What's your preference?

[LazyPhotographer]

I haven't printed any of my images yet, and was wondering what's the best way to save them and/or get them ready. All I do now is save jpg's at the default DPI, which is probably way too low for printing. Should I even be using jpg at all?

What's your routine for getting an image ready for printing? Preferences, DPI, etc.

[Vegas Poboy]

I normally get everything ready as a jpeg for out source printing 300dpi. At home it's a tiff or jpeg with the same dpi.

[PacAce]

I haven't printed any of my images yet, and was wondering what's the best way to save them and/or get them ready. All I do now is save jpg's at the default DPI, which is probably way too low for printing. Should I even be using jpg at all?

What's your routine for getting an image ready for printing? Preferences, DPI, etc.

If you're going to be printing 8x10s or smaller, any dpi from 150 to 300 should be fine. However, I don't really worry about setting the dpi unless it drops down below 150 due to severe cropping. If you're working with the full frame or most of it with little cropping, dpi should not be a concern. (However, if you know what dpi your custom lab is using, then you're better off setting your images to their dpi yourself rather than having it done for you at the lab.)

After I'm done processing the image in 16-bit mode, the last thing I do is sharpen the image appropriate for prints and switch the mode to 8-bit and save as JPEG at the 10 setting.

If you want a print bigger than 8x10 like, say, 16x20 or 16x24, then maybe you should upsize the image with a plug-in. I haven't printed anything myself that size but I did create a file for my sister who wanted to print a few of my pictures at those print formats. I used a plug-in that was recommended here:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32216

The plug-in seems to do a very good job of really "blowing up" the image.

After I save the image in JPEG format, I burn it to CD-R and then take it to a photolab for printing.

[aam1234]

How can you tell what DPI your photos are.

Thanks

[PacAce]

How can you tell what DPI your photos are.

Thanks

Several way. If you have Windows XP, you can go into windoes explorer and right click on the image file and select properties. If you go into the summary tab, the dpi should be there.

If you are in PSCS and editing the file, you can click on "Image | Image Size" from the menu bar to display the Image Size dialogue window. The dpi is given in the field called "Resolution".

Or, still in PSCS, you can click on "File | File Info" to bring up the file info window. Then click on "Camera Data 2" on the left side panel.

There are similar ways to get the resolution info with other editors.