Pixels, Megapixels, Resolutions, oh my!

[CompooperTeacher]

I know that one should never say that this is a stupid question, but this one just begs for me to say it. So, "I know that this is a stupid question, but . . . "

I have read and read and read about setting my digital camera to different resolutions and pixels, etc. I just don't understand it!!

If I want to print a picture out as, say, an 8 x 10, what setting should I use on my camera? I can go up to 5 megapixels. From what I understand, I can always go down in size, but not up, right? If I create a file in Elements for digital scrapbooking and set it to be an 8 x 10, can I then take it to Costco to have it print as a 5 x 7?

I think that part of this is that I'm trying to understand it too much, and, as such, I am really confusing myself.

I think that the other part is that I don't know what questions to ask, especially as I am typing this.

Thanks for your help -- especially if you can decipher this whole mess!

[kerriann85]

I can give you the least technical answer. You are best off setting your camera to the highest quality/size settings you can. Yes, it's better to try and reduce a big image than to try to increase a smaller one.

For all the specifics about pixels and such I'll defer to someone else.


Yes, you can set up a page at 8x10 but if you take it to be printed at 5x7 the sides will be cut off. 8x10 aspect ratio doesn't translate to 5x7. It just isn't the same shape. You can best see this by creating an 8x10 and then using the crop tool at 5x7. The 5x7 can't capture the 8x10 shape without either cutting some off or adding blank space outside the picture.

I hope this makes sense. For more info, just ask.

[GaryK]

I agree with Kerri on this.

Shoot as high as you can. This gives you way more "pixels" to work with when you are editing and should give you better photos when you print.

I have never printed at a store, so I'm not sure how they resize something that doesn't fit the exact dimensions. I would suspect you have an option to print all (and leave an edge or two white) or crop to fit.

Gary.

[Linda559]

As the others have stated, ALWAYS shoot with your camera set at the highest resolution. Check your manual, there may be two or three settings to adjust to achieve the highest res.

Once you have a photo in your computer, save the original. From that original you can set the image to print at any size you want (up to 11 x 14 with 5 MP-- higher if you know how- but that's another post)

Never save over your original and don't try to print for instance a 5 x 7 from an 8 x 10 sized file. Start with the original-- edit it--then size it--and always save the new file with a new name (so you don't save over the original)

Hope this helps

Linda
http://www.pbase.com/linda559

[Wendy]

It sounds like we all have fairly similar routines :)

Wendy

[shnupita]

Hi.. I as the other ones I always take my pictures in 7.2mpx. Last week I sent a file to Kodak (7mpx) and ask them to make me the same photo into 6x4 and 8x10... It came out perfectly. I dont know if they made some arrangments there or what(I dont think so, they would have charge for that)... but I had my picture the way I wanted.

Hope this helps...

[kerriann85]

I'm curious how Kodak made your pictures. There would have had to be some cutting off of the edges or they would have stretched the picture to fit which would distort it (doubtful they'd do that).
Look closely at both the 8x10 and the 4x6 and convince me they are exactly the same. I bet the 4x6 is missing soemthing from the long edges that the 8x10 has. :) (but I could be wrong, maybe)

Well, I guess you didn't really say they were exactly the same, but that they came out the way you wanted.....