SS wrote:
> I'm going to get 150 of my photo files printed at Asda as I can get them
> done for 5p each at that quantity. Most of my files are at 7 mpx i.e. quite
> large. The prints are 6" x 4" therefore is it actually worth sinding these
> large files or should I re-size to say 1280 x 960 (1.3 mpx) or whatever the
> ratio is to give 6 x 4. Digital prints do show a lot of detail and I don't
> want to lose that but I can't see all the detail on a 7 mpx file being
> visible on such a small print
The most common native resolution for digital photo lab printers
is 300 pixels per inch, followed by 400ppi. If you can find what
machine they use, you can Google up its native resolution. In a
theoretical sense, the native resolution is the ideal for your
files, and some adjustments, sharpening in particular, are best
done at the final display resolution.
Alas, life seldom conforms to the ideal.
The lab will re-rasterize your photo automatically, and even if
you deliver a file in its native resolution, the resizing is
probably not a no-op. The cheap photo labs are set up to serve a
mass market. Most will automatically apply transforms such as
sharpening and contrast enhancement to give direct-from-the-camera
files more "pop". For adventures in getting exact results from
low-cost services, browse
www.drycreekphoto.com.
At 5p per print, I suggest experimentation. One tip from my own
trials: tracking what parameters applied to each trial takes
significant diligence. Not that it's hard to get right; it's
just easy to get wrong.
--
--Bryan
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