Image Resolution

[PJGrove]

Hi there,

I bought my EOS 350D on Saturday and have been experimenting with it and I know I'll have quite a few questions for you guys so I thank you now for your help.

I've downloaded the images to my Mac and although they are around 3.5MB size the resolution is only 72dpi. I'm aware that the size is large so when I downsize no pixelation should occur. Is there a way of configuring the camera to have images of 300dpi?

Also RAW files, is there anywhere I can learn more about these, I'm thinking these would be a better option because once I've downloaded to my Mac I can convert to TIF files.

The camera itself is amazing, I'me SO pleased with it....

thanks,
Paul ;)

[cecilc]

3.5MB size the resolution is only 72dpi.

Don't get hung-up on that 72 ppi display - cause that's all it is - display.
It's not a big deal, and that's just the way your camera displays images .... and there's no way to change that on the camera side. If you want to change it, you can do it in PS, but, unless you're printing there's really no need to worry about changing it.

Seriously, it's not a big deal ....

[kawter2]

Hi there,

I bought my EOS 350D on Saturday and have been experimenting with it and I know I'll have quite a few questions for you guys so I thank you now for your help.

I've downloaded the images to my Mac and although they are around 3.5MB size the resolution is only 72dpi. I'm aware that the size is large so when I downsize no pixelation should occur. Is there a way of configuring the camera to have images of 300dpi?

Also RAW files, is there anywhere I can learn more about these, I'm thinking these would be a better option because once I've downloaded to my Mac I can convert to TIF files.

The camera itself is amazing, I'me SO pleased with it....

thanks,
Paul ;)

If im not mistaken, I don't think the in camera process associates a DPI to the image. That is all done by the application you are editing/opening the image in... Most programs default to 72dpi if there isnt a DPI specified.

What is the purpose of this? Are you using Adobe PS?

[PJGrove]

Thanks for your prompt replies. Kawter2 - yes, I'm using Adobe PS. I'm not a professional but I do print some out. So, can I configure PS to open the image as 300dpi? I wasn't actually refering to the display of the camera but the image file size in PS.

Thanks for your help thus far.
Paul

[CappuccinoDavid]

I would like to hear more about this ???

[PJGrove]

What would you like to hear more about David?

[RoB_m]

i have the raw converter plugin set to import and change all my raw images to 300dpi. dpi doesn't matter til you bring the image in photoshop. in the image size dialog box uncheck resampling but make sure 'proportions' is still checked, and enter the dimension you want for the longest side of the photo. photoshop will come up with the dimension for the shorter side and will ajust the dpi automatically. this simply changes how many pixels per inch a printer will output, but the image won't really look any different in photoshop.

[PJGrove]

Thanks for this. Raw converter plugin - could you tell me more about this? Where do you get it?

I'm going to try the re-sizing of an image in PS now.

Paul

[kawter2]

800x600 = Pixel count resolution
72,300 DPI = Spatial resolution
Have a read : http://www.ltlimagery.com/resolution.html


it's long, but very informative if anyone has wondered what the deal is with dpi etc!!

[robertwgross]

Your camera has to put some kind of DPI tag on the file for output purposes, primarily for direct printing purposes from the camera to the printer. The camera could put any number in there, but Canon chose to use 72 for some cameras and other higher numbers for others.

I think many of us never print directly, so we can forget about the DPI number at that stage of getting it from the camera to the computer, and we can deal with it at the RAW conversion stage or later.

---Bob Gross---

[kawter2]

Bob that is not 100% correct.. if you direct print a 4x6 or a 5x7 or an 8x12 they all will have diferent DPI's because there is no way the camera would resample the image..


I'm prety direct printing is all handled by the printer, the camera just sends pixel count etc

[robertwgross]

We know that the camera has to put some kind of DPI number on the JPEG file, and it does not have to put a DPI number on a RAW file. The RAW file has to get processed in the computer, and that is where the DPI number gets assigned. But JPEGs are often dealt with more directly without fancy processing.

In general, I believe that professional cameras use a 240 DPI number (or something like that) as a default, and the non-professional cameras use 72 as a default. I guess they figure that the non-pro will be producing images more for screen results, and the pro will be producing images more for print results, since print requires more DPI than screen.

---Bob Gross---

[tzalman]

[QUOTE=PJGrove]Thanks for this. Raw converter plugin - could you tell me more about this? Where do you get it?


The software you received with the 350 contains two applications that will do Raw conversions: ZoomBrowser, through which you access the Raw Image Task plug-in, and Digital Photo Pro. PSCS does not yet support 350 Raw but Adobe says an upgrade will be available soon. Many people are very pleased with a new application that is at present being distributed free, Raw Shooter Essentials.
Elie

[PhotosGuy]

Raw Shooter Essentials - there's a link at the bottom of this:
http://www.outbackphoto.com/artofraw/raw_18/essay.html
Be sure to print out the Help manual. It's different from the old manual.pdf that is on the site! Unless they've changed it recently.
The simple corrections I used to do a lot of in PS, I now do in the RAW conversion, & PS is used for the "more creative" corrections/manipulations.
You don't say what the final use of your images is, but personally 99.99% of what I shoot is RAW, even if the image is just going on the web. When you have $1,6000 tied up in one cam & lens, why go the jpg route? The whole RAW vs JPG thing has been beat to death in the forum. If you do a search for just RAW , you'll get enough reading to keep you busy for (at least) a weekend! ;-)