Yes, that is a rather nebulous subject which is why I’m asking it. To make a print of a picture that has good resolution, what size should the digital file be....say for a print that is 16” x 20”??
I’ve been taking photos - primarily as a hobby “forever”...🙄.... To date myself, the first “real” camera I had was a 4x5 Speed Graphic, with a Roliflex used on occasion. After a partial suspension of several years to earn a living and raise a family during which I took pix of family and some of fuel facilities for business records - I was working for a major oil company, I progressed through a Voightlander, a couple Fuji’s, two or three Minolta and now have a Canon 60D and a 7D MkII.
One of my grandsons graduated from MIT. (“Name dropper “🤔👎) with an advanced degree in architecture. He gave me his Canon Pro 10 saying I’d likely use it more than he. That is what prompted my question about file size...
Thanks to all
Ideally 4800x6000 px. That would give you a pixel density of 300 ppi. With a larger print you’re usually looking at it from a little further away so it can be less. I think most labs want at least 240 ppi, so 3800x4800 px.
Neither of those cameras quite gets to 300 pixels per inch at that size, and that is before you start cropping, but you can still get a pretty good print. Check out this calculator to get a better idea. It bases the calculation on viewing distance and visual acuity of the viewer. So if is viewed at arms length it only has to be 1968 x 2460, in theory. Personally I'd go for the 300, because I always get up close to prints. You could do a 12x18 no problem.
https://www.pointsinfocus.com/tools/minimum-resolution-calculator/
And actually that printer can’t print 16x20. It only goes to 13x19.
Lsweaver wrote:
Yes, that is a rather nebulous subject which is why I’m asking it. To make a print of a picture that has good resolution, what size should the digital file be....say for a print that is 16” x 20”??
I’ve been taking photos - primarily as a hobby “forever”...🙄.... To date myself, the first “real” camera I had was a 4x5 Speed Graphic, with a Roliflex used on occasion. After a partial suspension of several years to earn a living and raise a family during which I took pix of family and some of fuel facilities for business records - I was working for a major oil company, I progressed through a Voightlander, a couple Fuji’s, two or three Minolta and now have a Canon 60D and a 7D MkII.
One of my grandsons graduated from MIT. (“Name dropper “🤔👎) with an advanced degree in architecture. He gave me his Canon Pro 10 saying I’d likely use it more than he. That is what prompted my question about file size...
Thanks to all
Yes, that is a rather nebulous subject which is wh... (
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Congratulations to your grandson. Outstanding achievement to graduate from The Georgia Tech of the North.
Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
Lsweaver wrote:
Yes, that is a rather nebulous subject which is why I’m asking it. To make a print of a picture that has good resolution, what size should the digital file be....say for a print that is 16” x 20”??
I’ve been taking photos - primarily as a hobby “forever”...🙄.... To date myself, the first “real” camera I had was a 4x5 Speed Graphic, with a Roliflex used on occasion. After a partial suspension of several years to earn a living and raise a family during which I took pix of family and some of fuel facilities for business records - I was working for a major oil company, I progressed through a Voightlander, a couple Fuji’s, two or three Minolta and now have a Canon 60D and a 7D MkII.
One of my grandsons graduated from MIT. (“Name dropper “🤔👎) with an advanced degree in architecture. He gave me his Canon Pro 10 saying I’d likely use it more than he. That is what prompted my question about file size...
Thanks to all
Yes, that is a rather nebulous subject which is wh... (
show quote)
At least 100 ppi. But there will be the ppi police that will state that nothing less than 300 ppi will do. The reality is that a normal viewing distance, you are not likely to see the difference. The explanation can be found here:
http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/printing/resolution/1_which_resolution_print_size_viewing_distance.htmOf course things will change when you inspect the print up close. So you need to decide for yourself what will work.
I have sold dozens of prints from 2000x3000 px camera (Nikon D70S) that I printed to 40"x60"and no one ever complained about lack of detail or image softness.
Less than 300ppi is OK but more than 300ppi I think most printers can't do more than 300ppi.
My Epson 7900 prints at 300 dpi so any photos I print on it I crop to the size I want at 300dpi and prints look great.
Divide the file dimension in pixels by the file resolution. The nominal physical size of a 4800x6000 pixel file at 300 ppi (pixels pre inch) is 16x20 inches.
Another pointless discussion by people who don't have a clue about the difference between PPI & DPI.
TriX
Loc: Raleigh, NC
MT Shooter wrote:
Another pointless discussion by people who don't have a clue about the difference between PPI & DPI.
And somewhere in the next few pages, someone will mention the “magic” 72 DPI number 🤮.
yorkiebyte
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR
MT Shooter wrote:
Another pointless discussion by people who don't have a clue about the difference between PPI & DPI.
... Oh, come on now...This is UHH!! Most everything is pointless including MY images!!
DirtFarmer
Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
The required DPI of the print will depend on the viewing distance. The limit is the resolution of the eye, which I believe is 240 DPI at a distance of 12" (Burkphoto has the appropriate reference [I'll have to bookmark that]). If you are not going to get closer than 12" you can drop the DPI proportionally.
So yes, you can print at 72 DPI if you're not viewing the photo closer than about a meter.
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