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Print Size and Image Size
You have to realize that there is a direct correlation between
your image size and the maximum print size you should order for
satisfying results. The table below gives you an overview:
Image Resolution |
Maximum Print Size |
less than 640 x 480 |
Only wallet-size prints recommended |
640 x 480 |
Absolute minimum resolution for 4x6
(results will vary) |
1024 x 768 |
Minimum recommended resolution for 4x6 |
1152 x 864 |
Minimum recommended resolution for 5x7 |
1600 x 1200 |
Minimum recommended resolution for 8x10 or larger |
How large is your digital image? You can look it up in the owners
manual of you camera or you can upload your image to Shutterfly
and check it out on-line.
You can figure it out yourself as well, if you know the number
of pixel in your image. The number of pixels in your image is
equal to the number of pixel your camera takes per picture, the
famous Megapixel number the camera manufacturers advertise.
Say you have a 2.2 Megapixel camera, then your image size is
about 1632 x 1224 pixels. This allows you to print up to sizes
of 5 x 7 according to the table above. The image will have a
resolution of approximately 230 dots per inch (dpi).
The more dots per inch (dpi) you have, the better is the clarity
and crspness of your print (given the image is in focus and
other technical factors are normal). You still get quite reasonable
results with print resolutions of about 150 dots per inch (dpi).
Your 2.2 Megapixel image could then be printed at a size of about
8 x 10 inches. This is the absolute maximum you can do.
Your 5 Megapixel camera may, depending on the mode you use,
take pictures with 2048 x 1536 pixels (which is just 3.2 Megapixel!).
Your print size at 200 dpi would be 10 x 8 and at 150 dpi it
would be 11 x 14. That latter would be pushing it a bit however.
At full resolution, a 5 Megapixel image containes 2582 x 1936
pixels and can be printed comfortably at 11 x 14.
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