I was told by a mpix that they suggested 250ppi which seems right for a print. That is what their printers convert to so it is as high as your going to get for any print. This is directly form them. Now I have read online that you can print a canvas down to 150 and not see a huge difference in quality to a 11x14 is this correct. I would hate to spend all the money getting a print done just to have it come out badly. I have done a canvas print and needed some advice from those of you that have. I got the idea from another post and now the wife wants a canvas print=)
How many ppi for canvas print
(29 posts) (12 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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FYI, recommended DPI is printer-specific--you need to check with your service bureau to see which exact DPI they recommend for a particular output device [an excerpt on PPI is also posted below].
For example, a local Los Angeles-area service bureau recommends the following for their particular printers:
"Files submitted for Digital C (Lambda) prints must be saved at either 200dpi (allowing for larger printing capabilities) or 400dpi (maintaining greater sharpness and detail). Files for inkjet printing must be saved and submitted at 300dpi."
--"File Prep FAQ," A+I Photographic and DIgital Services, Los Angeles, CA.
Also useful to know, an article explaining the differences between DPI and PPI, also stolen from the A+I website:
"Most people heard the term DPI. In most cases the term is used in the wrong context to express the number of pixels in a photo, the number of dots in a print or the maximum dots per inch a printer can output. A relatively new term PPI was introduced in order to resolve this wrong usage of the term DPI. In this article we will try to explain in simple words what is DPI and what is PPI and should each be used.
"PPI: stands for pixels per Inch. PPI describes the number of pixels per inch in a photo. PPI is a function of the number of pixels the camera’s sensor supports (also known as megapixels) and the size of the photo. To calculate a photo’s PPI simply multiply the page length by its width in inches. The result is the number of square inches on the page. Now divide the number of pixels the sensor supports by the number of square inches. The result is the number of pixels per square inch. All that is left to do is to find the square root of this number. Following is a table that shows the PPI for various page sizes for a 5 megapixel camera.
page size 4X6 - 456 PPI
page size 5X7 - 377 PPI
page size 8X10 - 250 PPI
page size 11X14 - 180 PPI
page size 16X20 - 125 PPI
page size 20X30 - 91 PPI"DPI: stands for dots per Inch. DPI is really a physical characteristic of a printer. Every printer prints dots that when put next to each other comprise a photo. Each dot has a physical size. DPI is also known as the maximum resolution that a printer is capable of. Low-end printers have lower DPI while high-end printers have higher DPI. DPI is defined as the number of dots a printer can print per inch. For example if a printer supports 1200 DPI it means that the printer can print 1200 dots per inch (on both X or Y axis). When printing it is important to make sure that the DPI is higher or equal to the PPI. If the DPI is lower than the PPI the printer will not be able to fully display the high resolution of the photo. When printing a photo that has a lower PPI than DPI the printer will use multiple dots to represent one pixel. As opposed to PPI, DPI is not relative to the page size. DPI is a fixed number for a given printer."
--"What is the difference between DPI and PPI?" A+I Photographic and DIgital Services, Los Angeles, CA.
Good luck!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was told by mpix that their printers would not notice anything over 250ppi I was not implying that their printers print at 250ppi. I was wondering what different ppi people are sending to printers to have canvas prints done. The dpi of the printer would make a difference I never thought of that. I guess a better question would be what ppi did you send to what printers to get prints done of what size. I want to get a 11x14 printed but do not know what ppi I am going to need to get a good canvas print through mpix. They did say 250 but I was just wondering if anyone had heard of anything else.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Most inkjets (even glicee printers) print at 240dpi while Litho presses do 300dpi (150 linescreens per inch), however my personal printer I go to for canvases does glicees at 300dpi (there are a handful of printers out with more capabilities than 250dpi). However as Studio pointed at dpi and ppi are 2 different animals as the next issue becomes interpolation. A 5mpx image is going to look plain crummy at 91ppi on a 20x30in image. That is why you "upscale" an image as the ink layout will not put a pixel for every dot, but do many dots to make a pixel.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thats the question at hand. I realize that dpi and ppi are different but for arguments sake lets say its going to be a 11x14 canvas print. My 11x14 is 235 ppi. Which Is close enough im guessing for a descent canvas print. They(mpix) said 250. But I have read online that with a canvas print you can go down to something like 180ppi which would be like 14x18 give or take. Thats what I gues im lost at. What is the appropiate ppi for a canvas print. Do you need to know the dpi of the printer its sent to? Plus if you do know the dpi what are you suppose to do. Thanks again for all the help. Im really lost on this one and would rather not waste a print.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi aetas,
If the printer told you 235ppi, he likely would want 235ppi for a good print. Depending upon what software you are using - Photoshop for example, can make those calculations for you and deliver a file with your specifications. That's likely what you want to do.
Unless you are cropping, you likely are going to be fine with an 11x14 print whatever you do, so I would worry too much, and you'll likely have to consider a few prints 'test strips' - that'll take a few people back to the day - to determine contrast, color density, tonality, and more. If you monitor is calibrated or if you've been generally happy with the colors from it, you'll likely be happy with the print.
I scanned a few help files from Photoshop CS5, and found a few things, but were rather longish and I took the liberty of sending you a PM with the content.
In broad strokes, if you get it within 10-15% (on the money is best) of the target resolution , and it looks good at 100% on a calibrated monitor, it _should_ look fair when printed.
My best to you,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
I remember the hours in the darkroom making prints. The dim light, the smell of the chemicals and I fear of spilling the treys if I had to move one. The rolls, Ah the rolls. I swear no matter how many times I did it I always took forever starting the rolls. I think this question is pretty well answered. Thanks for the help everyone. Going with a 11x14. If I get it and it looks like it could use a little more I will then go bigger.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I still do the darkroom too :]
Posted 2 years ago # -
I know some people say film is dead but I still like hearing people using it. It.s something that takes you back.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Niko Doby, film shooter present and accounted for! I finished off my last rolls of Kodachrome last week as a matter of fact.
Posted 2 years ago # -
So you decided not to keep them, huh, Niko? I guess the processing options were dwindling fast, so it made sense to shoot them while someone was still around to develop them!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Its was funny after reading this. I was just talking to my brother about devoloping tmax in a darkroom and he was really surprised that I was in one. I was trying to tell him how much time I have spent in them but he really did not believe me. He kept saying your not that old. Its sad he did not even know that they had different kinds of film for different settings. "You mean they had to change rolls mid roll sometimes. That had to be expensive." oh it was=)
Posted 2 years ago # -
I always hated switching rolls mid roll. It was worse when I forgot my sharpie so I had no Idea when the last frame shot was. Now Im lazy in that if my film camera needs a new roll I just shoot it digitally... Night shooting and ilford PANF don't mix too well. This reminds me of 1 time when I was shooting a family thing in San Diego, I went from provia Iso 100, to an ASA 800 tugnsten balanced film, to a florucent ASA 200 and wound up double exposing half of the ASA 800 roll anyway!
A little on the topic (http://www.bythom.com/printsizes.htm)
Posted 2 years ago # -
I had a old client print out a 16*20 of a print of mine for canvas and with wrap that makes it like what a 20*24. To be honest I forgot to take that size off because I had not tested it myself (i was going to let max size sit at 11*14) and she said it came out really well. Good news because I checked and it had to of been like 150 or so ppi at that size. Anyway just a update for any still interested.
Posted 2 years ago # -
aetas said:
Its was funny after reading this. I was just talking to my brother about devoloping tmax in a darkroom and he was really surprised that I was in one. I was trying to tell him how much time I have spent in them but he really did not believe me. He kept saying your not that old. Its sad he did not even know that they had different kinds of film for different settings. "You mean they had to change rolls mid roll sometimes. That had to be expensive." oh it was=)Hi Aetas,
The F4 was able to be modified to allow it to rewind and leave the leader out to change rolls, shoot, put the old roll back in, advance to previous point and resume.
Cool, huh?
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
That would have been nice. I shot with a AE1 till i moved to digital. I always say that it was not the nicest camera around but it got me into photography and Im still doing it so it could not have been that bad.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ok i did not want to open a new thread. Seems this one will work. I have a pano image that needs printing. Its not huge but fairly big 12inches tall 60long. I was going to use a luster as I find myself doing quite often but I might do a canvas wrap. The ppi is 305 at this size. I have never printed this large are there any special things to watch out for? thanks
:edit
Here is a link if subject matters.
http://www.brandondykes.com/p204818721/h2a3a807#h2a3a807Posted 2 years ago # -
That clean 240 ppi can vary, up or down, with viewing distance, subject matter, viewing environment and intended audience…with qualifications. I'm considering this ppi based on my canvas activities last month. I found this ideas on Canvastouch website and it was cool...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dear All, question regarding canvas print.
What was the biggest print you have ever done with a d700? I just ordered a 30x40 inches print from a cropped image (less than 50% from the original). The file I created was at 400dpi (16,000 and 12,000 pixels). I took it to the print shop with the intention to find out if it is doable. The guy said it is and he even lowered the dpi of my file to 180dpi. When asked, he said he was concerned about the file size.
I am taking this order as a test if I need to upgrade to d800, hoping it won't so I have a good excuse to persuade the mrs for an upgrade. Now if I can print this big with a 50% cropped image, I will feel bad to upgrade.
Thanks in advance,
JYPosted 1 year ago # -
I just did a canvasondemand order and had a 300dpi file that they samples down to 200 or something...it was printed out 17X71inches..(i know odd size)...
usually 150dpi is enough for canvas prints...
Posted 1 year ago # -
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JY...YOU HAVE CONFUSED DPI WITH PPI.
DPI is the amount of dots your printer puts on the paper when it prints and is completely unreleated to PPI, which is the amount of pixels in the image. You can print at a much higher dpi than ppi. they are in no way interelated.
I don't know how you worked out that a 30X40" print would be 400ppi. If I resize a D700 file using photoshop image size, an uncropped 26.617x40" image is 106.4ppi.
You are not adding resolution by resampling. Uncheck the resample image box.
I would not be happy printing a 30X40 50% crop from a D700, that I intend to hang on the wall in a room. If it is to be viewed from at least a couple of metres away (6' or more) then it MIGHT be ok.
I print my d700 uncropped files on photorag at 17X25.5" and find there is enough resolution at 166.588ppi.
For best results I set the printer to print at 2880X1440dpi with fine detail.
Different paper (and canvas) manufacturers recommend different dpi setting for their various media as they all vary in ability to absorb ink. Hahnemuhle has very good information available with their icc profiles.
Posted 1 year ago # -
^^^ I was waiting for someone else to mention it first...I did the math and thought maybe I was just dumb and didn't understand.
I would assume it was maybe upsized to get the 16000 x 12000 pixels? Even so I am not sure I would try a 50% crop and blowing up that big...doesn't seem like you would get very good results even with canvas. I am curious to see how it turns out (but an expensive experiment isn't it?).
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks Gareth/Tcole,
Yes, I was and still confused. I asked few people and looked up on this forum n google. Unfortunately there is no straight answer, hence my post.
All I did was after edited my picture and cropped in PS, resized the image to 30 inches width and 40 inches in length. It just happen that the dpi was showing 400dpi and the pixel boxes showed 16,000 & 12,000. The original print size was at around 20cm in length.
After that, I looked at the zoom of different size. The actual size, pixel size, print size etc. They all appeared to be good, except zoomed at 100%.
With the d800 around the corner, I really want to find out if the d700 can actually print big like 30x40 inches or so. This is important as in addition to documenting my daughter journey, I would love the option to print something I like on the wall. I read your reply this morning and you got me worry there.
Few hours ago, I walked pass the print shop after work the print was on display in the shop. Guess what, it was good with lots of details. However, it wasn't ready (still wet). So I am not sure if the final result will be better or worse.
Posted 1 year ago # -
as I said, a 40" wide uncropped d700 image would be 106.4ppi. YOU NEED TO UNCHECK RESAMPLE IN THE IMAGE SIZE DIALOG. also make sure you aren't forcing 400ppi when you crop (by entering it in the crop dimensions ppi box)
i wouldn't print with less than 150ppi. but that is for me (fussy) and clients (paying)
i like the idea of the d800, as then I'll be able to print even bigger (and need to buy a bigger printer), or the same size (17x25.5") at 300+ppi. when I need one I'll get one.
I find a 20x30" frame to be a very nice size. not too big and not too small. there is no trouble printing for this size frame, when you take the mat into account.
my guess is that you don't need a d800.
if you want something really nice, i suggest printing on photorag (it's what museums use) and having it framed archivally with museum glass. this will cost you good money, but will last for hundreads of years without fading, and it will look far better (imo) than a huge cheap canvas.
Posted 1 year ago #
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