Printing issue!!! Please help:)

[renee_elizabeth]

Hi!!! I have a huge issue.. and i have no idea who to ask so I came here

I took photos of the super moon the other night, and a friend wanted it cropped ( so the moon takes up most of the print ) and her daughters name on the print ( it was her bday that day )

so I soot RAW, uploaded into LR3.. adjusted a ittle there ( clarity, contrast ) then i cropped it to 8 x 10 around the moon...then took it into cs5 to save as jpeg. when i save, something is happening where my file size is only 600k??? when i view the image itself in PS it says 30M... and 3500x2800 pixels. i save as jpeg at maz file size ( 12 ).....

where am i going wrong? I tried cropping it in PS, not lightroom.. and get the same result. i am so lost! shouldnt the file be MUCH lARGER THAN 600k???


the reason i found out about it is because i sent it to millers for print.. and they cancelled due to poor quality.

Can anyone help me???

THANKS!!!!

[Sime]

Howdy.

When you say you cropped it to 8x10 you mean, you used the aspect ratio that would give you 8x10, you didn't reduce the image size to 8x10 (sorry, stupid question, I'm sure you didn't!)

Why don't you just export from LR3 to jpg?... you can control dpi (300? for printing)

In Lightroom, click File, Export... choose jpg / set your resolution below / image size etc...

S

[OsmosisStudios]

Just a thought: These are photos of the moon. There's no colour information: it's mainly shades of grey, and likely a lot of black. That saves CONSIDERABLY on file-size.

Some labs print solely based on file size, not image size.

[renee_elizabeth]

yes, i chose 8 x 10 after i clicked the crop tool, to keep it constrained in the correct size for an 8 x 10 print. ( i left the resolution box at the top blank ) then i went under image size and made it 300ppi...

is it possible to print a quality print when you crop off so much of the original photo? I have the original CR2 file.. anyone want to try to crop it suitably for printing?

i think i have tried everything. the reason also I took it into CS5 was to add a name at the top of the photo before printing. the tech at miller's said the file was very pixelated especially the font. i dont understand that either.

i figured out my DSLR in a few days and went straight to shooting RAW, etc... but THIS is really bobbling my mind here!!!!

i REALLY appreciate the help!!!!

[OsmosisStudios]

Send the CR2 file (my e-mail is in my profile). I'll see if I get the same results.

[renee_elizabeth]

THANK YOU!!!! I feel like such a GOOB!!!! But i guess its all a learning process?

Ill email you

[OsmosisStudios]

The issue, as I explain in my e-mail to you, is simple.

When you re-sized the image, you did just that: re-size. If you absolutely NEED 300dpi, then you should be RESAMPLING. Better yet, use your RAW developer to choose the appropriate DPI before opening the image in photoshop.

I think a longer lens is in order.

[renee_elizabeth]

Thank you so much for your help

I have never cropped a photo so small and then decided to print. your emails were VERY helpful!!!!