editor wants 300dpi min

[Delgado]

I was all set to go on my first task for a [small local] magazine, when the editor said she wanted my images to be a minimum of 300dpi. My camera is a bit sporadic on the dpi front, but usually it comes up with 72 horizontal and 72 vertical.

I've surfed around to try to find an answer to this, but could still really do with some help.

As far as i can gather my editor shouldn't really be asking for 300dpi anyway, because this measurement is really for printing purposes - i think at print stage you decide how many dpi you want, right? If she's bothered about image quality perhaps she should be more interested in my megapixels (which are 10.1 on a 400D)

I don't know if i've understood correctly, but just in case i haven't, does anyone know how to convert my images to 300dpi, ready to send to print?

Many thanks

[Natural Imagez]

You change the dpi in photoshop or lightroom, or i am sure many other photo editing programs. all submited items to magazines etc require a 300 dpi setting.

[Jryan]

I think asking for 300 dpi is pretty standard. You can change the dpi in PS under the image menu.

[gcogger]

The OP is correct though - asking for 300dpi (or, more correctly, ppi) without specifying the print size, or image size in pixels, is pretty pointless. It might be worth asking what it is they are really after (e.g. 6x4 images at 300 dpi, or a minimum 3000 pixels on the long side).

As others have said, you can change the dpi in Photoshop by going to the Resize image option. Unless you know exactly what size images they are looking for, I'd make sure you uncheck the 'resample image' box. If that is not checked then you are making no change to your image - all that happens is that a single number stored in the file changes from '72' to '300'.

[Delgado]

Thank you very much!

I converted in the resize option on Photoshop. The new size came out at 8.64" x 12.96" which is easily ample - i could even go to 400dpi maybe, i'll see.

I read also that it's best to convert after you've made any adjustments; dunno if that's true but i'll do it anyway...i wonder if she wants me to make adjustments...i better find out.

[Colorblinded]

DPI is largely a pointless thing except for sizing for some printing systems. Asking for a 300dpi file means nothing. A 300 dpi file could be 1 inch by 1 inch or 10 inches by 10 inches. The dpi, ppi, resolution nonsense that so many people get wrong is one of my pet peeves though.

[Jryan]

I sort of assumed she gave you the size as well. I would check that.

[Delgado]

I sort of assumed she gave you the size as well. I would check that.

She didn't but one side of the mag is about A4 size -and she wants to fill one page- so obviously no smaller than that - just in case she wants a full page shot.

Thanks!

[tim]

Have a look at my printing FAQ for ppi/dpi advice. Mostly it means the editor doesn't know wft they're on about, they're trying to ensure good image quality but they're going about it the wrong way.