It seems like every day we get a call from a customer who asks, “will file 1234.JPG look good as a 16×20 inch print?”

The simple answer is this: it depends. While some files are clearly too small to enlarge, others are in the “gray area” and might look good depending on the style you are trying achieve, and where the print will be displayed.

Here are the tricks we use inside the lab to help you answer this question. You can use them yourself, and in many cases make the decision before you place your order.

View the image at 100%

How good does the image look at 100% size? To find out, open it in Photoshop and set your Zoom Tool to 100%, or choose “Actual Pixels” from the View menu. If it looks sharp, that’s good. If the image has fuzzy “artifacts” around objects, or if it’s “soft” (blurry), you need to decide if this is acceptable or not. Any imperfections you see will only get worse if the image is enlarged.

Here’s a trick we use: pay special attention to any diagonal lines or straight edges in the image. If they have a “stair-step” look, you’re almost guaranteed that the image will not be acceptable as an enlargement.

Check the pixel dimensions

The optimal pixel dimensions for a print are 300 pixels per inch. In Photoshop, on the Image menu, choose “Image Size.” DON’T CHANGE ANY VALUES. Just read the pixel dimensions of the file. If your image is 1500 x 2100 pixels, it will look best printed in a 5×7 size. A perfect 16×20 print will come from an image that is 4800 x 6000 pixels (4800/300=16, 6000/300=20).

This doesn’t mean that you cannot print an 8×10 from a 1500×2100 pixel image – it simply means that an 8×10 will be slightly softer, so subtle of a difference that you probably would not notice. But if you want a 16×20, you will absolutely notice a difference.

Here’s a rule of thumb: once you get to 3 times larger than the optimal print size, you are at the limit of what could be considered an acceptable print. For example, a 1500×2100 image would be perfect as a 5×7, good as an 8×10, but will be very soft as a 16×20. Again, this is only a rule of thumb: for certain images, under certain circumstances, you might find this acceptable. Only you, the photographer, can make that call.

NEVER use Photoshop to resize an image larger just so you can get a larger print. This actually REDUCES image quality.

Additional Considerations

If you are making a wall portrait, a lower resolution (i.e. softer print) is more acceptable because it’s farther away from the viewer. This is where your knowledge of the subject and how they plan to use the print should be considered. For example, wall graphics for trade shows look acceptable at 150 pixels per inch.

Even your finishing choices make a difference. A matte finish will add a small amount of softness to the image. While this is acceptable for most wall portraits, if the image is already soft you may not be happy with it.

If you absolutely need that certain shot, would it look good as a black and white? To our eyes, a softer black and white image is more acceptable than the same color print. Another alternative is to use the image as part of a montage. This is easy if you use multi-image templates in ROES or LabPrints.

Conclusion

An image has to be really bad for us to guarantee that it will make an unacceptable print. Obviously if it’s that bad, you wouldn’t send it to us in the first place. It’s the images in the “gray area” that require expert judgment. However, ultimately the best judge as to whether an image will make a good print will always be you, the photographer.

Tags: photography, photoshop

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 at 11:54 am and is filed under photoshop. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.