4 x 6 picture?

Question

I want to print a picture off the internet to a 4 x 6 size. Does it have to be a certain size in pixels to print out right? If so, what size? Thanks!

Answer 1

You can get an idea of what size (in pixels) your photo needs to be by knowing at what resolution you want to print it at. Ideally it should be between 200 and 300 ppi (pixels per inch). You could however print as low as around 100 pixels per inch and it would still look okay (my computer monitor displays at 96 ppi and photos look fine on it.. to me anyway!). The higher the ppi the better the final print will look..



Lets say I want to print a photo at 200 ppi and I want it to print at 6 x 4 inches. Here comes the maths bit...



6 x 200 = 1200

4 x 200 = 800



So the photo needs to be at least around 1200 x 800 pixels if I am going to print it at 200 ppi, at 6 x 4 inches. This is actually a 1 megapixel photo. I could replace the 200 with 300 to find out roughly what minimal size the photo needs to be, if I want to print at 300 ppi.. (I make it 1800 * 1200 ppi -- i.e. a 2 megapixel photo).

Answer 2

Be sure that you are sending an image in exactly the size and format that you want. Do not send an image with a 4:3 ratio and expect to get a 4x6 print, which is a 3:2 ratio, without cropping. See http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/923587227/

for my detailed tutorial on this subject.



If you are sending the right format, I have used Flickr, Shutterfly, Snapfish and others with no problems with regard to cropping whatsoever.

Answer 3

1800x1200. You could go less of course, but I wouldn't recommend it. You may also have to crop the photo a bit (like a very tiny bit) so it fits in a 3:2 aspect ratio .. some cameras shoot 4:3. (however, the place you print it at will automatically crop it for you; just giving you a heads up in case they crop something out).

Answer 4

Well, you can try to upload it to snap fish and they will tell you if it is good enough quality or not. Go to this website and click the ad in the upper right corner to get 20 free 4x6 prints: http://www.smilelikeumeanit.com/stock.html

Answer 5

yes

Answer 6

Is it your copyright? If not, it's not yours to print legally.