First time printing large prints.

[alfa147x]

5616 × 3744 (21.0 MP)
That's the size of the file I want to print.

Here are the sizes I would like to print:
24 x 36
22 x 28
18 x 24
16 x 20


18 x 24 would be the smallest BUT if it's going to look bad then I can go with the 16 x 20.

I've noticed a lot of online posts and calculators on this topic but not one actually shows you how to figure out what size is a good idea.

Now say the max size for my 5DII is 18 x 24 then could I take multiple shots and stitch them together to make a 24 x 36?

Thanks!

 

[RobDickinson]

I've printed (a good) 300d file at A1 (33x22). it looked OK (6mp) but only from a distance of a couple of meters!

24 x 36 from the fiel is 156dpi, IMo this is plenty so long as you have a good file properly processed and sharpened and you do not expect minute detail when viewed at 6 inches.

What you can do is crop a section or two out and print smaller at the same dpi to see what you think.

 

[alfa147x]

What you can do is crop a section or two out and print smaller at the same dpi to see what you think.

Good idea!

 

[Gintaras]

Well, I'm pretty new to photography - it's just my hobby. Last year I did sign up with Adoramapix.com and I've tried some 4x6 prints - each photo on 4 different type of paper. I really like their Kodak Metallic paper.

Service is great, could not ask for anything better.
They do have sales for different sizes of paper time to time.
Not long ago, I deceided to try large size prints @ adoramapix.com.

I've printed several photos in 11x14, some in 20x24 and a couple photos in poster-size 20x30. I don't know how good or bad I went in enlarging photo on my PC- I did end up having about 25Mb file, 6000x9000 pixels for 20x30 prints, but it came out pretty good.

I've entered in whole new world of photography - printing. Didn't realize that prints could cost actually very little comparing to framing prints, but it's fun in my hobby. A lot of people, who did I show my prints, they keep telling me that I should sell my photos - prints I've printed @ adoramapix.com.

Here's some examples of prints/framing:

Photo 11x14, mat/frame 16x20:

20x30 print of photo;

Mat on 20x30 I did cut out myself, I've bought Logan Mat Cutter:

Packaging of photos @ adorama is great, when I did order large prints, it came in a box size of let's say, if you buy 32" or 37" LCD TV.
Even 4x6 prints won't be packed in small box as you could expect...

 

[alfa147x]

Wow those look really good. What camera are you using?

 

[Gintaras]

Wow those look really good. What camera are you using?

Olympus E-520, mostly with 70-300mm lense - the one got me addicted to birds - "pretty bad" but pleasant addiction.
Photos on here won't say much how good or bad prints came out. You have to see.
But I would suggest to use adorama for printing. Try free sign up and get $15 credit or try to print some larger sizes.
Another thing, framing a photo might cost way more than photo itself...but it's my hobby and I want to learn something... It might cost $$ something, but I do not regret it.

I need to lear a lot, including even how to attach photo to the mat...some got kinda warbled over the time...maybe I've used wrong tape, maybe not right...

 

[alfa147x]

Olympus E-520, mostly with 70-300mm lense - the one got me addicted to birds - "pretty bad" but pleasant addiction.
Photos on here won't say much how good or bad prints came out. You have to see.
But I would suggest to use adorama for printing. Try free sign up and get $15 credit or try to print some larger sizes.
Another thing, framing a photo might cost way more than photo itself...but it's my hobby and I want to learn something... It might cost $$ something, but I do not regret it.

I need to lear a lot, including even how to attach photo to the mat...some got kinda warbled over the time...maybe I've used wrong tape, maybe not right...

Framing is something I've always wanted to get into. I live in a small apartment with a few tools. May be in future.

I normally use mPix.com but I'll try adorama this time.

Thanks!

 

[alfa147x]

Try free sign up and get $15 credit

Can't seem to find this. Any info?

 

[Gintaras]

Can't seem to find this. Any info?

Have you tried to sing up with AdoramaPix? Maybe they've have changed this?

I wouldn't be too surprised, if I see Helen Oster - Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador to reply to this tread...

 

[alfa147x]

Have you tried to sing up with AdoramaPix? Maybe they've have changed this?

I wouldn't be too surprised, if I see Helen Oster - Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador to reply to this tread...

Yup. Signed up. Used your email address in your profile as a referral.

 

[angry hampster]

Alfa, having used both, I prefer MPix to Adoramapix.

Any of those print sizes you're talking about will not be an issue with your 5D2. I've got a 20x24 hanging right above my desk that I shot with mine last year -- looks great. Check amazon.com for reasonably priced frames. Michael's and Hobby Lobby also have great specials on frames almost every day.

 

[alfa147x]

Alfa, having used both, I prefer MPix to Adoramapix.

Any of those print sizes you're talking about will not be an issue with your 5D2. I've got a 20x24 hanging right above my desk that I shot with mine last year -- looks great. Check amazon.com for reasonably priced frames. Michael's and Hobby Lobby also have great specials on frames almost every day.

Any reason for liking mix over aforama?

I love hobby lobby for frames! Spent $45 on these two recently:

excuse the mess

 

[angry hampster]

Any reason for liking mix over aforama?

I love hobby lobby for frames! Spent $45 on these two recently:

excuse the mess

Turnaround time tends to be quicker with Mpix.

 

[alfa147x]

Turnaround time tends to be quicker with Mpix.

Ah. Well I sent some test prints to them last night around 11 and got a shipment notification around noon :\ We'll see how they turn out. I have the same picture printed from mPix.

 

[angry hampster]

Ah. Well I sent some test prints to them last night around 11 and got a shipment notification around noon :\ We'll see how they turn out. I have the same picture printed from mPix.

I'd say quality is about equal on both. When you print, do you get the lustre coating? It looks insanely good and feels nice too.

 

[Gintaras]

I'd say quality is about equal on both. When you print, do you get the lustre coating? It looks insanely good and feels nice too.

Different photos can look pretty different printed on lustre, matte, glossy and metallic papers.
I personally like metallic paper prints. However, in some time my preferences can change, since i'm new to photography.

btw, I've heard very good things about mPix too.

 

[Gintaras]

Alfa, having used both, I prefer MPix to Adoramapix.

Any of those print sizes you're talking about will not be an issue with your 5D2. I've got a 20x24 hanging right above my desk that I shot with mine last year -- looks great. Check amazon.com for reasonably priced frames. Michael's and Hobby Lobby also have great specials on frames almost every day.

I've bought all frames I have @ Utrecht Arts and some @ AC Moore's.
I like cutting mats with Logan Mat Cutter(40 inch) I've bought ~ $200, since I haven't seen mats for larger than 11x14 prints. And it's always fun, when you can do something yourself.
I just have to learn how properly attach prints to the mat.

 

[Gintaras]

Ah. Well I sent some test prints to them last night around 11 and got a shipment notification around noon :\ We'll see how they turn out. I have the same picture printed from mPix.

Here's PP for photos to larger prints I've done:
1)In PS, I've chosen print size, let's say 20x30 inch @ 300ppi. Did a crop of what I wanted on the print. But, when in Image Size on PS CS2(that I have), it won't let me to change Document Size, if I wanted @ 300ppi, it would let me to change pixel count. So I did. I think, it's wrong - Re sampling over Resizing....I did Re sampling, after I sent files for printing, Adorama Customer Services Rep told me that's not right way done, but prints would come up okay.
2) I did levels adjustment.
3) I did Sharpening, mostly I do -Unsharp Mask, and if I want more sharpness: Sharpen Edges.
All I know, sharpening has to be done at the end of PP.
Never have done and need to learn to play with /to remove Noise

I was "playing" with out of camera .jpeg files. But I'll try to the same with RAW files(my cameras is setup for dual format). Let's see what happens next...

And...I hope, you'll like your test prints...would like to know, how it came out.

 

[Anubis]

with the right work in PS you can get good looking 20x30s out of basically any DLSR over 6MP

as others have said adorama and mpix are both great

http://www.elcocolor.net/ is another ive used with good results as well as http://www.colorenlargement.com/ and http://whcc.com/

Taken with a Nikon D70

 

[alfa147x]

with the right work in PS you can get good looking 20x30s out of basically any Dus1.com/admin/rand/DSC_2299.JPG[/IMG]

Wow those look amazing!

 

[alfa147x]

Just got my prints from adorama. The matte print I had to compare with mPix looks identical. I also ordered the same print in each finish.
It's between lustre and metallic. I'll have to let my gf choose.

 

[alfa147x]

I really like finally seeing my pictures in print. I take so many pictures but I never have them printed. I love looking at them in a physical manner.

 

[Anubis]

i find it somewhat odd that you rarley see your stuff in print as you actually take photos for work. but i guess lots of stuff is really just done online today

printing large photos really isnt hard, just correcting color for the printers really. sure if you put your nose on the glass you can tell it was enlarged quite a bit but from normal distances you cant.

i have some 16x20s and 20x30s printed from 35mm film that look spectacular. actually soneone on AT got a few as a secret sant gift a few years ago. i should bug him about seeing what they look like in his apt/house

 

[alfa147x]

i find it somewhat odd that you rarley see your stuff in print as you actually take photos for work. but i guess lots of stuff is really just done online today

printing large photos really isnt hard, just correcting color for the printers really. sure if you put your nose on the glass you can tell it was enlarged quite a bit but from normal distances you cant.

i have some 16x20s and 20x30s printed from 35mm film that look spectacular. actually soneone on AT got a few as a secret sant gift a few years ago. i should bug him about seeing what they look like in his apt/house

It's been a while since I've done photo work. 3+ years now. Plus it's a different animal. On one side you have taking pictures of people and things you don't have any personal connection to vs the photos I take now.

 

[Gintaras]

I really like finally seeing my pictures in print. I take so many pictures but I never have them printed. I love looking at them in a physical manner.

Prolly, I know how you do feel about...

Photography is my hobby. I had before posters of rock starts @ home.
Now, I've photos - printed and framed that I took myself.
First, I do take photos for myself - a hobby, if others like it - it's just better...