Maximum dpi?

[3rdEyePhotog]

I have a canon i9900 and want to take advantage of it. It says that the maximum dpi is 4800x2400. It seems too simple but if i change the image pixels to the closest I can to those numbers and constrain, under image resize, would I be printing even better pictures? most of my pictures are at around 72dpi. Am I already maximizing my printing abilities? i shoot with a canon 20d and the biggest I print are 11x17s. Please help I'm perplexed!

[Wendy]

Hi ..

... and welcome to the forum :)

Generally for printing I try to aim for a resolution of around 250 to 300 but hight than that is fine too ...

Try this out ... open up any one of your images and just do Image>Resize>Image Size. Then make sure that resample image is not checked (we don't want Elements to add extra pixels or to remove any :) )

Now change the width to the size you want the width to print out at (the height will adjust automatically) and now take a look at the resolution ... it will change in line with the printing size.

You won't lose any pixels it simple increases the resolution and squashes them in :) ... and the higher resolution will make for a better print.

Sorry I can't help with your specific printer ...

Wendy

[Codebreaker]

The figures you quoted for your printer are not the resolution figures associated with Digital Images. These figures refer to the number of ink dots that the printer can spray onto the paper which is why its quoted in DPI (dots per ink) although this is also a misleading term.

For printing you need to think in terms of the pixel dimensions of your image and an acceptable resolution in Pixels Per Inch to achieve the physical size you need.

For example an image of 3000 x 2000 pixels should ideally be printed at 300PPI. This would then give a physical size of...

3000/300 x 2000/300 or 10" x 6.67".

You can use other resolutions. Going lower than 300 may decrease the quality - going higher usually just results in bigger files, slower printing and sometimes confusing the printer.

If you cant get the Physical Size with the number of Pixels you have AND maintain a resolution of between 200-300 then you need to re-size your image.

I've posted some information about Printing, including relationships between Pixels and PPI on my web site. There is also a table that shows physical sizes against Pixels dimensions and quality.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/colin_w/printing.htm


Colin

[msbrad]

Very useful information,
Thank you.
m

[3rdEyePhotog]

Thank you for the welcome and the hasty helpdful response! much appreciated.

[tomlaronge]

Granted, I am a total newbie, but I use a Canon PIXMA i9900 and a Canon PIXMA i8500. Both printers use the same hardware to deliver ink. I typically print on Epson' higher quality photopaper. I have been obtaining suberb results up to 11in X 14 in prints at a resolution setting of 300 ppi in PSE 4. I used to use other printers and I I had a much higher error and failure rate than I do with either of these Canon printers. Furthermore, these printers are fast and quiet and they require absolutely minimal cleaning and other maintenance.

Yes, I am a newbie to digital photography, but being chronologically gifted, I have been making photographic prints for almost 50 years. So, I find the oft recommended setting of 300 ppi for a good print to be working wonderfully.