Can I only print 5x8 max???

[ReflectingGrace]

Im sure im missing some big important piece of understanding here. Someone please explain it slowly to my feeble mind

Shooting in RAW or in fine jpg mode. When I "scale image" in GIMP and set the dpi to 300, the largest size in inches is 5x8...thats what automatically comes up at that dpi.

what is going on???

Im shooting with a D80.

[archersdad]

Are you shooting RAW or jpg? If jpg, what quality?

[ReflectingGrace]

RAW+ Jpeg fine

[OsmosisStudios]

You should be able to make an 8x12 at 300dpi (3600x2400 pixels. The D80 files are larger).

Strictly speaking, you can get much larger than that. Unfortunately Im not a pro with GIMP to help you. Strange, though: 5x8 is NOT the same aspect ratio at all.

[ReflectingGrace]

so if someone ordered a 16x20 - would i have to lower the dpi? then do i lose quality?

im really shocked if thats true.

some were 8x12, some were 5x8. Its very weird. Ive only had the D80 a few months (upgraded from D40) but ive never made any large prints so it hasnt come up. My first paid shoot was a few days ago and Im trying to work this out before I present the proofs.

thanks!

[dcclark]

The larger you print, the lower the DPI. But you would be hard pressed to find a size at which your D80 files won't look good -- even at 20x30, they'll still be quite good.

Now, an important thing -- setting the DPI in Gimp is not the right thing to be doing! If you want to print, whether on your own printer or through a professional service -- you simply need to choose the image size (4x6, 8x10, etc.). The print service (or software) will decide the DPI for you. For example, upload your photo to Adorama and order an 8x12 print, and it will gladly do so, printing around 200 DPI.

Setting the DPI changes how your image is viewed onscreen, and fixes your "print size" -- because your image has a specific number of pixels, and choosing the number of Dots Per Inch will force a certain print size. If you choose DPI, you cannot choose print size, and similarly if you choose print size, you cannot choose DPI. Most people choose the latter.

Next: 300 DPI is great quality, but you don't need it. Photos still look great, up close, at 200 DPI. If you're printing at poster sizes, even 100 DPI is great, because you will be viewing the image from a larger distance. My usual interesting fact that I bring out for people who are too worried about DPI is this: to print at 24x36 (true poster size) with 300 DPI quality, you would need a 77 MP camera -- which doesn't exist!

[ReflectingGrace]

you seriously are my hero today. thank you for that! im so done stressing over this shoot. (like when I got home and popped my memory card in my printer and it said "card error"!!!! aaaah! )

this is wonderful news. thank you again. From now on Ill just crop and leave them. Phew! less work, love it

Im so nervous that the first time someone orders a huge print it will come out horrible. Do you get over that? Of course if its their fault theyll fix it (right now i use mpix) but if its my fault....its out of my pocket!

[dcclark]

Glad to help!

I believe that mpix (and most print services) won't allow you to print a photo if you choose a size that would result in a DPI lower than 100 DPI. Adoramapix shows you your DPI explicitly, mpix shows you the max size you can print. Just upload the largest image you can (don't set the dpi!) and you'll be OK.

[OsmosisStudios]

I've done 24x36 prints from a D80 with no problems. Its a bit over 100dpi, and even close up it looks great.

300DPI is the "ideal" for printing in the letterhead business because fonts and so on need that kind of resolution to look good when printed at 1/32" in height (usually about 8pt font). If you really wanna have some fun, make yourself a test card with a sample sentence ("The quick brown fox...") at various sizes and DPIs, and have it printed out at your local photo printer. You'll be hard pressed to find a huge difference in the 72pt fonts, but when it gets down to 12 or smaller, it REALLY shows.

For photos, its a significantly smaller problem. While 300DPI is preferred, less is perfectly fine. Our eyes automatically fill in the blanks a fair bit. Dont worry about it.