large Prints - Resolution of files?

kygarden

Let's say someone wants to order a large print of a file that is only something like 2048 x 1370. Will Smugmug prevent people from ordering a print size that is not really suitable for that resolution?...or will they at least get a warning that the print size they want may not be good quality because of the resolution of the file they're ordering a print of? Know what I mean?

I haven't run into this situation yet but I've been thinking about it and would like to know the answer so I can plan accordingly. I know for example, on Shutterfly, if I try to order something their web site will tell me the selected image "prints best up to 8x10" or whatever the case may be.

Thanks

denisegoldberg

I think this page may help - http://www.smugmug.com/help/print-quality. The minimum resolutions are toward the bottom.

A customer will be prevented from ordering a something for which the photo doesn't meet the minimum resolution - and it is shown in the shopping cart as not available due to resolution. Can't remember the message, but it's easy enough to see if you upload something small then click buy this photo and look at the cart.

--- Denise

kygarden

Great, thank you

Andy

What Denise said

AND remember: Use Proof Delay!
http://wiki.smugmug.com/display/SmugMug/Proof+Delay

Art Scott

There is also another solution.....depending on the iso and actual quality of the original file......if the file is near perfect (noiseless and exposure wise) it can always be uprezed with Genuine Fractals...... GF has in the past stated to do all of your P'shopping, except for sharpening, do the uprez, then do your sharpening.....what I do is to gointo my image size dialog clik on constrain proportion and change the dpi to 300, thios brings my 6 & 8mp file to almost 8x10 inches and then I send them thru GF to get sizes larger than 16 x 20....most clients do not understand viewing distance so I make it really easy forthem by starting off with a nice tight 8 X 10 quality file that when uprezed stays tight and sharp even up waaaay to close, but then on those prints I have a pro house right here that I use for printing cause they know what I expect in quality as I have been doing special printing with them for over 20 yrs............

kygarden

Thanks guys. the reason I was asking is because a lot of my photos from the last few years were not saved at high res. (full resolution the camera puts out) due to my wanting to save space on my hard drive. Now that I'm planning on having the storage I need, I'll save things I might sell at full res. So anyway, it's good to know I can still sell larger prints, say 8x10, with even the smaller res photos. I'd be curious to see what a 8x10 looked like in real life printing from a 1024x768 file though. That's how small some of my older stuff is. Most all of the stuff I'd attempt to see would be low ISO - like ISO 100, outdoors photos.

kygarden

I just clicked on the Buy Photo link for one that is low res and it does indeed prevent you from buying a large print...in this case, anything over a 5x7. That's good

ArchiTexas

I agree that Genuine Fractals, if you have access to it, does a truly amazing job at increasing image resolution. Although its not recommended I've bumped stuff up by nearly 1000% at times and still had good results printing up to 20" x 30" images. Also, set the image resolution to a resolution that matches your printer output, or at least to a resolution that is a multiple of it. I print large images locally at a shop with a Durst Lambda (the same machine that Smugmug/EZ Prints uses for this use) it can print at either 200 dpi or 400 dpi, so I send my files at 200. Different printers have diferent resolutions so it's best to check.

The Roadrunner

I'm about to open a pro account so that I can sell images. Based on what was said about the Proof Delay; I would be nervous about having to resubmit an image. I guess I'm dumb, but couldn't I just upload JPG images 3000 PPI by 2000 PPI and skip the reprocessing? Seems if the image has no noise, no artifacts and is sharpened that the customer should be able to get a reasonable sized print. An 11"X14" print should be acceptable at 600 DPI (Printer output) or more.

For calendars, I just submit the images at 11.25"X8.75" at 200 PPI, and they look great.

I suppose a software program designed to up-process the image would work good enough, but I'm afraid I would screw up by trying to resubmit the image at the larger size. Would I have to go back and upload a smaller size again after replacing it for the print?

the Roadrunner

Andy

The Roadrunner wrote:

I suppose a software program designed to up-process the image would work good enough, but I'm afraid I would screw up by trying to resubmit the image at the larger size.

Nah, it's pretty dead-simple easy

Would I have to go back and upload a smaller size again after replacing it for the print?

the Roadrunner

No, now the full-size version is there.


Of course, you can just upload the full files and do nothing, no problem.

But proof delay should be used, so you can see the color/crop choice BEFORE it goes to the lab

The Roadrunner

Andy wrote:

Nah, it's pretty dead-simple easy

But proof delay should be used, so you can see the color/crop choice BEFORE it goes to the lab

Thanks Andy; that is simple enough. the only part that I am not familiar with is the "Color" part. I shoot using "sRGB" and upload the best resolutuon I can when posting to stock sites. However; folks just download the image for their use. I have not yet tried to sell my images for prints. Do some folks set the color to "Adobe RGB"? Or does color mean something else here? I see why we should have a delay for checking the crop for a given size as it could be accidentally messed up.

Finally, do you feel that an up-processed file using Imagener or Fractils works well to convert a 6 MP file to 8 or 12 MP file for Smug Mug print customers? I know that up-processing more than 10% is a real no no for Microstock purposes. I have snuck a few past the reviewers up-processing by 20% though.

Andy

The Roadrunner wrote:

Thanks Andy; that is simple enough. the only part that I am not familiar with is the "Color" part. I shoot using "sRGB" and upload the best resolutuon I can when posting to stock sites. However; folks just download the image for their use. I have not yet tried to sell my images for prints. Do some folks set the color to "Adobe RGB"? Or does color mean something else here? I see why we should have a delay for checking the crop for a given size as it could be accidentally messed up.

Finally, do you feel that an up-processed file using Imagener or Fractils works well to convert a 6 MP file to 8 or 12 MP file for Smug Mug print customers? I know that up-processing more than 10% is a real no no for Microstock purposes. I have snuck a few past the reviewers up-processing by 20% though.

Here's our pages on file prep and Auto Color:
http://wiki.smugmug.com/display/SmugMug/File+Preparation
http://wiki.smugmug.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=754083
http://www.smugmug.com/help/too-red

you'll want to upload files in sRGB.

The Roadrunner

Andy wrote:

Here's our pages on file prep and Auto Color:
http://wiki.smugmug.com/display/SmugMug/File+Preparation
http://wiki.smugmug.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=754083
http://www.smugmug.com/help/too-red

you'll want to upload files in sRGB.

1. Since I currently use a monitor calibration program and hardware to calibrate every 10 days, and I use levels, curves and use the Unsharp mask for each image file (one at a time), should I use the Auto Coror or True Color?

2. If I purchase i2e and apply that before uploading, would I use True Color in that case?

Just trying to get off to a good start!