Discussion
Yes and yes. In this context you can simply assume PPI=DPI (though it's not quite the same). Basically graphic designers tend to be a bit simple and not understand the relationship between dpi, size and resolution. Take your image, do whatever post processing at full res then in PS go Image->Image Size leaving the "resample image" unchecked. That simply changes the default dpi to 300, and tells the simple graphic designer how big they can print your image.
I have never understood why they are unable to take an image and divde the resolution by 300 to give the max size. Must be a mac thing or something.
I have never understood why they are unable to take an image and divde the resolution by 300 to give the max size. Must be a mac thing or something.
tegwin said:
I have been asked by a publisher to supply a 300dpi image...
Not this old chestnut again.You could test their understanding by asking them what size (in inches) they wish to print the image. If they don't know then you could ask how the hell are you supposed to meet their request!
Most DSLRs give a '300dpi' image by default, but it is of course meaningless until the size is fixed in space by printing it out. On a computer screen, if you double the 'dpi', the image simply appears half the size.
Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 3rd November 10:24
Yes, assume Photoshop PPI is the same as DPI. They will want the image to be 300DPI (because we print in dots) at 100% size. Your printer will want the image as CYMK too - NOT RGB. It can make a difference to how the image looks so it's better for you to convert it yourself so you're not surprised by what you get back!
Simpo Two said:
tegwin said:
I have been asked by a publisher to supply a 300dpi image...
Not this old chestnut again.You could test their understanding by asking them what size (in inches) they wish to print the image. If they don't know then you could ask how the hell are you supposed to meet their request!
Simpo Two said:
You could test their understanding by asking them what size (in inches) they wish to print the image. If they don't know then you could ask how the hell are you supposed to meet their request!
Printers "should" state that they require the image to be "300DPI at 100% printed size" and that would help both sides. Please bear in mind that many images received by printers do not come from experts. Many are below 300DPI because they have been saved for web use, or shrunk to fit on an email, or nicked from Photobucket, and then the customer wants it using for a full page of their A4 brochure!RicksAlfas said:
Simpo Two said:
You could test their understanding by asking them what size (in inches) they wish to print the image. If they don't know then you could ask how the hell are you supposed to meet their request!
Printers "should" state that they require the image to be "300DPI at 100% printed size" and that would help both sides. Please bear in mind that many images received by printers do not come from experts. Many are below 300DPI because they have been saved for web use, or shrunk to fit on an email, or nicked from Photobucket, and then the customer wants it using for a full page of their A4 brochure!I've been caught by CMYK before and got it wrong, as I found out at proof time - so my approach next time would be - 'you're the printer, you know what you want for your side to work properly, please take my JPG/TIFF sRGB/Adobe1998 etc image and convert it in Photoshop, Illustrator or whatever you use so that it will be right for you.'
Photographers who prepare images for print as part of their job will of course know what to do, but as you say, the rest won't.
Simpo Two said:
I've been caught by CMYK before and got it wrong, as I found out at proof time - so my approach next time would be - 'you're the printer, you know what you want for your side to work properly, please take my JPG/TIFF sRGB/Adobe1998 etc image and convert it in Photoshop, Illustrator or whatever you use so that it will be right for you.'
Tricky one really. Your approach is OK if there is time and money allowed for proofs to go back and forth. My gut feeling is that if you are supplying the images for print then you could convert them to CMYK and then you are aware of any nasty shocks! You may want to retouch some of the images to get them back to how you expected them to look before supplying. Most print workflows are now pdf based and "assume" (dangerous I know) that the artwork supplied is ready to go. Any printer will love you if yours genuinely is ready to go rather than it having to be rehashed after proofing!
tegwin said:
I thought there was something missing... I have asked them to specify a print size for the 300DPI image for a laugh...
They want to go full size on the front of a magazine, so I think my 450D might just stuggle with that one!
Yes, you end up with some big images! We (litho) print up to a sheet size 1000 x 1400mm so you can imagine some of the file sizes involved....They want to go full size on the front of a magazine, so I think my 450D might just stuggle with that one!
RicksAlfas said:
tegwin said:
I thought there was something missing... I have asked them to specify a print size for the 300DPI image for a laugh...
They want to go full size on the front of a magazine, so I think my 450D might just stuggle with that one!
Yes, you end up with some big images! We (litho) print up to a sheet size 1000 x 1400mm so you can imagine some of the file sizes involved....They want to go full size on the front of a magazine, so I think my 450D might just stuggle with that one!
tegwin said:
RicksAlfas said:
tegwin said:
I thought there was something missing... I have asked them to specify a print size for the 300DPI image for a laugh...
They want to go full size on the front of a magazine, so I think my 450D might just stuggle with that one!
Yes, you end up with some big images! We (litho) print up to a sheet size 1000 x 1400mm so you can imagine some of the file sizes involved....They want to go full size on the front of a magazine, so I think my 450D might just stuggle with that one!
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