how to get BIG prints?

[The111]

I'm a relative newbie but from searching threads here I've learned a bit about the basics. I have some 8MP images (3504 x 2336) that I would like to print as big as possible, and I understand that to be about 8 x 12 (without compromising quality).

I was a little disappointed once I did this calculation, since I was hoping for a bigger pic. I notice that sites like Shutterfly offer prints as big as 20 x 30! But the thing is, there really aren't much better than 8MP cameras out there, are there? So how on earth do people make prints that big? Do they just sacrifice quality for size?

[EricKonieczny]

Yes there is many types of cameras out there better than 8MP, but they cost 3-15k.

There is Medium Format, Large Format, and then Film, then there is digital backs for film cameras. Then you can scan pictures in after you have them developed.

You are assuming that you 8 x 12 is at 300 DPI, you can go to a lower DPI like 240 and get a bigger picture. You will not be looking at a 20x 30 print frrom the same distance as you would a 4x6.


I am not sure of the exact of all Billbaords, but I know some are printed as low as 70DPI .

[robertwgross]

This question comes up over and over.

Many people use 300 DPI as the desired print resolution for small prints. Your camera can do that. However, when you start getting toward larger and larger prints, your camera's files don't have enough pixels to get there. So, you can lower your standards for resolution to 240 or 150 or whatever you need. As the print size gets larger, the viewer-to-print distance is longer, so the print resolution is allowed or expected to get worse.

The other approach is to take the basic file and do resampling-up. You might start with a 24MB file and make a 48MB file out of it, and that would allow you to print larger and still keep high resolution standards. Some people will say that this gets better results, and some will say that the smaller file would have done just as good. Try it both ways and see what you prefer, or whether you can see the difference.

Your camera is fully capable of taking a photo that can be printed at 20 feet by 30 feet. It's just that the resolution will be very low, and if you stick your eyes up to it, it will look like crap. But people do not view a 20x30 foot print from that close. They would view it from 40 or 50 feet back, and it might look very good from there.

---Bob Gross---

[The111]

Thanks for the quick replies. Not sure I understand about "resampling-up". Is this something like using software to increase the pixel count but somehow "smooth" the picture to still look good?

[robertwgross]

Not sure I understand about "resampling-up". Is this something like using software to increase the pixel count but somehow "smooth" the picture to still look good?

Yes, you can resample up or down.

If you start with a 24MB file and resample up, you might get a 48MB file out of it. If you resample down, you might get a 12MB file out of it.

---Bob Gross---