How large can I print this picture file?

Question

I was a picture file that 2984x2048. I want to print a really really large poster like photo but want to know how large I can print this file before I start to lose quality... I would like to print like a 32x40 or the double of a 16x20 if not possibly larger... thanks for the help!!!

Answer 1

A magazine quality print is 300dpi (dots per inch). At that setting the maximum print you could make would be 9.95'' x 6.83''. At 150dpi you can print a 29.84'' x 20.48'' poster.



Of course, the larger the print the greater the viewing distance. Think of a billboard several hundred feet off the side of the road and you're looking at a print that's between 30 and 40dpi. Looks great from that viewing distance doesn't it? But get close and all you'll see is a mass of multicolored dots.



Another consideration is the overall quality of the file you have. Any imperfection, no matter how tiny, will be magnified as you print larger and larger. Suppose you make a 4'' x 5'' print of a person's face and there is a mole on their chin. On your 4'' x 5'' print lets say the mole measures 2mm. Now lets make an 8'' x 10'' print. At this print size the mole will measure 8mm. Huh? Isn't 8'' x 10'' twice as big as 4'' x 5''? No it isn't. Its 4 times bigger. (4 x 5 = 20 square inches; 8 x 10 = 80 square inches. 80/20 = 4). Make a 16'' x 20'' print and the mole measures 32mm since a 16'' x 20'' print is 16 times bigger than a 4'' x 5'' print. (16 x 20 = 320 square inches; 320/20 = 16).



So if your original image file is the tiniest bit out of focus or there is even the hint of subject movement then these imperfections will become more apparent the bigger you print. If your goal is really large prints then using a tripod should be considered mandatory, as should perfect focus and a perfectly still subject.



Good luck.

Answer 2

Normally when I print photos, I like to have a pixel density of at least 200 dpi. At this resolution, you should be able to get away with about 2984/200=15 inches by 2048/200=10 inches without losing detail if you examine the print close up.



If you are willing to sacrifice some quality, and because it is so big that you probably won't be looking at this thing close up anyway, 100 dpi or even 72 dpi should suffice. At 72 dpi, you can print a 42 inch by 28 inch picture.



And on a side note, if you just want to print this at home rather than have it printed professionally, you can use the Rasterbator at http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/ . It scales images across many 8.5x11 pages you cut and stitch together somehow.

Answer 3

there are two parts here--size (what you have, 2984x2984) and resolution (usually referenced as dpi). you have only supplied one. no one can answer your question with the information you supplied.



while technically what the other person said is true, i wouldn't advise printing anything below 300 dpi. 200 dpi is absolute bottom of the barrel for anything large. 72 dpi is a definite no. of course, if you are putting this on a billboard, which I don't do, you would be fine. this brings up the point about viewing distance, you can sacrifice resolution if you are going to viewing from a large distance (my billboard example). if you are going to hang on the wall in a living room, 72 dpi can look like crap (also depends on the person viewing).