p.1 #1 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
Hi all. I have a question I would like to ask to those here that know better than me. I am currently shooting with a Sony Nex7 and a Zörk Shift Panorama Adapter with medium format Pentax Lens (SMD Pentax-A 35mm) to produce high resolution panoramas. I shoot the camera vertically and get (using the 22mm full shift each way) files that are nearly 14,000Px long (and something in the whereabouts of 6,000px tall).
I have been asked to produce some of my images in large sizes for a possible exhibition next year. Now, assuming that the images are well exposed, sharp (tripod, remote, etc) and that the methodology involved in the shooting is all correct (letīs not discuss that here), what , in your experience, would be the largest possible prints (high quality) I could achieve with this files? Also, I am not familiar with uprezzing and the involved software, is that a viable option for achieving larger prints without much loss in quality-detail? I would appreciate any insight , I am really not familiarised with this part of photography..
Thanks in advance for all the kind replies and for your help.
p.1 #2 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
While I hate to give this sort of answer... As big as you feel they can go. This is one of those things that's entirely a matter of personal preferences, personal standards, post-processing style, output media, subject matter, and display style.
From raw numbers, you should have absolutely no issues doing a ~1 meter x 3 meter print as-is. But at the point you're going that large, you can typically go much larger because the typical viewing distance is going to increase, so the required resolution goes down. (But if you're a nose-to-the-print sort of person regardless of the print size, you may have a different opinion.)
p.1 #3 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
As colinm mentions viewing distance will come into play as well, but here's a rough guideline at the math using your pixel height. As mentioned, this doesn't include the realm of possibilities @ uprezzing, etc.
A good print lab can give you some further guidance at how to proceed / what they can produce for you. FYI, I had a lab take a 1 MB file and print it @ 20x30 inches for their display (I thought they were going to make an 8x10), I was quite surprised to see it turn out the way it did. Same goes for other prints (not mine) I've seen from 4-6MB files being printed large @ good lab. Talk with your lab, they can be a great resource.
p.1 #4 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer, I appreciate. I live in a small town and we donīt have labs that specialise in the kind of sizes I want to print this images at, thatīs why I looked for help here. I will experiment with interpolation and different sizes and see if I find a satisfactory compromise. If anybody can point me to some tutorials or interesting sources in the matter I would be most grateful.
p.1 #5 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
If you own an inkjet printer, one thing you easily do yourself is to make test strips. Take your image, cut out a section the size of a sheet of paper, and print that. You can then affix it to the wall and judge it from the distance you'd view the whole image (as well as any other distance you care to judge it from). You can "see" as many sizes, interpolation settings, and plug-ins as you like this way while spending very little money.
For panoramics and very large prints, most labs will be printing with inkjet today, so you'll get anywhere from a good to excellent representation of what the final print will look like as far as detail and resolution.
You can also do this working with the lab that will ultimately print your images, but the shipping may be cost prohibitive.
p.1 #9 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
RustyBug wrote:
... FYI, I had a lab take a 1 MB file and print it @ 20x30 inches for their display (I thought they were going to make an 8x10), I was quite surprised to see it turn out the way it did. Same goes for other prints (not mine) I've seen from 4-6MB files being printed large @ good lab. .... (*snip)
Kent, are you referring to megapixels here (MP), or actually megabytes?
p.1 #10 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
1MB file size ... don't recall dimensions, but I was only expecting it to be an 8x10 @ quality print, so I was very surprised to walk in and see a 20x30 instead.
In retrospect, I recall that I had applied sharpening similar to what Jeff describes in the link (i.e. from reading his book).
Looking back at my post, it should have read 1MB file ... and 4-6MP, sorry for any confusion.
p.1 #12 · Maximum possible print size in the following scenario:
Erik, ask the people who want the prints what the likely viewing distance will be and work from there. If it was up close - say one foot - then 300 ppi is quite ok but of course at that distance they can't see the whole print at once. From there, it gets easier - 150ppi at 2', 75ppi at 4', 38ppi at 8', etc.
Or put another way, every time the viewing distance doubles you can double the height and width of the print. That makes it 20" high at 1', 40" high at 2', 80" high at 4', etc.
