Expert: LizaL - 1/27/2005

Question
when i shoot with my camera i get this
an image:
3264 x 2176  at 72 dpi
or 45.33 x 30.22 inches

need to get to

print a 300 dpi picture at 20x 30 inches..
what do i do to accomplish that
what is step by step instructions

is it not possible?

what do i do if i want to print and even bigger picture?
marv
alpert@mail.com

Answer
Hi Marv,

First of all, thanks for your rating! I appreciate it.

But did you accidentally post this question again? Or did you mean to ask something else? I thought I saw in your ratings detail where you were asking something additional, and you'd mentioned that this wouldn't work for you.

If this isn't going to work, there are a couple of other options.

1. Unsharp Mask is a filter you can use to sharpen your image, overall. Here's how:

-- Click on the Filter pulldown menu, and select Sharpen, then Unsharp Mask. In the dialog box, experiment with the settings until you achieve the look you want. The radius, by the way, is the way in which the pixels relate to each other in clarity -- so this is the setting that actually sharpens the image.

Here's Unsharp Mask:
http://little-works.com/all_experts/unsharp_mask.mov


2. You could try making the picture larger than you need it -- like 600dpi -- which will increase its physical size, too. Then step down in resolution, like go to 500dpi, 450dpi, 400dpi, etc., until you get to 300dpi. And then see what kind of clarity that gives you.


3. If you can't get the resolution you need from Photoshop, try going to a full-service printer or service bureau, one that has a darkroom. Ask them if they can enlarge a digital image to the specs you need. Companies who print blueprints might also be a good source to check.

I don't mind telling you, I know nothing about genuine fractals, so I'm sorry but I can't help you there!

Photoshop can only take an image so far before it will distort the resolution. After all, when a picture is translated into an electronic image, there are only pixels with which to work. But my advice is to try some of the things I've mentioned, and see how your pictures turn out.

Let me know if you have any problems, or if I can help you further!

Lisa