Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 8/22/2008

Question
I'll admit I'm still a beginner in Photoshop so this may be a silly question, but:  I am using Elements 5.0 and am trying to create a poster from a digital image.  The image is abt 5x7 and I want to use it as the background of a 16x20 poster.  I figured out a trick to keep the quality the same, but am nervous abt the resolution once printed.  (I'm just taking it to Kinko's)  To change the size, I just go into Image Size and switch inches to percent and increase it by abt 10-20% at a time, it still looks great on screen and when I check "actual size" it looks the same-no splotchy or blurry image.  I'm wondering if this is the correct way to do this though?  Is there an easier way?  Also, how do I create an "action" so I can just push a key and not have to repeat every step, every time?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Rachel,

Unfortunately, there is no trick to enlarging something to this size. Your file will be poor quality no matter what you do to it. Photos can increase to 125% of original size and look ok, but you are going to almost 400% to do this.

The only thing you could do is reshoot the image at a very high quality or tile the photo. However if this 5x7 is all you have, then you have to either live with the rasterization or start over.

Sorry wish there was a magic answer but there isn't.

Thanks

Kevin