How to Correctly Size an Image for Artwork in LR

I visited the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest recently and got some nice images which I will be editing. I shot them in RAW + JPEG.

I also photographed Jaguars in Brasil 2 years ago and got some great images. I took a couple of the images (on a memory stick) to my local Samy's Camera to see about having the images printed on Canvas or Metal in sizes of around 24" x 20" (approx.). I was told the file size was too small for that to be feasible. I am not an "expert" in LR but understand basic editing.

I'm including in this post a "test" image as well as what my file size settings are in LR.

I wonder if someone could chime in on whether this is wrong and/or what I need to do in order that I can take my favorite image(s) and have those printed into larger sizes.

Thank You.

Bogino wrote in post #19137952
I wonder if someone could chime in on whether this is wrong and/or what I need to do in order that I can take my favorite image(s) and have those printed into larger sizes.

Thank You.

Hosted photo: posted by Bogino in
./showthread.php?p=191​37952&i=i235533976
forum: RAW, Post Processing & Printing

Hosted photo: posted by Bogino in
./showthread.php?p=191​37952&i=i201173006
forum: RAW, Post Processing & Printing

To print 24" x 20" at 240 ppi you need 5760 x 4800 pixels. (24 x 240) (20 x 240)

Nice looking image.

During the Library Export, you can tell Lightroom that you want an output size of a certain number of inches (rather than total number of pixels), and you want the PPI to be 240.

Of course, your original is 1:1.5 (if proportation to digital FF aspect ratio) and if you wanted a 10" x 30" print, you would need to first crop the image to 1:3 before Library Export Resize to 10 x 30 inches, at 240 PPI.

So if your original was 3600V x 5400H pixels, you would crop vertically to result in 1800V x 5400 pixel (1:3 aspect ratio image area), then Library Export Resize to [10 x 30] [Inches], at [240 PPI], and LR then does the math for you and then creates a 2400V x 7200 pixel output JPG.

Unfortunately, some commercial printers INSIST upon a file size that supports 300 PPI, so you actually need to output a file
{10 x 30] [Inches] at [300 PPI] and LR makes a 3000 x 9000 pixel JPG, which you send to your commercial printer and ask for 10"V x 30"H final print.

Why did you resize it to 1000 x 900 pixels? Plus limit file size to 1000K? Was that just for here or is that what you sent to print? With that camera you should have plenty of pixels to print a 20x24 unless there is some major cropping.

I size it to around 1000 (give or take) because almost all my images are posted to social media. Maybe that's wrong. Open to suggestions. Thx.

Bogino wrote in post #19138054
I size it to around 1000 (give or take) because almost all my images are posted to social media. Maybe that's wrong. Open to suggestions. Thx.

If you shoot RAW, you can create MULTIPLE versions of the same RAW file, size to different aspect ratios, and then choose the appropriate pixel count for the purposes you need. For example RAW0010 might be natively 2:3 aspect ratio, but you make a version which is cropped to 4:5 (to fit a standard 8x10" frame), and another version which is cropped to 1:5 (to make a 12" x 60" wall print).

You output a different pixel count JPG for three different purposes, yet there is only ONE RAW file, with three versions whose crop are remembered by Lightroom with ZERO DUPLICATION of any RAW file.

Bogino wrote in post #19138054
I size it to around 1000 (give or take) because almost all my images are posted to social media. Maybe that's wrong. Open to suggestions. Thx.

For social media that's fine, not for printing. If you're going to send an image to a printer export the jpg without resizing it down or limiting file size to 1000K.

Bogino wrote in post #19138054
I size it to around 1000 (give or take) because almost all my images are posted to social media. Maybe that's wrong. Open to suggestions. Thx.

When you resize to 1000x900, you're throwing away over 90% of the information captured by your camera. As suggested by other responders, you shouldn't be downsizing the resolution for printing. Downsizing for the web is fine, and recommended, to allow faster image downloads.

moose10101 wrote in post #19138228
When you resize to 1000x900, you're throwing away over 90% of the information captured by your camera. As suggested by other responders, you shouldn't be downsizing the resolution for printing. Downsizing for the web is fine, and recommended, to allow faster image downloads.

Question:

Once I'm done editing an image and assume that I want to post it to social media as well as potentially have it printed on canvas for example would I then save the same image twice: Once with the smaller dimensions for social media and another copy without reducing the size for printing purposes?

Thx.

Bogino wrote in post #19138243
Question:

Once I'm done editing an image and assume that I want to post it to social media as well as potentially have it printed on canvas for example would I then save the same image twice: Once with the smaller dimensions for social media and another copy without reducing the size for printing purposes?

Thx.

That is one way but then you have 3 versions of the same photo you may not need. You can also just stop after processing the RAW and only convert to jpeg when you need a specific output. For example if you only post to web you output with the max(like 1000 or 1600 long side)for that website/social media, then discard jpeg after uploading. When you decide to print one of your pictures you output with that in mind, I would keep all the pixels for those(except cropping to desired aspect ratio). After sending to printer you can also discard that version.

Bogino wrote in post #19138243
Question:

Once I'm done editing an image and assume that I want to post it to social media as well as potentially have it printed on canvas for example would I then save the same image twice: Once with the smaller dimensions for social media and another copy without reducing the size for printing purposes?

Thx.

Always keep your original raw file and make a backup copy.

When you want a print, create a full size jpg from the original raw file.

When you showing on web, create your jpg at smaller file size.

Bogino wrote in post #19138243
Question:

Once I'm done editing an image and assume that I want to post it to social media as well as potentially have it printed on canvas for example would I then save the same image twice: Once with the smaller dimensions for social media and another copy without reducing the size for printing purposes?

Thx.

1. You have ONE RAW file, and LR keeps the editing parameters to apply to three versions (4:5, 2:3, 1:5)...only the parameters of the edits are saved in LR, no RAW file duplication!
   
2. You output different JPG files whose pixel dimensions are appropriate to the output size...a 1200x1500 JPG for 4x5" print for your mother, a 2400x3000 JPG for 8x10" print for your wife, a 2400x3600 JPG for 8x12" print for your office, a 3600x18000 JPG for 12x60"canvas wall print for the living room...and after sending the files to your commercial printer, you can discard ALL of the JPG rather than clutter up your disk storage.
   
3. You keep the RAW file, and your Lightoom catalog remembers the parameters of the various versions, you output via Library Export for any later versions you might wish to print at other sizes.