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What do you need to make better prints?
The level of detail in a digital photo is determined by its resolution, that
is, by the density of its pixels. Thus, the higher the resolution, the better the print.
Smaller print sizes increase pixel density, thus increasing resolution and the level of detail. Conversely, larger
print sizes decrease pixel density, thus decreasing resolution, causing the print to be grainy. In other words, the
more pixels there are in a digital photo, the bigger you can print it while still making it look acceptable. |
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Printing is best at a resolution of 250-300 dpi.
For printed photos, the minimum print resolution that
looks acceptable to the naked eye is about 250 dpi. Using a resolution of 300 dpi is even better.
The size at which you can print a high-quality digital photo can be determined, to an extent, by the number of pixels
in it, as noted above. For example, to print a 1500 x 2400 pixel digital photo at 300 dpi, the largest size you could print
at high quality would be (1500 x 2400)/300, or 5 x 8 inches, as a rule. |
| Relationship Between Paper Size and Resolution |
| Paper Size |
Ideal Image Size for 300dpi Resolution |
Digital Camera Pixels |
| 4x6 |
1200x1800 pixels or more |
3 - 4 megapixels |
| 5x7 |
1500x2010 pixels or more |
3 - 6 megapixels |
| A4 |
2482x3511 pixels or more |
3 - 6 megapixels |
| LTR |
2550x3300 pixels or more |
3 - 6 megapixels |
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Programs such as Photoshop can also increase the number of pixels
in an image. In this case, however, these tools create pixels that weren't there to begin with. Doing so
inevitably results in blurry photos with degraded image quality. Therefore,
if you intend to make large-sized prints, take your photos or scans with a high pixel density to begin
with. |
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