how do i get from here to there?

[oldguyrich]

I want to print some shots of my grandson like his graduation pictures. I have shot them all, and some are good enuf to use. The problem is , after following the ideas and hints given in various spots on this site, the photo houses insist that i reverse some of the editing ,send "unsharpened" and normal sized files. If i edit them in photoshop, and save them at 600dpi, the file size is 3-5 times as large. Can someone tell me their method of getting from camera to the photo house, including basic editing functions, and file sizes that you use? maybe i am looking at the wrong photo houses...thanks

[nickbedford]

There's a difference between the settings used to print and the image used to print.

Pixels per inch may be as low as 240, while the printer may print at 600-1200 dots of ink per inch, interpolating the image as it sees fit. The eye cannot see a great amount of detail over 300 dpi and so any more actual image pixels won't make much difference.

You need to send them a file that by "ppi" standards measures the print size, most commonly at 240 or 300 pixels per inch.

A 10" print would then be 3000 pixels.

[Photologyst]

In general, the good photo labs tend to want sRGB colour space @ 300 ppi NOT dpi. You can save files as TIFFs for an 8 x 10 or as JPGs for a smaller print. If you save from PS you should flatten your image, since that makes it smaller. Good photo labs will permit you to completely control your image processing, including sharpening.

Make sure that your monitor is properly calibrated and that the backlighting is not too bright or your prints will not come out.

I often use AdoramaPix: AdoramaPix Prints

There are plenty of other good printers on the net.

Get test shots on varying papers.

[oldguyrich]

do you have your photos printed at a photohouse?by who? how much editing do they allow?

[IainM]

It does't make sense that they wont allow edited photos... I can understand them refusing ones that are too low quality, but too high? that's weird.

What file type are you giving them as? Maybe just save your files as .jpg and not at the highest quality and try that.

The sharpening should have no bearing whatsoever, along with any other editing. An image is an image, and to a printer, a mess of noise is no different to a landscape or portrait.

[oldguyrich]

I sent some test wallets to be processed at adoramapixprint, and they came back on standard weight photo paper. not the heavier weight such as the one you get in the kids school ... any ideas?