Resizing Still Images at DVinfo.net

Kent Jakusz · February 4th, 2015, 10:19 AM

Does anyone have experience with resizing still images for making large prints? Photo Shop and Perfect Resize allow almost unlimited resizing of still images. I would like to take a still file from my GH4 and make a print 36" x 48". Both programs allow resizing to that requirement but having no experience I am hesitant to invest a few hundred dollars on the experiment.

Opinions please

Thanks
Kent

Vince Pachiano · February 4th, 2015, 01:27 PM

You should contact the Photo Lab and see what they recommend.
More often, they have their own up scaling S/W that is tailored to their printer that is superior to your efforts.

I had a photo of a football player, that when cropped, had an effective resolution of 76 dpi at 24x36"
I sent it to the lab, they worked their magic, and the printed photo was superb.

You can also check-out this web forum: Retouching Forum: Digital Photography Review

Jim Michael · February 4th, 2015, 04:43 PM

A typical print resolution is around 300 dpi. If you take the number of pixels on the longest dimension of your image and divide by 300 then you get an approximate max print length with no resizing and at a pretty high resolution. After that it becomes somewhat of a tradeoff - you can print at lower resolution or you can uprez the image which is essentially creating data. You shouldn't need to do the resizing yourself if you have a good lab person working with you. They know what to do. Keep in mind that when you go big so do the flaws, so you need a good image to start with. My wife does a lot of printing for artists so if you need a lab referral shoot me a PM and I'll get you her contact info. One of the services they provide is a "mag test" so you get to see an example of the image at the resolution and size it's going to be printed. In the past she has told me that she gets decent looking prints at 100 dpi and she has clients that shoot full frame 35 as well as super 35 who regularly order large images. Just so you are aware, there are various levels of quality for lab prints, from cheap poster quality to pretty high end custom prints where you work with the printer to get the optimum results.

Kent Jakusz · February 9th, 2015, 09:14 AM

Jim, Vance thanks for your help

Kent

February 4th, 2015, 10:19 AM	#1
Kent Jakusz Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Stevens Point, Wi Posts: 156	Resizing Still Images Does anyone have experience with resizing still images for making large prints? Photo Shop and Perfect Resize allow almost unlimited resizing of still images. I would like to take a still file from my GH4 and make a print 36" x 48". Both programs allow resizing to that requirement but having no experience I am hesitant to invest a few hundred dollars on the experiment. Opinions please Thanks Kent

February 4th, 2015, 01:27 PM	#2
Vince Pachiano Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 307	Re: Resizing Still Images You should contact the Photo Lab and see what they recommend. More often, they have their own up scaling S/W that is tailored to their printer that is superior to your efforts. I had a photo of a football player, that when cropped, had an effective resolution of 76 dpi at 24x36" I sent it to the lab, they worked their magic, and the printed photo was superb. You can also check-out this web forum: Retouching Forum: Digital Photography Review

February 4th, 2015, 04:43 PM	#3
Jim Michael Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 895	Re: Resizing Still Images A typical print resolution is around 300 dpi. If you take the number of pixels on the longest dimension of your image and divide by 300 then you get an approximate max print length with no resizing and at a pretty high resolution. After that it becomes somewhat of a tradeoff - you can print at lower resolution or you can uprez the image which is essentially creating data. You shouldn't need to do the resizing yourself if you have a good lab person working with you. They know what to do. Keep in mind that when you go big so do the flaws, so you need a good image to start with. My wife does a lot of printing for artists so if you need a lab referral shoot me a PM and I'll get you her contact info. One of the services they provide is a "mag test" so you get to see an example of the image at the resolution and size it's going to be printed. In the past she has told me that she gets decent looking prints at 100 dpi and she has clients that shoot full frame 35 as well as super 35 who regularly order large images. Just so you are aware, there are various levels of quality for lab prints, from cheap poster quality to pretty high end custom prints where you work with the printer to get the optimum results.

February 9th, 2015, 09:14 AM	#4
Kent Jakusz Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Stevens Point, Wi Posts: 156	Re: Resizing Still Images Jim, Vance thanks for your help Kent