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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Printing Digital Pictures

Photography Question 

BetterPhoto Member 		 

How Megapixels Effect Picture Size


I know that the higher the megapixels the better image quality. My question is, if I own a 6 megapixel camera, am I going to be able to print small pictures such as a 4x6 or a wallet? If I am able to, what do I do to ensure that I get a quality print.


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June 27, 2003

 

doug Nelson 		  The answer is found in your imaging program. With your camera, or with a scanner, maybe, you must have gotten some photoshop-based software, Photoshop LE or Adobe Elements. Maybe you got a propriety software from the camera manufacturer. There will be a screen in there (Image/Image Size in the photoshop-based ones) that lets you size your image for print. I think Elements can even give you multiple small prints on a sheet of paper. If you have Elements or Photshop lE, and you are having trouble, come back.


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June 27, 2003

 

Michael Kaplan 		 
 
  Bird In Flight Original
Bird In Flight Original
Full Sized Original Picture

Michael Kaplan

  
  Bird in Flight
Bird in Flight
Original Picture Cropped

Michael Kaplan

  
 
First to directly answer your question, Yes, you can print ANY size print. It is settings in your program you are using to view or edit the picture that will adjust the size and resolution for your print. The difference is how good a picture you will end up with. If you are reducing the size then you will get an excellent print whereas if you are making a larger print, quality will decrease with the size and viewing distance. I have printed 13x19 and know of some people that have printed 20x30 and got what they considered good quality prints.

If you were only going to print 4x6 then there would really be no need for a 6MP camera but even then there are advantages to having the extra pixels.

The extra pixels will allow you to crop the picture. Take a snippit to allow a tighter view or enlarge something still leaving enough pixels to get a great quality print (see the Full and Crop samples below).

Hope this helps.


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July 01, 2003

 
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