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Advice on Image Resolution for print.
I am more or less a newbie when it comes to print. I am preparing a drop down Banner for print, it’s 1m wide by 2.5m deep. I have images from the client and I am unsure of how to judge the resolution. Does anybody have advice on what the resolution of the images should be? How can you be sure that the finished article won’t be pixelated or blurry.
thanks.
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11 Replies
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Hi Harry
The easiest way is to open it in Photoshop and view it at full size, what ever it looks like on the screen will give you a good idea on how it will print.
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I do the same – Open up in Photoshop and view the resolution.
I aim for a minimum of 150dpi @ full size.
So if working at 50% scale 300dpi, 25% scale 600dpi.
Same principle if I was scanning an image in.
Hope that helps.
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I work at 300dpi 1/4 size.
So for instance in Photoshop you would start a new image with the settings 300dpi and the size 250mm x 625mm.
This makes the file size reasonable and for banner work is clear enough.Check the clients images in Photoshop; open up then check "image size".
Quite often they will send website images at just 72dpi, which even if you set to 300dpi will just pixelate. -
Peter, working at 1/4 size at 300 dpi means you are printing at 75dpi when you output at full size.
If you get a photoshop file at 72dpi full size, then you should make your file full size before you drop their image in.
Think that’s correct, sure someone knows what they are doing better than me !!!
Harv.
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Not sure about that Harvey as they’ve come out ok in the past.
Don’t forget this is only for banners for which 75dpi is fine. -
working in quarter sizes confuse things but if your trying to stay within the limits of adobe software.
So yes, 300dpi typical printers resolution
So quarter it… 75dpi real work
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My head is hurting!
Thanks for the info folks, really must get up to speed on all this. Anyone aware of a starter tutorial on prepping for print or is it just experience? -
if the file is massive… ur doing the right thing lol
screen printing is more dpi/lpi sensitive…
digital printing is not, only if its under 75-100dpi then u get "jaggies" on harse contrasting colours (say black next to white e.g. text)
Good indication on a print is to "print" it to your local printer and have a look at right size.
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quote David Hammond:I do the same – Open up in Photoshop and view the resolution.I aim for a minimum of 150dpi @ full size.
So if working at 50% scale 300dpi, 25% scale 600dpi.
Same principle if I was scanning an image in.
Hope that helps.
That’s the way I have always advised my customers. Aim for 150dpi at the printer, so if you’re designing at 1/4 scale, do it at 600dpi, 1/2 scale at 300dpi, and so on. Obviously this is for photographic images, vector files are different as they’re point instead of dots.
Stafford
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It’s worthwhile keeping in mind the limits of most Adobe software as Dave mentioned.
It’s an absolute maximum of 30,000 pixels in any direction if you are planning on saving at as a usable file (ie not RAW).
Fine for most projects, but for example I’ve just done a 9m printed fascia which does mean that you either process it in sections or drop the resolution.
I tend to aim for 150dpi for most vinyl print work…and always work full size as it’s the pixels that define the file size, not the dimensions.
Dave
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150dpi at print size. Roland do a handy size guide some were that gave viewing distance and recommended dpi.
Steve
Edit.
Less than 50cm – 180 ppi
Less than 150cm – 150 ppi
Less than 300cm – 100 ppi
Over 300cm – 50 ppi
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