If a 36-megapixel image only corresponds to 24.5″ x 16.4″ that seems really small, how do they print billboards? How do you print something larger than that?
How to Scale Artwork Without Compromising Quality When Printing Large Format Photos?
When it comes to printing your artwork you want to have options, especially when it comes to size, From small intimate images to large sweeping landscapes that call for grandesse. The ability to scale your work allows you to print your fine art photographs in any size. But what do you have to do to make sure you don’t compromise quality when it comes to printing your large format photos? Today we’ll be exploring how to scale your artwork, what to take into consideration, and give you a step by step guide to help you rescale your photographs without losing quality.
Selecting The Right File Format
First, it’s important to select the right file format. Some file formats are better than others for resizing images without losing quality. Printers may have their own requirements, so make sure you check before sending off your files for printing.
JPEG
The most common file format that you’ve probably come across is JPEG or JPG. An abbreviation for Joint Photographic Experts Group, this is the ideal file format for small images. Used mainly on websites and digital devices, they are the standard format for most smartphones and DSLR cameras.
While this format is widely used online due to its quick loading speed, this is a lossy file format. This means that every time a JPEG file is opened and saved, the file is compressed. This permanently deletes any unnecessary information from the file.
While this makes JPG’s a fantastic format for storing and saving images, compression isn’t a good thing when it comes to high-quality printing. If you do want to print a JPG image, you use one with a high resolution of at least 300DPI.
TIFF
If you’re looking for a widely supported, lossless file format, TIFF is the one for you. Short for Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), it can be used with practically any software from Illustrator to Photoshop, Microsoft Word, text editors and so much more. No matter what you use, it will most likely accept TIFF images. TIFF is also lossless, a lossless file format, which means TIFF is ideal for saving and storing large files, like fine art photographs.
Lossless file saving means that no matter how many times you open and save them, they never lose their quality. On top of that, you can use TIFF images with multiple layers in your project. TIFF files use RGB and CMYK colour spaces, so they are perfectly suited for high-resolution printing. One drawback to TIFF files is that because of their higher quality, they take up a lot more space. If you need to send your large TIFF file to your printer, we recommend zipping it before you email it.
Image Resolution
Image resolution is key to getting the highest quality print possible. Resolution is what determines the sharpness of the printed image. Low-resolution images will appear pixelated when scaled or printed in large sizes. For the best quality prints, professional printers recommend using images with a minimum 300dpi resolution. This high resolution makes it easy to scale and print in large sizes.
Photoshop is the industry standard for photo editing. With so many capabilities, Photoshop is of course able to scale your artwork for printing with ease and minimum quality loss.
To resize your images in Photoshop:
- Open your image in Photoshop
- Select Image > Image Size.
- If your photo is at 300 DPI, just check that your dimensions are how you like.
- If your image is not in a high resolution, go to the ‘Resample’ drop-down menu
- select ‘Preserve Details (enlargement)‘ and change your DPI to around 300.
Now you’re ready to export your image!
The Native Computer Editing Tool Technique
If DPI is the issue, your computer’s standard photo editing software should be sufficient to adjust the DPI. Here are the key steps:
- Open the image file in preview mode.
- Click on “Tools” on your menu bar.
- In the dropdown, find “Adjust Size” and click on it. From here, you should be able to see different options for adjusting, such as “Width,” “Height” and “Resolution.”
- Select “inches” for height and width. Choose “pixels/inch” for Resolution.
- Ensure the “Resample Image” box is unchecked.
- Set the Resolution to 300 pixels/inch or the highest possible number. The maximum width and height dimensions will adjust automatically.
- When the image is resized to your desired dimensions, click “OK.”You can then save the file.
- It is important to note that the aspect ratio doesn’t have to be perfect, as the image can be cropped easily.
Depending on the maximum DPI, you can experiment with different levels to determine how large you can make the image without losing quality. Find a balance between your desired size and quality before printing.
The Scanning Technique
Printing a smaller image at the highest possible DPI, and then scanning and printing, is a trick for enlarging a photo. This can be a highly effective way to maximize the size of a print while maintaining quality. However, it is dependent on the resolution of your scanner. A high-resolution scanner is capable of quadrupling the size of an image.
Similar to digital images, resizing with scanners comes down to DPI capabilities. Many regular scanners found in people’s homes can scan images at up to 1,200 DPI. This allows them to create quality images of much greater size than the original.
While many scanners are capable of 1,200 DPI scanning, they’re unlikely to be set to this number by default. You must first adjust the settings to 1,200 DPI. When you scan the file, you’ll have to alter the resolution of the digital file. This process is the same as the native computer editing method.
In addition to a high-quality scanner, it’s also important to have a printer with good native resolution. Otherwise, it won’t be capable of printing at high quality, regardless of the image size. Invest in good photo ink such as Canon ink cartridges for maximum quality.
For downsizing images, you never need to reduce the resolution.
Photoshop Method
If you have access to Adobe Photoshop, this is perhaps the best way to resize a photo or print. However, this software can be tricky to use, so you may want to familiarize yourself with it before attempting Photoshop editing. The following steps will help you to resize your photo exactly how you want to.
Resizing
- Open your image in Photoshop.
- Click the size dialogue box to bring up the “Width,” “Height” and “Resolution” options.
- Set the resolution to 300 DPI, and then adjust the “Width” or “Height” to your desired size. Photoshop automatically adjusts to maintain the correct aspect ratio.
- If enlarging the image reduces the DPI, you may have to upsample it to increase the quality.
- Note that resizing an image will likely result in the file changing size. This is important if you have limited storage space and are editing multiple photos.
Upsampling
Upsampling involves increasing the quality (DPI) of the image manually. While all images have a maximum ceiling for quality, many photos can be upsampled effectively. Here are the key steps
- Under the “Resolution” section in the dialogue box, tick the box next to “Resample.”
- Enter your desired resolution. Ideally, this should be 300 DPI. However, you may be happier with a slightly lower quality print.
- After upsampling, make sure to double-check the “Height” and “Width” settings in case there is an issue or automatic adjustment.
Interpolation
When an image is resampled, Photoshop adjusts the number of pixels. This is called interpolation. Multiple interpolation options can affect the end quality of the photo. The default automatic setting often gets the best-quality image, as Photoshop chooses what’s most suitable.
However, when enlarging images and upscaling the quality, the interpolation method called “Preserve Details 2.0” is the recommended setting, and it doesn’t get selected when interpolation is set to automatic. This setting is only available on Photoshop software from 2018 and onward.
Changing the Aspect Ratio
You may want to adjust the aspect ratio of your photo to fit a particular frame or space. This can be done through cropping:
- Close the size dialogue box.
- Select the “Crop Tool.”
- In the “Options Bar,” enter your ideal aspect ratio into the “Width” and “Height” boxes.
- Photoshop automatically reshapes the photo border, but you can resize it by dragging the outer handles of the image.
Save Your File
Once you have completed these steps, your photo or print is ready to save and print.
Photoshop versus Topaz Gigapixel AI
Although many people use Photoshop to resize, as of 2020, I have found that it does not do as good a job as Topaz’s Gigapixel AI.
Larger scale resizing through Gigapixel AI takes longer, but the results are substantially better. All you need to do is to launch the application and tell it how big you want the new image to be. Press Start and go have a coffee, as it takes a little while. However, the results are really good.
Making the Big Print
Finally, once you have resized the image to a larger size you need to print the image. There are basically two main methods to print images big. Chromogenic (C-prints) or Giclee (inkjet) prints.
Both can produce big, high-quality images, but the processes are quite different as is the look of each. I generally prefer inkjet-based, but there are lots of people who still use C-print techniques.
Conclusion
When you print images big, there are lots of things to consider when resizing your images and then getting them ready to go to print. However, the results are truly breathtaking.
If you have a great image and you take the proper steps to resize the image and print it big, you will be incredibly satisfied with the result. Moreover, you will create a lot of interest in your images, particularly now that few images get printed anymore.
Do you have any other tips to print images big that you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments.
