Resize for each size needed?

[lynweber]

Ok so I am trying to get some photos done and its driving me nuts. I am losing so much picture when it comes to the large ones. What do i need to be doing to ensure that I get all the picture in. Should I be saving each file at a specific size in photoshop that will work for all? I just dont know. ThankS

[OsmosisStudios]

What do you mean "when it comes to large sizes"?
If you're printing photos, keep in mind that your D5000 shoots a 2:3 ratio, which is 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, etc. If you go for something in between (say 5x7, 8x10 or 11x14), you'll end up having to crop part of the image because they dont share the same aspect ratio.

Essentially, your files come out as rectangles but an 8x10 is almost square.

[lynweber]

I think that must be the problem it is never 8x10 its always somethng off. IS that the major difference between the full frame cameras and mine?

I have a client that wants to have a 16x20 but it prints funny.

In photoshop i set my DPI to 300 is that all i need to do and then when i upload to mpix it crops a bunch off my photo say at a 8x10 size.

[dakwegmo]

You'd have the same problem with full frame cameras since they have the same aspect ratio as the cropped sensor cameras.

Without distorting the pixels in your image, you have essentially two options. 1. You can print the whole image on the 8x10 paper. This will leave a border 1⅓" on the short side. 2. You can print the image at a size that will fill up the paper, and crop part of the image. 8x12 is the best fit, but requires dropping 2" from the image.

If you know you're going to be shooting for prints, it's a good idea to figure out how much space you need to leave in the frame so you don't have to worry about what you're cutting out when you make those final prints.

[teaking]

I would recomend you not setting your DPI in photoshop as PPI and DPI all mean the same thing the amount of dots printed in a square inch of paper. The larger you print your image the lower the DPI will be its a phsyical effect of printing.

If you do want your finished prints to be 300DPI/PPI then its worth doing the math and working out how many pixels they need to be and then rezing them.

I would say and some will disagree that 200-300DPI and depending on the printer and paper even 150DPI at large sizes make nice prints..... but dont forget to crop for your aspect ratio

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by lynweber

I think that must be the problem it is never 8x10 its always somethng off. IS that the major difference between the full frame cameras and mine?

I have a client that wants to have a 16x20 but it prints funny.

In photoshop i set my DPI to 300 is that all i need to do and then when i upload to mpix it crops a bunch off my photo say at a 8x10 size.

Full-frame cameras have the same aspect ratio: you'll have the same problem. Only the D3-series bodies are capable of an in-camera 5:4 ratio (8x10 or 16x20), but that's a CROP, not a re-sizing.

What's "funny" about the printing? Is it pixelated? is the size off? is the image squashed/stretched?

As I explained, an 8x10 is almost square whereas your sensor is very rectangular. You HAVE to crop.

[candleman]

nuff said,
they are different aspect ratios.

you're basically trying to print a picture of a rectangle on a square piece of paper and wondering why the ends are missing.
you need to print 8X12 not 8X10

thats about the long and short of it.
i hope that helps

[BryanC]

Originally Posted by teaking

I would recomend you not setting your DPI in photoshop as PPI and DPI all mean the same thing the amount of dots printed in a square inch of paper. The larger you print your image the lower the DPI will be its a phsyical effect of printing.

If you do want your finished prints to be 300DPI/PPI then its worth doing the math and working out how many pixels they need to be and then rezing them.

I would say and some will disagree that 200-300DPI and depending on the printer and paper even 150DPI at large sizes make nice prints..... but dont forget to crop for your aspect ratio

I'm hoping someone can write an explanation of DPI and PPI that's worthy of a 'sticky', as this topic comes up on a fairly regular basis. The correct information keeps getting buried and I believe it's fundamental and important knowledge to have regarding processing and printing your images. DPI and PPI are not the same thing. Basically...

DPI (Dots Per Inch) is a printer setting, regardless of image size or print size...it is not an image property.

PPI (Pixels Per Inch) is an image property which is determined by the total number of pixels of your image and at what size it will be printed at.

More often, the confusion between the two happens because a lot of software use the term DPI when they mean PPI. Pixels Per Inch is what you have control of with your image. It starts with how many megapixels your camera's sensor is, if and how much you crop your image, and at what size you want your image printed.

Again, DPI, Dots Per Inch, is a printer setting that sets the quality of what the printer prints an image at and has nothing to do with an image's properties.

As for the OP's original question, the others' have covered it pretty well... understanding ratios and sizes will help you with the problem you're having.

[teaking]

@ Bryan

Exactly I know what your saying, thats why I put DPI and PPI as in your software 9 times out of 10 its going to control the pixels per inch in your image. The two terms in a physical sense are different though one controls image properties the other ink density but like a lot of things in real world practice they have been bundled up in software terms and refered to as the same thing.

[lynweber]

So mpixpro requires 300 DPI so thats why it is set like that.

So gathering all the information from everyone I should start when i take the picture and perhaps not zoom in so close that way when a larger picture is need i wont lose all the details i really want in the picture.

Osmosis as far as whats "funny" it just was cropping it really weird. I think i understand now. My problem is that when I shot i want to get it as close to be right with out cropping a lot i think i am going to have to change that though in order to accomodate the sizes.

One last thing in Photoshop when I go to Image Size that size it biggest size it will print at to get the best quality? I get so confused by all those numbers. Do you set your DPI in Photoshop or just leave it straight out of camera?