Printing Digital photos?

[MNFats]

I'm such a noob.

Could someone please fill me in on the techniques used to print our photos. I have some pics from my new camera that I would like to get printed so I could make a gift for my wife.

The files are now in jpeg and I just want to print them into 5x7.

Do i need to do anything special to the files? Do I need to crop/resize them? Can I upload these pictures (approx 5mb - 7mb) directly to a retailer (costco, wall mart, target)?

Are there any tips or tricks that you use?

I am sorry, but I couldn't find a good forum, so I decided general would be the best place. Thanks in advance for any help!

[TW1NS]

for just quick prints....I use Picassa and do any touch ups that I need to....then I just upload them to my local Wal Mart. They have options as well for cropping and such. They also have a special function for digital prints that dont cut off the edges. costs a little more...but you can upload them and have them in an hour if desired. I also like the finish, it is more of a matte than a luster, but you can choose luster if you prefer....

[MNFats]

Thanks Tw1ns!

So, should I do my touchups in Lightroom, Then open the files in Picasa and upload them to a retaile then?

Anyone else have some pointers/preferences or ideas?

[windrider86]

No, you dont need to do touch ups and then load them to Picassa, you'd be doubling your work.
If you know you are going to print them as a 5 x 7 you may want to resize them to fit a 5 x 7 format.
To do that. you'll normally go to edit, resize and type in the paramaters you want, in this case 5 x 7. That will ensure that when you take them to Wal Mart or Walgreens or wherever the heads or fingers wont be cropped off.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by windrider86

No, you dont need to do touch ups and then load them to Picassa, you'd be doubling your work.
If you know you are going to print them as a 5 x 7 you may want to resize them to fit a 5 x 7 format.
To do that. you'll normally go to edit, resize and type in the paramaters you want, in this case 5 x 7. That will ensure that when you take them to Wal Mart or Walgreens or wherever the heads or fingers wont be cropped off.

While that re-sizes the image, it often stretches or squishes it. CROPPING to 5x7 is best.

[MNFats]

Originally Posted by windrider86

No, you dont need to do touch ups and then load them to Picassa, you'd be doubling your work.
If you know you are going to print them as a 5 x 7 you may want to resize them to fit a 5 x 7 format.
To do that. you'll normally go to edit, resize and type in the paramaters you want, in this case 5 x 7. That will ensure that when you take them to Wal Mart or Walgreens or wherever the heads or fingers wont be cropped off.

Thank you, Windrider86!

I know I can do this... a quick question, though it really doesn't matter much, just curious.

When I resize a photo to 5x7, will I lose a lot of quality? I assume this is the case, but likely not enough to make a difference in the actual print.

Thanks again!

[Free]

If you've got lightroom, just do your touch ups in there, push "r" (crop tool) select 5x7 in the sizes and make crop. go to file - export and make sure file settings are jpg, 100% and sRGB. Make sure resize in un-checked in image sizing and save the files. Upload directly to chosen printer.

EDIT - if you shoot in raw and then crop you're not going to lose (noticeable) quality as it's saving to jpg that kills the quality. If you shoot in jpg, open the jpg edit then save you lose a bit of quality, the more times you open and save the same jpg the more quality you lose.

HTH

[MNFats]

Originally Posted by Free

If you've got lightroom, just do your touch ups in there, push "r" (crop tool) select 5x7 in the sizes and make crop. go to file - export and make sure file settings are jpg, 100% and sRGB. Make sure resize in un-checked in image sizing and save the files. Upload directly to chosen printer.

EDIT - if you shoot in raw and then crop you're not going to lose (noticeable) quality as it's saving to jpg that kills the quality. If you shoot in jpg, open the jpg edit then save you lose a bit of quality, the more times you open and save the same jpg the more quality you lose.

HTH

Free - Thanks for the mini tutorial!

Osmosis - Thanks for your help too!

I really appreciate the info.

[Free]

Originally Posted by MNFats

Free - Thanks for the mini tutorial!

Too easy