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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> resolution for printing large format?
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Nikon D1X
 04/14/2004 11:08:44 AM · #1
Is there a place to get a rundown or list of recommended resolution for differant size of prints? Example if your camera is a 5.3 Megapixel, what is the largest print with good quality you can expect to be able to print?
Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
 04/14/2004 11:18:26 AM · #2
your camera's manual should have some kind of printing specs.
Fujifilm FinePix S602Z
 04/14/2004 11:22:51 AM · #3
Photo quality is said to be 300 dpi, so take the pixel dimensions of you picture and divide each by 300. For example a picture that is 2832 x 2128 pixels produces a photo quality print that is roughly 9.4 x 7.1 inches. You can always increase the size of the print if you're willing to give up some quality. Generally this is ok since you usually look at larger prints from farther away.

Message edited by author 2004-04-14 11:40:38.
Canon EOS-1D
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM
 04/14/2004 11:28:40 AM · #4
With a decent camera (which the D1X certainly is) and good quality glass you can upscale photos with pretty good success..

I think I've heard someone mention before having a D60 shot on a billboard. The principle being the bigger it is, generally the further you are away, so you can lower resolution.

You'll get adequate (not magazine) quality at 150 dpi, for a lot of purposes.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon
 04/14/2004 11:32:03 AM · #5
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
With a decent camera (which the D1X certainly is) and good quality glass you can upscale photos with pretty good success..

I think I've heard someone mention before having a D60 shot on a billboard. The principle being the bigger it is, generally the further you are away, so you can lower resolution.

You'll get adequate (not magazine) quality at 150 dpi, for a lot of purposes.
text

National Geographic photos are printed at 120 dpi.
Canon EOS-30D
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
 04/14/2004 12:18:03 PM · #6
"National Geographic photos are printed at 120 dpi."

That's a little bit misleading. National Geographic and other mags use a "120-line screen" halftone process for printing which consists of continuously variable sized dots of CYM and K. Digital ink-jet and Laser print processes don't have that degree of flexibility and need higher dpi resolutions to make up for it.

I still fall back on the excellent tutorial //www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=10
and then experiment from there.

Message edited by author 2004-04-14 12:18:45.
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