Preparing File for Large Print?

[zerocool]

im finally getting my Pano of the Oakland Stadium printed in 24 x 36 format ...

my question is the printer has requested the file in .jpg .... and i was curious , what should i do to prep my file for such a large print ... or is it just the normal touch ups and take down in maximum quality jpg?

[brucep]

I'm surprised your lab wants a jpeg, since that's a lossy compression format. The lab I use prefers a tiff made to their custom (downloadable) profile. If this is for a client (sports bar?), you might find a lab which will do it with a non-lossy format (even though it may be more expensive... you can pass along the difference in price.)

What's your image resolution at 24x36"?

I up-rez my original to 300 ppi. If you do this all at once, it'll reduce the image quality. I used to use Fred Miranda's SI-Pro II, but with changing computers and versions of Photoshop, I've lost the plug-in. Instead, I just up-rez ten percent at a time until I'm at my desired size at 300 ppi.

Here are a few made by the lab I use:

[zerocool]

no this isnt for a client, if it was for a client i would go through mpix , and pass the cost on to client... however this is just for me to hang in my apartment, something like a "memento" yah know?

my files is currently 5369 x 1788 @ 300

im getting it done for about 40 bucks, i really dont want to and cant afford to spend near 100bucks ... if i could do that id go metal print for it...

[brucep]

So your original image is about three times as wide as it is tall. At 300 ppi, it's about 18"x6". Doubling its size to 36"x 12" (not 24"), you'd wind up with about 150 ppi. If the print will be seen from quite a distance, this might not be bad, especially if the original is absolutely tack sharp at 18"x6". Personally, I'd scale it up, using one of the methods mentioned above.

Is this the image we're discussing?



Since you're paying for a 36x24, you might as well give them two of these images stacked atop each other. They print it as 36x24 and you slice it in half horizontally and get two 36x12's!

At $40, if it doesn't turn our perfectly, you haven't lost much of an investment. Even if it's not a gallery quality print, it'll remind you of the great times you've had there.

[zerocool]

yes that is the image...

so how would i scale it up ?

[Baron von Smoogle]

.....I just up-rez ten percent at a time until I'm at my desired size at 300 ppi.

What is the differences between up-rezzing all at once and doing it 10% at a time? Do you do anything else to the image in between up-rezzes?

[brucep]

It's some idiosyncrasy Photoshop has had for I don't know how long. If you up-rez 200% (as in this case) it sometimes brings in artifacts. Instead, if you up it from 5369 to (5369 x 1.1 =) 5905, then to (5905 1.1 =) 6495, etc. until you reach 10,738 pixels, it works better. Frankly, I've never experimented and done a comparison, but I've been taught it from a couple of ACE Photoshop instructors.

In my processing workflow, I do a slight sharpen early on, then adjust and retouch from there. When I output for a specific purpose, then I often do a second slight sharpening at that final resolution, using Unsharp Mask.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1158490/smprint.html

[GraphicGr8s]

Bruce that may have been true with earlier versions of PS. CS5 and 6 have a different set of algorithms and uprezzing in larger increments doesn't have the problems it use to. If he ran 2 up he could try both methods of uprezzing or, given the viewing distance for a print that size try one uprezzed and one at 150. It's surprised me before when I thought it would look like garbage came out great.

[zerocool]

im running CS3

[brucep]

Right, Joe. This 5'x8' print on cloth is only 70 dpi, but since it is hung 20' from anyone looking at it, it's fine.



Good idea about using both methods, one for the top print and another for the bottom.

[zerocool]

im confused a little, so why would having 2 prints merged have and effect on the quality ?

[Baron von Smoogle]

I'm pretty sure they meant you would have two separate prints 12" X 36", not two images printed on top of each other. After you get the print back you cut it into two 12" X 36" prints, mat and frame.

[zerocool]

welll from what i read theyre talking about 2 diff images with slightly diff processing and 2 diff layers and merged in PS

[Dusty Photos]

This is a little confusing to me as well... I ordered a 20x30 print a few days ago and am curious now to see what the final product looks like. It was sent as a jpeg @ 300dpi also

[brucep]

One 36x12" print "above" the other, is what I mean, like this:



He's paying for a 36x24 print, I'm saying he can get two of his images on that sheet of paper.

[Dusty Photos]

Lol, I understand that part. It's the part about how to get the correct amount of pixels in a large print that confuses me (without splicing images together). On the 20x30" print I just ordered for example, the ideal pixel size would by around 9000 on the long side... so not sure how to achieve that. I talked with my print house (bay photo) and they prefer JPEGS

[zerocool]

This is a little confusing to me as well... I ordered a 20x30 print a few days ago and am curious now to see what the final product looks like. It was sent as a jpeg @ 300dpi also

where did u send it too?



edit: so i went to the printer today and got to looking at the 24x36 , its not exactly what i want , its a bit "square" more so for a portrait, i want something more pano style...

[zerocool]

One 36x12" print "above" the other, is what I mean, like this:



He's paying for a 36x24 print, I'm saying he can get two of his images on that sheet of paper.

ahh i see what your saying there Bruce ...

sorry the original post was just reading wrong to me ...


im torn between a B&W Version and a Color Version of my photo...

[zerocool]

so i revisited my shot .. and decided on 2 diff versions... im taking..



we'll see how it looks ..

[Dusty Photos]

where did u send it too?



edit: so i went to the printer today and got to looking at the 24x36 , its not exactly what i want , its a bit "square" more so for a portrait, i want something more pano style...

The lab I use is Bayphoto.. images have always come back great. The 20x30 I just got looks incredible. Very happy with it.

[Dusty Photos]

P.S. That big canvas looks awesome bruce!

[chicagojohn]

I have taken several 16MP images up to 300 dpi 20 X 30 poster size, printed at Costco, close to 100MB files, using Photoshop using the Bicubic Smoother in 10% iterative steps.

I have also successfully used this same approach on 6MP images taken with my K100D Super bodies before I got the K-5. Equivalent image quality.

I did several experiments using this technique evaluating radical crops versus results from Perfect Resize and I could not see any difference, so I elected not to pay $100 for that software. Subsequently, I ran across internet articles from the guys who wrote the algorithms for Bicubic smoother, and that confirmed my experiments.

I'm just a hobbyist and a complete novice, but I'm just saying....

[zerocool]

The lab I use is Bayphoto.. images have always come back great. The 20x30 I just got looks incredible. Very happy with it.

i tried to go through Bayphoto, i got no answer on their phone, and went as far as to go through their chat, and someone started typing only to give me a message that no one was avail...

[Dusty Photos]

I've never tried to call them, but I have asked questions through their chat before and they were very helpful. Prints always arrive quickly and look great..

[zerocool]

well got my images printed, im really happy with them, im now looking for frames..

[Baron von Smoogle]

I've been using Bayphoto and have been quite satisfied with them. $1.50 shipping if your order is over $12 and the print show up on my doorstep 3 to 4 days after I submit them order. I had a metal print show up once with a chipped corner. I called them up and talked to their guy who ask me to take a photo of the damage and email it to them. The next time I heard from them was when the replacement showed up on the door step 2 days later.

[brucep]

Show us a snapshot of how one of your prints looks in your apartment, Roy! Big prints make a statement in a room.

[ScottL]

A bit off topic, but Bruce, that shot of the Vinyard and surrounding mountains is amazing.