Expert: Glen Demers - 5/25/2008

Question
I am using Photoshop Elements 5 and a Canon EOS 30D. I am having trub cropping/resizing. I only (for the most part) use standard sizes, 5x7, 8x10 etc. When I crop to a certain size I almost always see a pixel count of 72dpi. When I try to upgrade to say 300dpi for quality prints the size goes completely out of whack. What is the best way to resize and maintain a high enough pixel count for quality work? Thanks.

Answer
I'm assuming PS Elements has the same image size features as the full version, please let me know if this is not the case.
When you open an image, go to image size and uncheck "resample image" then change the resolution to 300 DPI. This will give you the true size of the image at 300 DPI. If the image is still to big for your needs, leave the resolution at 300 DPI, check "resample image", and type in the new smaller size with the "Constrain Proportion" box checked.
Resample image adds or deletes pixels to enlarge or reduce the image size without changing the resolution, however, whenever you resample up, that is, enlarge your image size, you are not adding any more detail to the image, you are only increasing it's size needlessly. You should always start with as large an image as possible and make smaller copies as needed.
When you change the resolution without resampling the image you don't change any of the images information, just the density of the pixels.
I hope this answers your question. For a more in depth discussion of image resolution you can go here http://www.bestprintingonline.com/resolution.htm
Please let me know if I can be of further help, resolution/image size is a complex issue but an understanding of it is a necessary element of working with digital images