography(?). I first heard of it around 60 years ago when I got started in photography.
Apr 24, 2016 14:25:10 #
Google your title, it will show a bunch of links. Maybe the answer is in one of them.
Apr 24, 2016 15:25:16 #
Apr 24, 2016 15:26:07 #
John_F wrote:
Some while back on another thread, soneone posted a table of viewing distances. The upshot from the number was that if a picture had a diagobal of D that the viewing distance should be about 1.5xD. e.g. A 3 by 4 print has a diagonal of 5, so the viewing distance should be 7.5 . I expect this has something to do with some optical property of the human eye, but am having trouble identifying the basis. If the OP sees this, perhaps he/she might enlighten.
http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/printing/resolution/1_which_resolution_print_size_viewing_distance.htm
Apr 25, 2016 12:46:10 #
Best picture viewing distance is a matter of perspective, not resolution. Perspective is the appearance of a scene as seen from a particular location. If a photo is viewed from a distance equal the focal length of the taking lens the perspective will be the same as that seen when the photo was taken. 35mm cameras make an image of 24x36mm having a diagonal of about 50mm, coincidentally the same length as a normal lens. Longer lenses make magnified images with the same perspective. Viewing a photo as close as its diagonal, may be uncomfortable, so a distance of 1.5 or greater times the diagonal may be recommended, though it changes the perspective.
Apr 25, 2016 16:17:11 #
zigipha
Loc: north nj
the eye has difference angle of vision - narrow for fine detail to very wide for coarse peripheral vision.
It also has a comfort range in which the eye will move around to see someting in detail. that works out to be about +/- 20 degrees. do the math and that means the distance is ~1.5 the diagonal.
It also has a comfort range in which the eye will move around to see someting in detail. that works out to be about +/- 20 degrees. do the math and that means the distance is ~1.5 the diagonal.
Apr 25, 2016 19:22:06 #
John_F wrote:
Some while back on another thread, soneone posted a table of viewing distances. The upshot from the number was that if a picture had a diagobal of D that the viewing distance should be about 1.5xD. e.g. A 3 by 4 print has a diagonal of 5, so the viewing distance should be 7.5 . I expect this has something to do with some optical property of the human eye, but am having trouble identifying the basis. If the OP sees this, perhaps he/she might enlighten.
google normal viewing distance for photographs
Apr 25, 2016 19:30:51 #
John_F wrote:
Some while back on another thread, soneone posted a table of viewing distances. The upshot from the number was that if a picture had a diagobal of D that the viewing distance should be about 1.5xD. e.g. A 3 by 4 print has a diagonal of 5, so the viewing distance should be 7.5 . I expect this has something to do with some optical property of the human eye, but am having trouble identifying the basis. If the OP sees this, perhaps he/she might enlighten.
Wow! I think that you should view a pic from whatever distance that it looks good...
I understand the need to view oversize printing of raster files from a distance because the lower resolution of very large prints will not be noticed from a distance, but other than that I would go with beauty is in the eye of the beholder, heck my eyes won't even focus at 7.5 inches...
Apr 25, 2016 20:11:48 #
Gene51 wrote:
http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/printing/resolution/1_which_resolution_print_size_viewing_distance.htm
The cited URL has exactly the viewing chart that I saw on the Hog that while back. The article credits Joe Butt with the 3/2 times diagonal. The book it was in didn't explain the basis. The 3/2 implies a viewing angle of 36.86 degrees. Really.
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