Does print resolution need to be a round PPI value?
Asked 1/6/2014
8 views
2 answers
0
I’m preparing a large collage that will be printed at 48 × 72 inches, assembled from 24 × 24 inch sections. Because of software limits, each section can be at most 5120 × 5120 pixels, which works out to about 213 PPI at 24 × 24 inches.
For glossy sheet prints, does it matter if I use a non-round resolution like 213 PPI, or is it better to resize to a round number such as 200 PPI? I could work toward 300 PPI, but that would require splitting the collage into more pieces and doing extra stitching.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
3
300 would hold up better if people will view it up close, but then again, for up close viewing, chances are the tiles are going to be more visible. If the ideal viewing distance is a bit further away, anything upwards of 150 is fine, though the higher quality you can pull off, the better, so I'd go with 200PPI if you have a native resolution of 600PPI. If you need to find the native resolution of your camera, you can find it with the tool JRista mentions in his answer to this question.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No—print resolution does not need to be a round number. A file at 213 PPI is perfectly valid, and in practice a lab or printer will resample as needed for its own output process.
From the answers provided: around 300 PPI can help if the print will be examined very closely, but for a large print viewed from a more normal distance, anything above roughly 150 PPI is generally fine. That means your 213 PPI should already be in a good range.
If you want the simplest workflow, there’s little reason to force it to exactly 200 PPI just because it’s a round number. Use the highest practical resolution you can manage without creating unnecessary extra work. For a large tiled collage, viewing distance matters more than whether the number is 200, 213, or 300.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Should I sharpen each photo before building a large printed collage, or sharpen the final collage only?
How large can I print a 5120×2880 JPEG collage, and should I choose canvas or poster?
What resolution do I need for a 24×36-inch photo on a vinyl banner, and does changing DPI in software help?
What image size should I use for a small print if the printer wants 300 DPI?
Why is Microsoft ICE limiting my panorama export size when using RAW/DNG files?