Noob question about large prints

I've got a T1i which gives me a maximum resolution of 4,752 x 3,168 or 15.84 x 10.56.

My wife wants some 12x12's for our daughter's room, but my camera isn't capable of producing that being that 10in is the largest on one side. So how then do I go about getting a 12x12 or even something larger than that? Is my only option to upscale it to a certain size and then crop if necessary and just deal with the quality loss of upscaling it?

you would have a DPI of 260 and that may be ok
i believe some epson printers worked better at 240 dpi

whos doing the printing ?

some years ago - on this forum I think - someone suggested using 150 dpi
have a read here - the first link has some good examples of different settings
http://www.have-camera-will-travel.com …e_300_dpi_print​_myth.html
http://photoshopninja.​com …lution-and-dpi-explained/

etaf wrote in post #14517206
you would have a DPI of 260 and that may be ok
i believe some epson printers worked better at 240 dpi

whos doing the printing ?

some years ago - on this forum I think - someone suggested using 150 dpi
have a read here
http://www.have-camera-will-travel.com …e_300_dpi_print​_myth.html
http://photoshopninja.​com …lution-and-dpi-explained/

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I'm going to be using mpix for the printing.

So all I would need to do then is export from Lightroom at 240 resolution instead of 300 then?

Find out what dpi your print house wants, use that and, yes, upscale to the size you want. I'd recommend doing some kind of sharpening after the resize. With the number of pixels you're capturing, the quality level will be fine (presuming the shot is technically solid).

3,168 pixels
12"
3168/12 = 264

so on that camera
4,752 x 3,168

4752/260 = 18.28"
3168/260 = 12.18"

so you will need to crop
set the crop to
12 in x 12 in and 260

or for the lab
12 in x 12 in and 300
and see if that upscales OK

I've printed 16x20's from a 6.3MP 10D. I think you're fine.

Most print labs will ask for 300dpi for resolution.

12x12 should print fine for you. I print most of my larger images
at 240 dpi an they come out just fine. I have printed as low as 200
on a 24x36 inch print if I remember correctly.

You can also use the crop tool, and leave the resolution number blank (in photoshop)
that would make it the "naitive" resolution.. and then the print lab can adjust it for
you.. (I've done that with WHCC a few times on larger prints).

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #14517229
Find out what dpi your print house wants, use that and, yes, upscale to the size you want. I'd recommend doing some kind of sharpening after the resize. With the number of pixels you're capturing, the quality level will be fine (presuming the shot is technically solid).

etaf wrote in post #14517255
3,168 pixels
12"
3168/12 = 264

so on that camera
4,752 x 3,168

4752/260 = 18.28"
3168/260 = 12.18"

so you will need to crop
set the crop to
12 in x 12 in and 260

or for the lab
12 in x 12 in and 300
and see if that upscales OK

Numenorean wrote in post #14517308
I've printed 16x20's from a 6.3MP 10D. I think you're fine.

Kristy wrote in post #14517326
Most print labs will ask for 300dpi for resolution.

12x12 should print fine for you. I print most of my larger images
at 240 dpi an they come out just fine. I have printed as low as 200
on a 24x36 inch print if I remember correctly.

You can also use the crop tool, and leave the resolution number blank (in photoshop)
that would make it the "naitive" resolution.. and then the print lab can adjust it for
you.. (I've done that with WHCC a few times on larger prints).

Thanks, everyone.

So... question: Do I simply need to open my image in Photoshop and change the "document size" from 15.84w X 10.56h to something like 18w X 12h and then crop out the area that I want to be the final 12x12 image? Or, is there a different/better way?

depends on what the printers will do , i looked at the site - but could not find the requirements , as previously mentioned, i suspect 300dpi - i suggest a call to their support line
they can tell you exactly what they want then to print the image

etaf wrote in post #14517380
depends on what the printers will do , i looked at the site - but could not find the requirements , as previously mentioned, i suspect 300dpi - i suggest a call to their support line
they can tell you exactly what they want then to print the image

I was talking to them earlier and they basically said that for best results I need to have my image the correct size prior to uploading. So, I need to make my image 12x12 before uploading to mpix. I asked them just a second ago if it needs to be 300 or not.

I guess that's my issue, is I'm not sure of the exact process to get my 12x12 image since by default, my camera won't give me an image large enough to get a 12x12.

If you want to send a 12x12 at 300dpi, use the crop tool, set size for 12"x12" with 300dpi punched in, PS will crop and resize for you.

and they said

Littlejon Dsgn wrote in post #14517449
If you want to send a 12x12 at 300dpi, use the crop tool, set size for 12"x12" with 300dpi punched in, PS will crop and resize for you.

Ok... now I feel like an idiot. I was making that way more difficult than it needed to be. I didn't realize I could do that with the crop tool. All I kept thinking was that I needed to open my "image size" dialog box where it shows my "document size" as 15 x 10 (out of the camera). Since "10" isn't large enough for my needs, I'd then need to resize the image to something usable (like 18 x 12) and then use the marquee tool to crop out my 12 x 12 section. Damn... talk about the long way around.

etaf wrote in post #14517457
and they said

Sorry, no response yet.

Crop the image to 12x12 and send to mpix. It will print just fine.

If they do not say you need 300dpi, I would just set the crop to 12"x12" and leave the dpi field black, that will crop and resize without "adding information" leaving the image with the native dpi .... I believe this to be a better way (others that know more feel free to correct my thinking here)