Shoot for large sized printing

Messages
468
Name
Vicky
Edit My Images
Yes
My sister has asked me to take some pictures that she wants to have in large sized print to hang on her walls. From her description, I assume she is looking to have them printed in a format of about 1.30 by 1.80.

Assuming I take the picture correct to begin with :D, will my camera be able to provide enough detail for such print? I have a 7D and she wants some bw night time pictures of her and hubby at our local fair (with some light accents, such as a merry go round or something).

I'm just not sure if I should suggest she look for a professional photographer to get these sizes right?
 
Your camera is plenty for that size, assuming you mean metres and not miles!

Somebody will be along shortly with all the boring maths behind sensor sizes and pixels etc.

The secret is do your PP work on the resized image, not pleasant but much better at handling noise and sharpening.
 
Yes, well I sure hope she meant meters as well :lol:

What do you mean with doing PP work on resized image? I should set the image to 1.3 by 1.8 meter and then do PP?
 
http://tiporama.com/tools/pixels_inches.html

How to calculate print size

Your sensor is 18MP which is5184x3456 pixels
That equates to 17.28 inches x 11.52 inches @300 dpi (print resolution)
or 25.92 x 17.28 inches at 200 dpi

So the bigger the print becomes, the lower resolution you print at.
 
Yes, well I sure hope she meant meters as well :lol:

What do you mean with doing PP work on resized image? I should set the image to 1.3 by 1.8 meter and then do PP?


You could do but that but it will be very hungry on your ram no to mention a huge file.

Try and get the exposure as correct as possible as this will stand out the most when up-scaling.

CS4 does a very good job of up-scaling but there is 3rd party sofware like On One's Genuine Fractals, some consider it to be the best. (not cheap but then neither is CS4)

Once you have edited your shot, resize for for 1300mm x 1800mm (as your note) then give it a sharpen (only you will know how much to do)

Then save your file. If you just send a normal without resizeing to try and print at your dimensions, it will lose a lot of quality.
 
OK, thanks, but then my question becomes.

If the picture is printed at 75 dpi, how will it look? Will it be grainy, or can it still be a good picture to look at?
 
What resolution do you think posters are printed at? ;)

Billboards are about 1dpi lol

dpi is dependant upon viewing distance.
 
Absolutely no idea. I am only just learning about dpi's :lol:

Thanks for all this very usefull information. I think I'll give the shoot the best I have and hopefully this will result in a beautifull mural for my little sister!!!!
 
Contact your printer to ask what dpi they print at for you dimensions, they should give you a colour profile for their printers too. I do suggest contacting your printer though for more accurate help.
 
Back
Top