How to prepare photos for printing? My wife wants to appeal to my vanity and make a "tableau" of the best (read: the few decent ones) bird and insect photos I made. I know nothing...

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

My wife wants to appeal to my vanity and make a "tableau" of the best (read: the few decent ones) bird and insect photos I made. I know nothing about preparing photos for printing. How to proceed? What is a minimal image size in pixels required to make a passable print?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I use photoshop or LR to make sure my images are sized per the printer spec's if doing anything larger than 8 x 10.

A. how big are we talking for final size
B. what size is the current image that you have
C. what are the printer's requirements
D. how is your image color calibrated
E. what software do you have

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Cdouthitt wrote:

I use photoshop or LR to make sure my images are sized per the printer spec's if doing anything larger than 8 x 10.

A. how big are we talking for final size
B. what size is the current image that you have
C. what are the printer's requirements
D. how is your image color calibrated
E. what software do you have

Exactly

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

Cdouthitt wrote:

I use photoshop or LR to make sure my images are sized per the printer spec's if doing anything larger than 8 x 10.

A. how big are we talking for final size

Probably 8x10.

Quote:

B. what size is the current image that you have

It depends, they are often crops of varying size. That's why I asked about the minimum required.

Quote:

C. what are the printer's requirements

Don't know. She will probably have them printed in some shop.

Quote:

D. how is your image color calibrated

? I just tune it until it looks right on screen.

Quote:

E. what software do you have

DxO PhotoLab

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

[quote=katastrofa]It depends, they are often crops of varying size. That's why I asked about the minimum required./quote]

If you upload to somewhere like mpix, they'll tell you upon import if the quality will be good enough for the size you have selected.

(Download)

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

Thanks. Any UK online printing shops you guys could recommend (I know most people here are from the US, but just in case...)?

Shutterbug57

First order of business is to make sure your monitor is calibrated. It it is not, your end result will not match your screen.

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

OK, done (I used this tool: http://www.calibrize.com/).

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

katastrofa wrote:

My wife wants to appeal to my vanity and make a "tableau" of the best (read: the few decent ones) bird and insect photos I made. I know nothing about preparing photos for printing. How to proceed? What is a minimal image size in pixels required to make a passable print?

http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/printing/resolution/1_which_resolution_print_size_viewing_distance.htm

You can have more than the minimum resolution for a given print size/viewing distance, but not less.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

katastrofa wrote:

Thanks. Any UK online printing shops you guys could recommend (I know most people here are from the US, but just in case...)?

www.Whitewalls.com in Germany. First class customer service and prompt, secure shipping.

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

GERMANY?! :D

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

Gene51 wrote:

http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/printing/resolution/1_which_resolution_print_size_viewing_distance.htm

You can have more than the minimum resolution for a given print size/viewing distance, but not less.

Thanks! The tables are very useful.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

katastrofa wrote:

GERMANY?! :D

Yes, Germany. Correct the address to www.whitewall.com. Again, after you mentioned London, I suggested WhiteWall because I know first hand how good their service is, how cooperative and great their customer service is, and how promptly and securely they will ship your order - whether to London or the USA. Laugh all you want. Save as many $$$ as you can by running down to Walgreens or KMart and put your order in. It isn’t important, it’s only for your wife. No need to make a professional job of it.

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

I refuse to believe there are no professional print shops in the UK.

katastrofa Loc: London, UK

Ah, they have a UK website. I see. Apologies for being a doubting Thomas :)