Does SM's printers resample for printing?

Bryans12vBryans12v Registered Users Posts: 362 Major grins
edited August 19, 2012 in SmugMug Support
Im wondering how most get thier stuff printed larger than around 16" at a typical printer output of 300dpi. Ive ordered lots of prints through my SM site (from Bay I believe) at sizes well over 24" and have never been asked to output at 300dpi which makes my photos substantially smaller!?

The reason I ask is because out of desperation, I needed something printed same day and had to run to the print shop. An image from one of my galleries was taken to get printed, an image that was over 3500px on its long side and it wouldve printed around 8x10 on thier printer.

I understand the whole dpi/ppi thing but just wondering how these printers are doing it. The only way I know how is to resample the image in Photoshop while changing its size. This breaks the image down into pixels and rebuilds it with other like color pixels to enlarge its size while boosting dpi. Although this is not a bad thing, it shouldnt be done more than once and I wouldnt want to do it to an image before I upload it to a gallery if the final print shot will do it as well..

Anyone seen this conversation through here before?

Comments

  • SteveMSteveM Registered Users Posts: 482 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2012
    Great questions!

    All of our labs do indeed prepare images to print the absolute best on the printer that will output the file. This means upscaling and downscaling in a highly sophisticated way, better than all but the most serious experts can achieve.

    Remember that the DPI/PPI setting in files is merely a 'suggestion' unless you're up/downscaling, and that the actual pixel count is really what's important. The resolution chart shown here will let you know the capabilities of our labs: http://help.smugmug.com/customer/portal/articles/93359 Yes, they can take a 750x935 px image and make a gorgeous 8x10 from it.

    Our labs can do things that Photoshop, Genuine Fractals, and others simply cannot do. This is industrial grade stuff! :) Another great benefit of working through SmugMug! This way, your file is never degraded, and the precise settings are used on a print-by-print basis based on the printer used and the final print size.

    Shout with more questions!
    Steve Mills
    BizDev Account Manager
    Image Specialist & Pro Concierge

    http://www.downriverphotography.com
  • Portrait of the StreetsPortrait of the Streets Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
    edited August 18, 2012
    SteveM wrote: »
    Great questions!

    All of our labs do indeed prepare images to print the absolute best on the printer that will output the file. This means upscaling and downscaling in a highly sophisticated way, better than all but the most serious experts can achieve.

    Remember that the DPI/PPI setting in files is merely a 'suggestion' unless you're up/downscaling, and that the actual pixel count is really what's important. The resolution chart shown here will let you know the capabilities of our labs: http://help.smugmug.com/customer/portal/articles/93359 Yes, they can take a 750x935 px image and make a gorgeous 8x10 from it.

    Our labs can do things that Photoshop, Genuine Fractals, and others simply cannot do. This is industrial grade stuff! :) Another great benefit of working through SmugMug! This way, your file is never degraded, and the precise settings are used on a print-by-print basis based on the printer used and the final print size.

    Shout with more questions!

    Hey Steve,

    I'm about to launch my website and am getting some last minute gitters about this topic.

    I think I'm understanding it all, but I just want to verify so I can sleep...

    So, for an example, I have an image thats 5382x3588, I sent it to smugmug (to be printed at Bay Photo) at 240ppi. The largest print size I have available for sale is 36x24, so everything will come out with amazing quality correct?

    I ask because I notice if I change the image size in Photoshop to 36x24 inches in photoshop, either I resample to keep the 300ppi, but then pixels are added, or I don't resample and my ppi drops dramatically.

    So maybe the best question would be, would resampling and adding pixels be noticeable at 36x24? And counter to that, would not resampling and printing at a around a 150ppi look terrible?

    From all that I read, it seems like Bay Photo can probably handle this, but I guess I just need that verification from an expert!!

    Thanks so much!
    -Dominic
  • rainforest1155rainforest1155 Registered Users Posts: 4,566 Major grins
    edited August 19, 2012
    Dominic,

    You do not have to bother with DPI at all. Our lab handles this all. To see what print size is available at what resolution, check out the minimum resolution chart that Steve linked you to. That tells you from what resolution on a print size is available.

    Keep in mind, the larger a print gets, the further away your customers will actually view it at. So even at minimum resolution, you'll still get good results. And your pixel dimensions at 5382x3588 are FAR away from any of our minimum resolution requirements and thus would give you great quality for any print size we offer.
    Sebastian
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • Portrait of the StreetsPortrait of the Streets Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
    edited August 19, 2012
    Dominic,

    You do not have to bother with DPI at all. Our lab handles this all. To see what print size is available at what resolution, check out the minimum resolution chart that Steve linked you to. That tells you from what resolution on a print size is available.

    Keep in mind, the larger a print gets, the further away your customers will actually view it at. So even at minimum resolution, you'll still get good results. And your pixel dimensions at 5382x3588 are FAR away from any of our minimum resolution requirements and thus would give you great quality for any print size we offer.

    Alright sounds good! Thanks! I guess I just needed to hear from someone more knowledgeable than myself.

    -Dominic
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