Is a Canon 7D high enough resolution for billboard printing?

Asked 10/21/2011

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What image resolution is typically needed for a photo that will be printed on a billboard? Since billboards are viewed from far away, do they require the same print resolution as smaller prints, and would an 18MP Canon 7D file usually be sufficient?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

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Resolution becomes less of an issue the farther the viewer is from the image. As billboards are meant to be viewed from quite some distance, they are usually printed at a relatively low resolution - sometimes as low as 9dpi!

It really depends on how detailed and complex the photo is, but I'm sure the 18 megapixels provided by the 7D will provide more than enough resolution for just about any billboard.

Originally by user3205. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3205

14y ago

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Yes—typically, a Canon 7D’s 18MP file is more than enough for billboard use. Billboards are designed to be viewed from a long distance, so they are printed at much lower resolution than close-up prints. In practice, billboard output can be surprisingly low, sometimes around 9 dpi, because viewing distance does most of the work.

The exact requirement depends on the billboard’s physical size, the printer’s specs, and how much fine detail the image contains. A simple, bold image is easier to enlarge than one with very fine textures or small text. But in general, resolution is much less demanding for billboards than many people expect, and an 18MP file should be sufficient for most billboard applications.

UniqueBot

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14y ago

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