Photographyguys: Printing large size photos (1 Viewer)

[jamny]

I'm a little confused with the optimal resolution to save files for printing in various sizes.

I have a 24mp camera that saves photos at 6000x4000.

To change the photo from the camera's 3:2 ratio to a standard 5:4 frame, I crop the photo to a 5000x4000

Do I just save that photo at 300dpi to print in various sizes (i.e. 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 16x20) or is it better to save at actual sizes for each?

Like:

10x8= 3000 x 2400, 14x11= 4200x3360, etc?

and a 20x16 would be 6000x4800, which is saving it higher than it's original 5000x4000

 

[Brony]

Yep, I save the full res always.  If I'm going to make a print of any importance, there will always be some post editing and then I'll save a copy of the edited picture cropped to something close to print size.  Doesn't have to be exact cuz the printer may account for edges etc..

 

[jamny]

Yep, I save the full res always.  If I'm going to make a print of any importance, there will always be some post editing and then I'll save a copy of the edited picture cropped to something close to print size.  Doesn't have to be exact cuz the printer may account for edges etc..

So you wouldn't send the printer the full size 5000x4000 photo for an 8x10, you'd resize to 3000x2400 (for 300dpi) and send them that?

 

[Brony]

So you wouldn't send the printer the full size 5000x4000 photo for an 8x10, you'd resize to 3000x2400 (for 300dpi) and send them that?

I wouldn't shrink the resolution of the photo purposefully.  In the example you provide for an 8 x 10, yes, I'd send 5000 x 4000.  I don't really pay attention to the pixel numbers if I'm cropping - the software tools I have just allow you to crop to a particular photo size (5x7, 8x10).  I realize this cuts off some pixels on the length and/or width, but I'm more focused on image composition rather than # of pixels.    Unless you're printing something more than 24" big, I can't imagine # of pixels making any difference.