When to resize

[Wayne Dreier]

Just learning to use a digital camera and dealing with pixels, size and resolution.

Since I do not want to limit my options when working with images, I shoot in my highest pixel range of 2048 x 1536. This means I could possibly get an acceptable print as large as 8 x 10.

I think I understand that to get a print say 4 x 6 I need to crop to that size. Some things I read seem to indicate that I also need to resize the image to get at least close to that size.

My question then is when do I resize, before or after I crop or doesn't it matter? I understood all of this stuff when all I had to deal with were my scanned images. The camera has a mind of its own and I don't seem to understand its mind.
:lol:

[MikeH]

Wayne,

The workflow I use depends on what I am doing to the image. If I am doing just tweaking and then printing, I resize the image and then crop to the print size.

If you resize properly you can get close to the print size without loss of quality and then crop to get the precise size.

But how you resize is important. What resolution are your images coming over in?

Mike

[taco]

1) Before you resize and/or crop, the first thing you should do is save your original to a separate originals' folder. Then save the working copy under a different name.

2) In regards to your learning of your new camera, I'm on my second digital camera (I still use the first for close-up shots) and am learning how to use it. I discover different things about each camera occasionally and wish that I had known that before (Isn't that just like real life?). The neat thing about learning different things about your camera and the images is that you can go back to your many originals and perform some editing techniques on them that you just learned to improve the copies (see #1 above).

3) Enjoy the learning curve. That's part of the fun of a hobby. One very thing I picked up on a woodworking hobby forum applies to any hobby I think. When you have a hobby, the best thing to do is read, read, read. This particular woodworking hobbyist talked of shelves and shelves of woodworking magazines that he had read and kept for reference. This applies to photographers. I hit the public library online search often for photoshop books. They are filled with basic and advanced stuff you can use, including your question above.

4) Read some of the very good books by Scott Kelby, Dave Huss, and Gregory Georges as well as a host of others. Many of the PSE2 books are applicable and right now, quite cheap. They are also available at a nominal cost at your public library. :wink:

[Wayne Dreier]

[quote="MikeH"]But how you resize is important. What resolution are your images coming over in?

They come over at 72 ppi which makes the dimensions huge. When I resize I do not resample but was attempting to get the dimensions to 6 x 4.

I can get close 6 x 4.5 with a resolution of 341 ppi. Then I have to crop to 6 x 4 I guess to be able to print at that size.

[MikeH]

Wayne,

Looks like you have it sorted!!

By the way 341 ppi is far in excess of what you really need. On an inkjet 150 ppi (200 at the most) for 6" x 4" all you need. For taking to a lab, I'd say around 250 ppi.

Mike