Print Image Resolution
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- 23kon
Got a question for you print-heads out there.
I'm doing a design for a hoarding of a building.
Its a big a big long panel made up of multiple panels.
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(you get the idea)The measurement is 13.8m wide x 3.6m tall.
In the initial concepts to the client i'd used some photos from istock that they are keen on using.
Example is:
link:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stockā¦The highest resolution they've got to buy of this image is 2776 pixels tall.
Is this high enough resolution to be used for a sign that is 3.6m tall?
Can I resize in photoshop to get rid of the pixelness.
Bear in mind this isnt something that is going to be scrutinised from a foot away for detail. its part of building hoarding/signage that people will be walking past or viewing from afar.
Any help appreciated :)
- Chimp0
So its about 235mm tall at 300 dpi?
They will probably print it at a lower res though.
- shitehawke0
For large signage we've usually been asked to set up the artwork at 1/4 size at 300dpi.
If its a billboard you won't see the print up close and it will print very roughly anyway, so res it up as much as you can in ps and add noise if need be to compensate.
Ideally you'd need a bigger image though, 1/4 of 3.6m is about 900mm, the biggest that image will go at 300dpi is 236mm.
- shitehawke0
If you're on a mac theres a very handy little app that's built in called art director's toolkit. You can input sizes and get scales, do grids, convert measurements etc. For this kind of thing its very useful.
- Dancer0
Ian is right, 300dpi at 1/4 size for bill boards but speak to the printer/production house for confirmation as they will know their machines and the quality you can get.
- vaxorcist0
that many pixels at that size and it may look like a watercolor.... or have that odd smudgy-ness....
I'd really rather have more pixels, so you should consider an alternate file source....
...or, dare I say, get a nice hi-res image-rights managed stock shot or hire a photographer.... I know, clients think photos should be $1 each, but what are they spending on the placement?!?