Digital Camera - Size Setting for Best Photo Printout

iKwak · Mar 13, 2004, 01:39 AM

Goal: Trying to figure out which setting I should have the digital camera set to - printing out a 4x6 photo at best quality.

Users have the option to take a photo at:

2272 x 1704 Super-Fine JPEG
2272 x 1704 Fine JPEG
2272 x 1704 Normal JPEG
1600 x 1200 Super-Fine JPEG
1024 x 768 Super-Fine JPEG

Is 1024 x 768 fine for a 4x6 photo printout (main concern)?
I have no clue.

Or should I go with the 2272 x 1704 Super-Fine?

Going to shoot photos and print out at Walmart. Would be aweful to see a 'Kodak-Moment' photo that does not come out to well.

bbarnhart · Mar 13, 2004, 06:56 AM

First, the 1024 x 758 is not the same ratio as a 4 x 6. 1024 x 682 would be the proper image size. Second, who knows how many pixels Wal-Mart or other digital photo processors use to during the printing of the pictures. And last, suppose you take a shot at a low images size say, 1024 x 786, and after reviewing you think "Hmmmm, the important element in my composition is too small. I'll just crop this image to bring it out." Now, you're down to 640 x 480 (or whatever) and that will look pixelated when printed.

My advise to you, shoot your images with the highest image size. Also, try shooting the exact shot at all your camera's image sizes (use a tripod). Print those at Wal-mart and also print all of those again after they have been "enhanced" with iPhoto or Photoshop Elements and see how they will look when printed.

LethalWolfe · Mar 13, 2004, 08:52 AM

Unless you don't have very much memory and can't afford more I'd shoot at the highest setting. No reason not to IMO.

Lethal

Capt Underpants · Mar 13, 2004, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LethalWolfe

Unless you don't have very much memory and can't afford more I'd shoot at the highest setting. No reason not to IMO.

Lethal

I definately agree. Shoot your photos at the highest settings. After all, what's the point of having a 4 MP camera when you only use 2 MP of it?

eyelikeart · Mar 13, 2004, 11:09 AM

Unless u are shooting specifically for the web, keep it at the highest setting. The advantage of digital is that u can delete anything that u don't want or that didn't come out well.

Memory is an issue though, if u don't have much. I keep my settings at the highest quality available, which is uncompressed RAW; files come out to write at about 9MB a piece, but I have 1GB of memory on me at all times. I've only once filled up both of my CF cards (2-512MB), but that's only been after 6 consecutive shoots.

aswitcher · Mar 13, 2004, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iKwak

Goal: Trying to figure out which setting I should have the digital camera set to - printing out a 4x6 photo at best quality.

SNIP

Going to shoot photos and print out at Walmart. Would be aweful to see a 'Kodak-Moment' photo that does not come out to well.

Do you cull and touch up your photos before printing?
If you do then you can get Walmarts resolution specs and alter your best quality shots (always shoot at max res) to fit their size and resolution.

bousozoku · Mar 13, 2004, 05:21 PM

You should definitely shoot at the highest resolution possible and keep extra memory cards on hand.

JPEG files come in various levels of compression and fidelity to the original. The best you'll get is 1:2.7. I'm not sure whether this is the Fine or Super-Fine setting on your camera but this will give you the best quality of any JPEG. The next step down is 1:8, which you don't want.

virividox · Mar 13, 2004, 06:18 PM

check with ur local printer but i always go highest settings when in doubt

Mar 13, 2004, 01:39 AM	#1
iKwak macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2003	Digital Camera - Size Setting for Best Photo Printout Goal: Trying to figure out which setting I should have the digital camera set to - printing out a 4x6 photo at best quality. Users have the option to take a photo at: 2272 x 1704 Super-Fine JPEG 2272 x 1704 Fine JPEG 2272 x 1704 Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 Super-Fine JPEG 1024 x 768 Super-Fine JPEG Is 1024 x 768 fine for a 4x6 photo printout (main concern)? I have no clue. Or should I go with the 2272 x 1704 Super-Fine? Going to shoot photos and print out at Walmart. Would be aweful to see a 'Kodak-Moment' photo that does not come out to well.
	0

Mar 13, 2004, 06:18 PM	#8
virividox macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Manila - Nottingham - Philadelphia - Santa Barbara - Boston (ugh hate not knowing where to call home)	check with ur local printer but i always go highest settings when in doubt __________________ 17" MBP , 2 gig ram, 200 gig fw800 + 120 gig fw400 + 250 gig usb2 ext, 5g 80gig Ipod, Tiger d200 & d70
	0

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Mar 13, 2004, 06:56 AM	#2
bbarnhart macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Stilwell, Kansas	First, the 1024 x 758 is not the same ratio as a 4 x 6. 1024 x 682 would be the proper image size. Second, who knows how many pixels Wal-Mart or other digital photo processors use to during the printing of the pictures. And last, suppose you take a shot at a low images size say, 1024 x 786, and after reviewing you think "Hmmmm, the important element in my composition is too small. I'll just crop this image to bring it out." Now, you're down to 640 x 480 (or whatever) and that will look pixelated when printed. My advise to you, shoot your images with the highest image size. Also, try shooting the exact shot at all your camera's image sizes (use a tripod). Print those at Wal-mart and also print all of those again after they have been "enhanced" with iPhoto or Photoshop Elements and see how they will look when printed.
	0

Mar 13, 2004, 08:52 AM	#3
LethalWolfe macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles	Unless you don't have very much memory and can't afford more I'd shoot at the highest setting. No reason not to IMO. Lethal
	0

Mar 13, 2004, 11:09 AM	#5
eyelikeart Demi-God (Moderator emeritus) Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Metairie, LA	Unless u are shooting specifically for the web, keep it at the highest setting. The advantage of digital is that u can delete anything that u don't want or that didn't come out well. Memory is an issue though, if u don't have much. I keep my settings at the highest quality available, which is uncompressed RAW; files come out to write at about 9MB a piece, but I have 1GB of memory on me at all times. I've only once filled up both of my CF cards (2-512MB), but that's only been after 6 consecutive shoots.
	0

Mar 13, 2004, 05:21 PM	#7
bousozoku Retired (Moderator emeritus) Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Gone but not forgotten.	You should definitely shoot at the highest resolution possible and keep extra memory cards on hand. JPEG files come in various levels of compression and fidelity to the original. The best you'll get is 1:2.7. I'm not sure whether this is the Fine or Super-Fine setting on your camera but this will give you the best quality of any JPEG. The next step down is 1:8, which you don't want.
	0


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