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HOW BIG CAN I ENLARGE MY DIGITAL PHOTO
This is a question that we hear very often. "How big can I make this photo?"
To answer that question, we can tell you that it can be reproduced at any size you want, but it may reproduce at a quality that is not satisfactory
to you.
There are three main points that need to be asked:
1. What is the purpose of the enlargement?
2. What distance is it being viewed?
3. What size is your original image?
What is the purpose of this enlargement?
There is a difference in quality between fine art, average photography, and sign graphics. Fine art imaging requires more resolution than
basic retail signs or banners.
What distance is it being viewed?
If the typical viewer of this enlargement is 6" away and inspecting the image (like a map or extremely detailed imagery, or a bunch of little
photos set in a collage) then you need high resolution images.
If you plan to view this image from a few feet away (3+ feet) then you need less resolution than what is considered required by most.
And if you plan to view the image as a billboard, from distances over 20 feet away, you need far less resolution.
What size is your original digital image?
Most non-graphic professionals will not know how to even find this information about their image. If you have captured your image from a
digital camera, then you need to know the megapixel of the camera (and hopefully you took the picture at the highest quality setting)
Standard rule has been that you need a 300ppi image at full size, but when you consider the distance it is being viewed, you require far less.
A billboard on the highway is usually about 12ppi, and they look great at the distance you view them..you didn't see any jagginess.
We have done tests, and if you have a crystal clear image at 150ppi, it will print beautifully. That 150ppi has to be at the size you wish to print it.
To see how big you can go with your file:
1.Go into Photoshop and look at image size, uncheck the resample checkbox, keep the constrain proportions checked
This is a question that we hear very often. "How big can I make this photo?"
To answer that question, we can tell you that it can be reproduced at any size you want, but it may reproduce at a quality that is not satisfactory
to you.
There are three main points that need to be asked:
1. What is the purpose of the enlargement?
2. What distance is it being viewed?
3. What size is your original image?
What is the purpose of this enlargement?
There is a difference in quality between fine art, average photography, and sign graphics. Fine art imaging requires more resolution than
basic retail signs or banners.
What distance is it being viewed?
If the typical viewer of this enlargement is 6" away and inspecting the image (like a map or extremely detailed imagery, or a bunch of little
photos set in a collage) then you need high resolution images.
If you plan to view this image from a few feet away (3+ feet) then you need less resolution than what is considered required by most.
And if you plan to view the image as a billboard, from distances over 20 feet away, you need far less resolution.
What size is your original digital image?
Most non-graphic professionals will not know how to even find this information about their image. If you have captured your image from a
digital camera, then you need to know the megapixel of the camera (and hopefully you took the picture at the highest quality setting)
Standard rule has been that you need a 300ppi image at full size, but when you consider the distance it is being viewed, you require far less.
A billboard on the highway is usually about 12ppi, and they look great at the distance you view them..you didn't see any jagginess.
We have done tests, and if you have a crystal clear image at 150ppi, it will print beautifully. That 150ppi has to be at the size you wish to print it.
To see how big you can go with your file:
1.Go into Photoshop and look at image size, uncheck the resample checkbox, keep the constrain proportions checked
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This image is a 10 megapixel image. It
has 3872 pixels wide by 2592 pixels
high. It defaults to 72ppi when you look
at image size. The size is at 53.78" x 36"
If I change the PPI to 150, then the size
goes to half the original size..it is the
same exact amount of information, but
when you double the resolution, the
size drops in half. (figure 2)
has 3872 pixels wide by 2592 pixels
high. It defaults to 72ppi when you look
at image size. The size is at 53.78" x 36"
If I change the PPI to 150, then the size
goes to half the original size..it is the
same exact amount of information, but
when you double the resolution, the
size drops in half. (figure 2)
figure 2
If you plan to have people view your print up close, then
keep your resolution at 150. If the image looks good on
your monitor when you choose VIEW>Print Size and you
stand the same distance that you plan to view the print,
as you are standing from your monitor, it will show you
how the image will look after it is reproduced.
This page will be updated with a calculator to help you
determine the best size and print quality for what you
are looking to achieve.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at
info@bigposters.com
keep your resolution at 150. If the image looks good on
your monitor when you choose VIEW>Print Size and you
stand the same distance that you plan to view the print,
as you are standing from your monitor, it will show you
how the image will look after it is reproduced.
This page will be updated with a calculator to help you
determine the best size and print quality for what you
are looking to achieve.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at
info@bigposters.com
