 Francis N. |
image storage I shoot with a Nikon D50. When I load my pictures onto my pc and view them through photo shop elemnts 4.0 I can look at the size of the image. The manual tells me that the size of the image in inches should be about15x10 according to the settings that I am using. (jpeg fine) and image size (L 3008x200). But when I open and view a newly stored image it shows up as 10.23x6.27.
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robert G. Fately |
Francis, this has to do with the so-called resolution, or how many dots-per-inch, the image is set to be. The 'fine' setting on the camera merely insures that the maximal amount of data recorded by the chip is maintained in the image file. Let's just assume that the imaging chip in the camera is exactly 3000x2000 pixels in size (for easy math). At a final resolution of 300 dpi you can expect this bunch of pixels to create an image that's 10 by 6.67 inches (divide the 3000 by 300, etc.). Now that same exact file, when reproduced at a final resolution of 75 dpi, would give you a total image size of 40 by 26.67 inches. That's pretty easy to understand - what gets confusing is that you monitor, while only having a resolution of about 75 dpi, can display that image as a 4x6 or whatever thanks to all kinds of additional calculations that basically exclude most of the pixels that were originally recorded. Anyway, the point is that when you are viewing your image in Elements, the program seems to be set to the 300 dpi view. you can check this by going to Image-->Resize and noting the resolution in the bottom field. FYI, while for monitors anything beyond 75 or so dpi resolution is overkill (since the monitor can't show it anyway), most printers do best with resolutions of about 300 dpi (some more (like 720), some less (like 240 or 200) - it depends on the printer).
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Francis N. |
Bob, I think I understand that but if I just pick an image to print and I want to print it as an 8x10 it does not come out correct.
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robert G. Fately |
Well, this is where you can use that resize function, or else use the crop tool and set the height to 8 and the width to 10 and the resolution to 300 (or whatever is best for your printer - see the manual). When you click-and-crag the cursor across the image, you'll see the selection area that the program will resize to that 8x10 image. Photoshop will remove or add pixels as necessary to give you the desired final output file (within reason, or course)
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Shawn Wilson |
Photo sizes are a strange thing because many things need to be considered. I don't know how technical of an answer you are looking for, but here's a quick look. An image program like PSE is going to show you the size based on a DPI setting. If PSE is set to 300 DPI then it will tell you a 3000 pixel image is 10 inches wide. Make sense? It's not showing you the 'actual' size of the image, it's simply dividing the total pixels by the current pixel per inch setting. If you have control of the DPI setting when you resize an image, then you'll notice that a 3000 pixel image at 300 DPI and 10 inches wide is IDENTICAL pixel for pixel if you resize it to 150 DPI and 20 inches wide. Your camera manual is using a 200DPI standard (3008 divided by 200 equals 15.04 inches) PSE in this case is using a 294DPI setting (3008 divided by 294 equals 10.23) It may be doing that because the camera tags the image with that DPI setting. So, what's the real answer to your question? Professional photo labs don't use printers that really have a DPI rating, but a 300 DPI standard is a good rule of thumb. So if you printed one of your images as an 8x10 print then you'd be pretty close to 'actual' size I would think. That doesn't mean you can't print it bigger. But each photo processing place uses different equipment so only you can decide if the quality of the place you print at is good enough to print your images at 15x10. You need to take a picture and have a photo place print it at 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 15x10, and any larger sizes they have available and you can afford so you can see how they look. What you'll see is that as the picture gets bigger it will get 'softer' if the source picture isn't of a good enough quality or doesn't have enough 'resolution'.
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Francis N. |
Bob, If I resize the image it kind of gets distorted and it does not look right. say the image is sized at 10.whatever X6.667 and I resize to 8x10 my subject gets fat so to speak.
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Francis N. |
I am realy not concerned with the size of the image while it is being stored I just want my prints to look good,. I try to take well composed shots and I just feel that the less I have to do in software the better It seems that if I must crop the image and then resize it to the dementions bigger than what the original was it causes some distortion.
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robert G. Fately |
Francis, that's because you are not locking the height and width to each other. Again, an easier way to accomplish what you are trying to do is to use the cropping tool, which you can set to 8x10 aspect ratio and 300 (or whatever) dpi.
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Francis N. |
I will try that. cant do it untill tonight when I get home. Thanks
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