What's best for printing - RAW of JPEG?

[rufis6]

I've read all the postings about RAW and JPEG, and what I get is that the 72 DPI doesn't mean a thing, but there must be a preference when you want to print to a large size.

[Scottes]

Most printers can't even handle the 8-bits of JPG, so that's usually fine. Just save it with a very low compression so it doesn't damage the info. It will damage it a tiny amount, but I doubt many people could tell the difference between an image printed from TIFF from one printed from JPG.

It's more the process of going from RAW to printer that's important. Though it depends on how important it is to you to go through a lot of work for something that's a little better. Some of us go through what seems like extreme pains to squeak out the last little bit of "better" in an image. I'm one of them, and I've always saved as JPG before sending it to the printer. I might send a TIFF to a high-end printer or to a pro printing lab, though, but I haven't done that yet.

[PacAce]

I've read all the postings about RAW and JPEG, and what I get is that the 72 DPI doesn't mean a thing, but there must be a preference when you want to print to a large size.

Maybe you can be a little more specific about the question you are asking because it is somewhat ambiquous. For example, I can take your question to mean, "I want to take some picture and print them straight out from my camera to the printer. Which format should I use to get the best results, RAW or JPEG?" If that's the question, then the answer is to use the JPEG format because you won't be able to send the RAW image directly to the printer without first converting it.

[rufis6]

Thank you for your response, but I guess what I really want to know is which format will provide the highest possible resolution: PSD, JPEG, TIFF pr what? As I said, I want the capability of makikng large prints with the least possible amount of (grain) noise. I do not send to my images to a printer, I print them myself so I am looking for the highest possible resolution.

Thanks again.

[PacAce]

Thank you for your response, but I guess what I really want to know is which format will provide the highest possible resolution: PSD, JPEG, TIFF pr what? As I said, I want the capability of makikng large prints with the least possible amount of (grain) noise. I do not send to my images to a printer, I print them myself so I am looking for the highest possible resolution.

Thanks again.

Then I would go with what Scottes posted. I shoot RAW but after doing all my editing and what-not, the final output for printing is always saved in the JPEG format at high resolution (very low compression) mode. However, the file should be sized correctly for the print size you are going to make.

[rufis6]

Thanks again, but the resolution is ony 72 DPI when it loads into the computer from the camera. How do I increase it? I know these are probably questions only an amatuer would ask, but I'm an amatuer and just got this new camera for Xmas, a Cannon 20D.

[Scottes]

You want to use your image editing program to change the DPI. In Photoshop go to Image... Image Size... and uncheck the Resample Image box and then type in the DPI you wish (usually 300). In Paint Shop Pro go to Image... Resize and check the button for Actual/Print Size and set the Resolution. In either of these cases the image won't change, just the DPI setting. This will set your print size.

If you don't use PS or PSP just let us know which program you use to edit. I'm sure someone here will know how to change the DPI.

[rufis6]

Thanks Scottes:

I have Photoshop CS so I will just follow your suggestion. Ok, I went to Image size in photo shop. The print width in inches was 3.819, the height was 5 inches and the resolution was 72. I unchecked resample and changed the resolution to 300. When I did, the Width changed to 0.917 inches and the height changed to 1.2 inches. I know I must be doing something wrong because when I changed the print size to 8 X 10, the resolution changed to 36. I don't know if I will ever get this.

Thanks again.

[Scottes]

Any time. There's a whole bunch of people around with PS knowledge, so feel free to hit us with more questions if they come up.

[rufis6]

I think I finally got it. I just shot a new image, RAW + large - jpeg. The JPEG came out with an image size of 48 X 32 inches and a resolution of 72. I unchecked the resample box and changed the resolution to 300. The images size then changed to approximately 8 X 12. I think I can work with it from there.

Thanks all.

[IndyJeff]

Now while I am not real strong in the printing area, what I have been told by the labs that do my printing, dpi doesn't matter. It only increases the file size that you have to send. Pixel dimensions are what they look for.
For example printroom.com suggests that a minimum of 1536x1024 pixel dimensions for an 8x10 print.


Try printing one at the above pixel dimensions and then do one with a greater dpi and see if you have any noticable difference.

In the words of the great Bobby Unser, "It's testing Paul, thats what makes the successful teams successful, testing."

[rufis6]

Thank you for your suggestion, Indyjeff, sounds like a great idea to me.

[PacAce]

Now while I am not real strong in the printing area, what I have been told by the labs that do my printing, dpi doesn't matter. It only increases the file size that you have to send. Pixel dimensions are what they look for.
For example printroom.com suggests that a minimum of 1536x1024 pixel dimensions for an 8x10 print.


Try printing one at the above pixel dimensions and then do one with a greater dpi and see if you have any noticable difference.

In the words of the great Bobby Unser, "It's testing Paul, thats what makes the successful teams successful, testing."

Just to clarify what Jeff has said, changing the DPI value only changes the file size of the image if the resampling option is turned on. In other words, if you are going to keep the dimension in inches (not pixels) the same but want to increase or decrease the DPI, the file size will change accordingly. What you are doing here is actually altering the image itself to accommodate the number of pixels specified in the DPI to the dimension in inches specified for the image.

However, if you keep the pixel dimensions the same, you can change the DPI to your heart's content without changing the file size (this is with resampling turned off). In this case, what happens is that your dimensions in inches will change according to what DPI is specified. Here the image itself is not being altered. Changing the DPI just changes the vlaue in the DPI tag that's stored in the image file.