Resolution and print sizes explained

[@elektriksheep]

Thanks, Matt. This video was great! As someone who's never printed anything off before it really helped to clarify the practical applications of DPI and resolution. Brilliant!

[@Alexandra-Rex]

I agree with what you said. I think one of the reasons people might thing that 4x is 2x when you increase image size is that in Photoshop when you go from 100% viewing size to 200%, it's not 200% bigger on screen, it's 400%, they double both sized to make it quadruple. You say DPI where it should be PPI. PPI is how many pixels you get per inch (Pixels Per Inch). DPI is how many ink dots the printer uses to make those PPI, and it's usually A LOT more than the PPI value.

[@LensForgotten]

Greetings from 2023....Matt still has a great video here

[@garethwilliams976]

All explained simply and well! Such a pity that we no longer seem to apply the same standard in Digital printing as once applied in Film which was that prints were expected to appear sharp when viewed at 1.5-2x the diagonal.

[@AlGreenLightThroughGlass]

Hi from the future Matt where resolution has gone crazy but what you say here still makes perfect sense.

[@lorenzovalenzuela]

Yes good explanation. I think that people worry way too much about resolution. If you have a compelling image it can take quite a bit of abuse before it starts to look bad. To me the best images evoke an emotional reaction. I don't ever remember being blown away by a high rez but boring photo.

[@tfste]

That's why l cant understand pixel peepers. It's always the image l see.

[@RonJordanpopcornRon]

I was very impressed at the area of 3:19 - 3:39 well said. I often wondered when I did this if it was a good thing to do. I guess it is hearing it from Matt here. Thanks, Ron

[@floex831]

I am a pixel peeper when it comes to prints. My 18MP Canon's max at 300dpi is Tabloid 11" X 17" (US) size print. I will try lowering to 250dpi, hopefully, it will still look just as good, thank you for the info Matt!

[@simonh]

This is turning out to be a great series of videos, Matt. Thanks!

[@bloodyrome0]

Fantastic video Matt. And very well explained too. I'm new to professional photography and trying to learn as much as i can. It's basic things like these that can make such a big difference to your final product. A great BIG thank you all the way from India.

[@romiemiller7876]

360 dpi for some printers. Good video with correct information. I think Topaz Gigapixel works a little better than Ps. for upscaling. In any case, it works well, as does Denoise AI. Sharpen AI isn't as good as the other two for me, but it still does a good job.

[@josephgilbert8978]

I have made over a dozen 48 x 48 Inch square paintings on wood panel that I want to make prints of...I am thinking of 20 x 20 Inch prints on Glossy paper with 300 DPI...does that sound good to you for size ratio and detail??? Thanks.

[@anna87567]

So when i export from lightroom, is it best to put “300 pixels per inch” in “Resolution”? or is it best to put no value at all in there?

[@qmax44]

BEST EXPLANATION EVER

[@eduardozanchetta9692]

OMG, it really worked. Thank you so much!!

[@kingdom777866]

I dont know if my pictures are 300dpi because i lost count after 169..

[@eatfoodmusic3184]

Set it for 300dpi on your graphic program just reset the size to 300dpi

[@brendapaint]

@@eatfoodmusic3184 so you dont set it on the camera?

[@eatfoodmusic3184]

@@brendapaint No

[@jellyfish1679]

Lol

[@peacebeuponus8951]

I wanted to make a name board design. Size: 20ft * 2.5ft What is the resolution(dpi) should i use?

[@Francois15031967]

I don't know why this question always revolves around definition. The most important question, IMO, is how many percent of your field of view should a printed picture occupy for the best experience.

[@JohnGarghan]

Brilliant explanation Thank You

[@vertusmatjaz]

I have photos from 2004. Resolution is 96dpi. I want to make prints 10cm x 15cm (4 x 6 inches). What do you sugest? Stack 2 photos on a one print? It's for my personal album.

[@marianpalko2531]

Tony Northrup has a very nice video about this topic. It turns out, megapixels aren't everything. The lens quality matters just as much. A lower res sensor with something like the OTUS will give you more detail than a higher res sensor with a worse lens, and almost no lenses can resolve the full detail of modern FF sensors. Even if you put an OTUS on a 5DSR, you only get about 40MP. You should take that into consideration when printing.

[@RollingHousesUK]

the printer DPI is how many dots the printer lays down to make it's print, render it's colours etc and is not related at all to your file size DPI, as you seem to be hinting at.

[@w0ble]

Matt, I am sure you are aware of that, but DPI has nothing to do with pixels, let alone digital files. DPI (dots per inch) relates only to printers and how they distribute the ink. One can not affect DPI of a printer from an image file. What you talk about is PPI (pixels per inch). I know it's very common to say and expect others to say DPI instead of PPI, but it's incorrect. It's exactly the same as calling a tonemapped JPEG photo (essentially an LDR) an HDR file.

[@timoripatti4572]

A graph or a few, while you talk, would help to understand the resolutions and image sizes in question.

[@myezpost3121]

before you print its important to know the actual print size and resolation for sure.

[@flipfilms1759]

I may have accidentally exported some photos at 2,000 dpi. Oops. Just gonna delete them and export again but to 300 dpi. And correct me if I am wrong: Using a Nikon D7100 which has 24 megapixels and an image resolution at 6,000 by 4,000 I can make 20 by 13 or 14 prints at 300 dpi since 6,000/300=20 and 4,000/300=13.3 repeating.

[@lezbriddon]

was asked to do a a0 canvas of a holiday photo from a fb download 570 pixels high. its all my fault as i cant print right with my old equipmet

[@junger613]

This more than actual considering the eos R6 20 MP sensor. Thank you

[@elwelkin]

Z7 much better

[@mattgranger]

depends on the overall dimensions of the image

[@Sertao2013]

I just scanned a 4x6 at 300 resolution in a tiff file and I want to print out at 8x10 what resolution should I print it out with

[@MasticinaAkicta]

Yup just print it out nicely and see what you can get from it. Not to mention printed pictures look "different" as in how the light ends up. On a computer screen you got lotsa light.. on photo paper well.. its different.

[@mattgranger]

I dont use a home printer -but you can't go wrong with a good Epson

[@jsavak99]

What are the camera settings you need to print a large poster ?

[@RudolfKlusal]

About that interpolation: Of course it is the same, because it is interpolation -- not any new data is added, just computed data between and interpolation is always optimal, so it doesn't care about how may times you incrementaly do it, or if you do like one time ;) Result is mathematicaly the same ;) ;)

[@funincluded]

I have the same question. I have never had my work printed before, and the cheapo printers only accept JPG- but, I would love to know if better printer shops accept better quality

[@barry7608]

Thanks Matt well explained

[@YAHOOOOOO5]

how do I set my picure in A3 size? I am using Gimp. I set the dpi to 300, but i dont know how to set it in A3 size portrait, at what pixels should i set it?

[@charly08031953]

Still wondering the claims of printers DPI . Does it include dots for "dithering". Inorder to show 256 levels of CMYK, one pixel of our photo has to be expanded to a 16x16 matrix to render its.proper color in print. Not like in rgb or color monitor, only one pixel per RGB is required to show 256 levels of RGB since light intensity can be varied. Now, it 300dpi does not include 16x16 matrix, hence, theoretically a pixel photo will have x16 more pixels if compared to to photo printer?

[@007shambles]

Thanks Matt, very well put across.

[@Crimiknowlogist]

what does "R" mean in photograph sizes?

[@IamMotionMedia]

hey matt what home printer do you use or do you recommend any good enthusiast printers?

[@martinnagy5788]

what doues it a mean a 9600 x 2400 dpi? i saw that in a canon printer description

[@rossbeech3651]

Thanks for the video matt :) math's is not a strong point... I have a d610 and want to export for print to go a a gallery to sell prints which has different size options. if i set my export on lightroom to 300 dpi is there a resolution for W and H that covers most print sizes?

[@lolwhittingham]

THANKS FOR THE MATHS LESSON..... WELL EXPLAINED MATT !....CHANGE YOUR NAME TO "MATH GRANGER ?

[@1callmex3]

ahahahaha

[@PeteLeong]

Great tips, thanks Matt! BTW will you be in Tokyo for this upcoming Photo Next June 2015? Hope to see you there!

[@mattgranger]

@lorenzovalenzuela absolutely right

[@brettharris626]

Can you post a Conversion chart on your website. and the formula ratio please. Matt.

[@lesliedellow1533]

+Brett Harris Divide the number of pixels by the area of the print, and take the square root of the result. In the case of a 20" x 30" print, the area is 600 square inches. If the file is 28Mp, that is 28000000 / 600 pixels per square inch, or 46667 pixels per square inch. Taking the square root of that gives 216dpi.

[@mrdev9843]

cool

[@mattgranger]

@RHallPhoto thanks! please suggest on latest Q&A video

[@jawbee7]

How much megapixel needed to print 30"x40" high quality photo print ?

[@amandaleahspears]

What about computer designed graphics? Would it benefit me to send out a 500 ppi for a 7x9 book cover. They only ask for minimum 500 dpi

[@eatfoodmusic3184]

Nope 300dpi

[@mattgranger]

very odd - unfortunately there is no confirmation screen - it does just refresh - but you SHOULD get the email... definitely put it in correctly? PM me your contacts and I will check the back end and see if it has come up on this side.

[@melanyxanadu]

Hi very nice video although I know nothing about resolution dpi etc... lol I have a question for you about my photos and I'm wondering if you would please give me some advice? I am desperate to enlarge my photos that are low resolution and VERY pixely that is probably not even a word lol anyway I want to enlarge my photos on canvas especially..there are many videos on here explaining how to do it but I have also been told by professionals that it is impossible to take my photos (which were all taken on my cell phone) and make them look good I that size :( If you know of a way I would be the happiest person on the earth (no joke lol) I am sorry to be bothering you... but you are clearly very intelligent and have great knowledge about photography :) also are there any options besides photoshop? do any companies online fix photos? ANY advice or help would be AWESOME! Thanks for your time Matt!

[@Bermrunner]

Nice explanation.

[@mypronounismaster4450]

The television companies are trying to get this video removed from the interwebs.... :)

[@TwoThousandDivine]

great advice thank you i wish the sound was a little better.

[@tagurumoy1101]

How can I resize a screenshot image from an iPad to 32x96 inches without losing the quality for printing stickers

[@mattgranger]

+demetrio dario are you serious?

[@cloudtron337]

Lol. That might not even print well on a regular playing card

[@muffemod]

stitching may help or else you can use vectors

[@patrona78]

hi.. so if i want to enlarge a regular 4x6 to a 16x20 what resolution do i need? i really didnt undestand the video if anyone can help me please is my wedding photos.............

[@Alexandra-Rex]

Also, on screen, there is no point in making a certain PPI for your images, it doesn't matter. It's viewed at 100% and it's one pixel in the image on one pixel on the screen. The screen is what decides how many PPI it is, not the value in your files, test it, check with e.g. 72 PPI, 300 PPI and 3000 PPI, they're the same size on screen. At least in web browsers, Photoshop and programs that just show you pictures, maybe not in print software publishers use, I don't know about those.

[@saibhakt1465]

Thanks - yes this was healpful 😊 👍

[@mattgranger]

@funincluded I usually send tiff or highest Res JPEG

[@shall464]

Content was good, but could not fully understand because sound system was not clear for me.

[@ThePcm81]

TNG, Usually i love watching your videos; however what you said at 0:40 forced me to stop watching this video. The standard is 300 PPI (pixels per inch) not 300 DPI (dots per inch). Printer prints multiple dots per pixel, because color of each dot is not the same as color of each pixel, multiple dots average to certain pixel color. The 300 PPI rule is for an image at 10 inch viewing distance. At 10 inches 300 ppi approximates the average resolution of human eye. Eyes res is 1/60th of a degree.

[@50deserteagle]

Thanks for Sharing!

[@Delphisteve]

They say a 35mm piece of film is about 4 mp. So a contact print from an 8x10" film would be 200mp. I've made 40x50" prints from an 8x10" film and it looked like a contact print. Of course this means you'd need to carry some heavy gear if on location. When I can I'll take out my 12"x20" camera and that I can only do contact prints from. That image area is 3x's the size of an 8x10" camera and if 8x10" takes your breath away then 12x20" will knock your socks off! Let's see that would be = to a 600mp camera w/ a 12x20 sensor. Which will never happen

[@royfung7350]

Nikon guy ? Congratulations you got full sponsorship from Nikon !

[@shimarlie1]

Has Matt Granger and Aussie guy been seen in the same room?

[@jp_2448]

This was very helpful. Thank you for this video!

[@markjacobs6294]

Most megapixel nerds never see a print outside of their monitors. The human eye is the defective element now.

[@dewxdrop23]

thank you

[@harryman1224]

Good stuff

[@thepurplelotus4611]

shame i ...... can't say learnt anything

[@meerareeeem]

Yeah, this answered nothing.

[@utkarshbhat7338]

just a feedback, content is helpful, but why shoot outside? why not indoor. noise from the surrounding could have been avoided, which is so annoying.

[@MichaelLaing71]

Really useful video. Thank you :)

[@BoggyCrazy]

Thank you...

[@geoffreyhoward7251]

Wow now totally confused

[@randyrising3535]

Damn! How about make this for new photographers!

[@mamiyapress]

Thanks for that, very informative. So, if I have a 6MP camera (Nikon D70) and I can get a perfect A4 print from it, I would need a 24MP (Nikon D3200) to get the same quality A3 print!

[@toddroy9558]

I have the question, how big can you really print, that is sharp? Clyde Butcher, who I think is awesome, prints as big as 6 feet by 16 feet, can you do that with a DSLR? I want to do that but not sure how or if that's possible. This is how I would try, use the d810 of canon 50 megapixel camera, use the Otus 28, 55 or 85mm Len and shot a bunch of pics and stench them in Photoshop and of course find a lab that can print it. Am I on the right track? Has anybody tried with a DSLR? It's my dream to do this for myself one day. Thanks

[@eatfoodmusic3184]

Yep

[@1717jbs]

Great!

[@kind2de]

Wow, I should have paid attention in math class, cause I'm soooooo lost in centimeters.

[@azdigbee]

I would be easier to learn Dutch and Chineese laguage than understand ANY of that dpi ppi stuff !

[@agua4211]

Glad to see I'm not the only one. The 2nd half went right over my head.

[@gillyb44]

@@agua4211 yep me too. I have a home printer so I set my photo to 300dpi. I crop my photo to the paper size im using, or not crop and change size to A3 and so far all good. I can t do all that math stuff.

[@suzesiviter6083]

I would change your title from 'That Nikon Guy' if I was you, mirrorless are killing them...quickly.

[@funincluded]

haha

[@FrankieTheOne]

If he was black. Ill be like "What up my Nikon!!"

[@somedudewithoutamustache]

Wow

[@geoffhoward2171]

The sound quality is dreadful, coupled with your accent makes it extremely difficult to understand.

[@sarawalkerphotography5690]

thank you