Exposure Manager - getting prints ready

[socalrailfan]

OK,

So I'm not the brightest when it comes to DPI, image size, etc. So now I need to get my images ready for Exposure Manager. The largest print I'll have available for printing is 24x36. I'm using CS 2.

So, say I have a JPG image at this size to start with:
pixels 3888 x 2592
document size 54 x 32 72dpi

Then scale styles, constrain proportions and resmaple image are all checked.

Can someone walk me through this, funny I never really had to deal with printing before.

[MJPhotos24]

http://help.exposuremanager.com/kb/entry/116/

I do them at 300 DPI personally

[socalrailfan]

Yeah I looked there and got that info, but it doesn't help me in CS2 to know what to do to get it to the right stuff! LOL

[MJPhotos24]

Oh, gotcha. I just use the crop tool in CS3 and fill in the dimensions on top to the inches (8x10, 11x14, etc) and the resolution to 300 and crop as needed. Wish I could do screen shots on my laptop but can't...

[MJPhotos24]

...and thats after doing the editing of course if any needed.

[socalrailfan]

So I keep all the boxes checked and just resize it to the right print dimension and set the resolution to 300 and let the pixel overall size then change accordingly? Thanks for your patience with me.

And I take it you always set your image to the largest it will be printed regardless if smaller sizes are offered?

[MJPhotos24]

I'm not sure which boxes you mean?

Are you talking about when you go to image on the top and then "image size"?

I never use that to crop my images, there's a crop tool on the left hand side I use - looks like a box with a line through it from upper right to bottom left. I use that to crop all my images.

I don't do print ready either so crop each photo to the one ordered - you can do print ready and then I would suggest keeping the image at it's biggest size.

[socalrailfan]

These three boxes under the image editing tab.
scale styles, constrain proportions and resample image are all checked.

From what you're saying I assume I leave those checked.

For being as well trained as I am in PS I'm a printing idiot! LOL

[MJPhotos24]

Yea, I see them under the Image Size info where you can change the size and all that. However, I just don't use that part and use the tools on the main menu part. But yea, if doing it that way I'd assume yes, keep them all checked.

[Mike R]

There's no need to worry about the final overall demensions. Just crop to the ratio needed and Exposure Manager will be able to enlarge it. For example, I only change the crop (aspect ratio?) so the composition will be good and let EM enlarge it. I'm not sure if this is what you're concerned about.

[socalrailfan]

I think I'm just concerned about having the best quality for enlargments.

[Mike R]

I think I'm just concerned about having the best quality for enlargments.

When you signed up with EM, You guaranteed that. Most of my enlargements are editied in LR2, including a little sharpening and minor noise reduction when needed then exported and uploaded to be printed.

[socalrailfan]

I think you two Mikes are the poster boys for Exposure Manager, but either way I appreciate your responses!

[MJPhotos24]

OK, I'll be on the poster but only if we use an image from my skinny year - note that's not plural. :)

[Mike R]

OK, I'll be on the poster but only if we use an image from my skinny year - note that's not plural. :)

I was skinny once. Then I married an Italian!

[rickdog]

so we've been with exposure manager since november of last year. and i'm glad to hear some of the stuff you guys mentioned about their methods. i really think they have a great service, but has anyone actually seen any of their prints?

we've been selling prints and haven't heard any complaints, but i was still considering doing an at cost order of an enlargement to see their quality for myself.

[MJPhotos24]

Last few years I've gotten all my T&I stuff through them and then do all the packaging and such myself, so yes seen there prints often. I get everything done through them at this point.

[Coach]

has anyone actually seen any of their prints?

I ordered a 4x6 samples of each of their four finishes and all looked great, my wife preferred the matte finish since it had the right texture and pop without to much glare, but I'm telling those that ask that it's a personal preference, and again, they all looked great. I haven't seen the posters myself, but a client just told me this week that she "loved my poster" of her son playing basketball. So that was good to hear.

[MJPhotos24]

I have a 16x20 upstairs from EM that's great, and a lot of 11x14's. One client got a 30x40 last year, framed it and brought it down to the game and people went nuts over it. Only thing I wish is I took a picture of the kid in the photo with the framed pic that was close to the same size as the kid, would have looked cool. But the prints were great.

Will say I've switched everything to Lustre - just love the finish of matte but color pop of glossy, can't go wrong.

[chrisvl]

I've sold a few posters thru them and my clients and have gotten great feedback though I have not seen them.

[sodalis]

Short answer, go ahead and leave them checked. This should give you a better idea of the process though: Resizing in Photoshop (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/resizing-resampling-photoshop.html)

I've printed as large as 24x36" from EM so far, which is currently the largest print I offer on my site. At that size I shoot for 200dpi. I would recommend getting at least one print at the largest size you plan to sell as well as several others at smaller sizes to check how your sizing and processing translates to EM's printing process.

[terrat]

This is a hard to follow:
1. The original post asks about an image W:54-in x H:32-in @ 72ppi--then adds that his image is 3888px x 2592. When I punch in his figures: his image at 72ppi is 3888px X 2304. Is his image 54 x 32? or 54 x 36-in?

2. Someone else says for a decent print they use a higher resolution of 300ppi. (72ppi is for screen, web, or low rez.) This means his image is the correct ratio for a 20 x 16 print only if the latter figure, 2592px is the correct figure, or is actually w 12.96-in X 8.64-in at 300ppi. To get a 20 x 16" (from a 12.96 x 8.64 image) he needs an increased image size of 185.19 percent.

3. If he upsizes it as a poster suggests, then he would be increasing the resolution by 185.19 percent --print quality is now doubtful.

4. Another says let Exposure Manager upsize the image as they guarantee quality (even if the resolution is low to begin with)?

5. Yet another is upsizing with the crop tool. They do say scaling by hand is better than upsizing improperly with the Image size dialogue, but just about doubling the image? I don't think so.

--I started out knowing something and now I have questions.

[Mike R]

This is a hard to follow:
1. The original post asks about an image W:54-in x H:32-in @ 72ppi--then adds that his image is 3888px x 2592. When I punch in his figures: his image at 72ppi is 3888px X 2304. Is his image 54 x 32? or 54 x 36-in?

2. Someone else says for a decent print they use a higher resolution of 300ppi. (72ppi is for screen, web, or low rez.) This means his image is the correct ratio for a 20 x 16 print only if the latter figure, 2592px is the correct figure, or is actually w 12.96-in X 8.64-in at 300ppi. To get a 20 x 16" (from a 12.96 x 8.64 image) he needs an increased image size of 185.19 percent.

3. If he upsizes it as a poster suggests, then he would be increasing the resolution by 185.19 percent --print quality is now doubtful.

4. Another says let Exposure Manager upsize the image as they guarantee quality (even if the resolution is low to begin with)?

5. Yet another is upsizing with the crop tool. They do say scaling by hand is better than upsizing improperly with the Image size dialogue, but just about doubling the image? I don't think so.

--I started out knowing something and now I have questions.

Wlecome to POTN. All I can say is that I don't worry about the numbers. (never was good in math) I shoot in RAW and if you shoot in Jpeg, always do so in the highest resolution. I crop the image to the aspect ratio I need and let EM do their thing to enlarge it and never had a problem.

[chrisvl]

Agree 100% with Mike R.
Shoot in highest res raw or JPG.
Crop to desired aspect ratio 8X10, 16X24, 24X36
Export Full-size in LR or equivalent
Upload to EM
let them upsize and print.
Never had an issue.

[Coach]

If I'm adding fine detail such as text or picture-in-picture, then I would rather upsize it myself to insure greater clarity. I may not bother if it's a straight photo, but there's a reason we shoot in raw and do post-processing. We want to control the output the way we see fit and not leave it up to the camera or someone else. So if you feel you have a better method for enlarging, then I say do it yourself. If you're unsure, then go with letting the printer making the decisions.