topic Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 01:43:20 GMT

Hello,

I've read through many of the threads on 300 ppi/dpi. I understand the solutions offered such as batch processing and how the printer will print the image size that equals the 300 dpi. However, I have a different issue. I purchased just this week a Rebel T5 with the assumption that I would be able to take 300 dpi images not 72. I create books for print and my printers require 300 dpi. They will not do the conversion. My options in the past have been film camera to CD (old, I know) or the iPhone. I was spending a lot of time in Photoshop getting the images to printer requirements. So imagine my dismay uploading the first batch of photos into Photoshop and seeing 72 dpi. Yes I was able to change them 300 - but this is exactly the production work I had hoped to not have by purchasing the new Rebel.

There has got to be a better way?

Or is it a different digital camera I need to purchase?

Thank you for your help.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

cicopo — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:13:40 GMT

You haven't read the old messages PROPERLY. Unless you're printing VERY big books. In Photoshop turn your RULERS on to see just how big the photo would print at 72 DPI. 72 DPI is just a useless message Photoshop has imbeded at a default.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:30:25 GMT

I have.

The issue is that my printer will not accept my files if they read 72 DPI no matter the size.

I prefer to shoot in 300DPI to avoid having to batch process from 72 to 300 which is why I purchased the camera in the first place, for crisp 300 dpi images.

Can you help?

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

cicopo — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:38:18 GMT

You CAN NOT set your camera to shoot in DPI's. It captures PIXELS. FORGET what Photoshop is telling you because it's not relavent. unless you've set your camera for very low quality jpg's. Set your camera to large fine jpg's & you can easily print high quality 12 X 18 prints.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:44:01 GMT

Okay - but again, an image that is 72 dpi goes into my document as that (though resized) - it gets saved as a high res print but the image still says 72 dpi and is rejected by my printer. I would like to be able to shoot prof. printable images that can be printed.

Ideas?

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

RobertTheFat — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:46:54 GMT

@writerinpjs wrote:
Hello,
I've read through many of the threads on 300 ppi/dpi. I understand the solutions offered such as batch processing and how the printer will print the image size that equals the 300 dpi. However, I have a different issue. I purchased just this week a Rebel T5 with the assumption that I would be able to take 300 dpi images not 72. I create books for print and my printers require 300 dpi. They will not do the conversion. My options in the past have been film camera to CD (old, I know) or the iPhone. I was spending a lot of time in Photoshop getting the images to printer requirements. So imagine my dismay uploading the first batch of photos into Photoshop and seeing 72 dpi. Yes I was able to change them 300 - but this is exactly the production work I had hoped to not have by purchasing the new Rebel.

There has got to be a better way?

Or is it a different digital camera I need to purchase?

It's that you (abetted by Photoshop) are reading too much into the term "dpi". The size of a digital photograph is measured in pixels, not inches. For a given pixel count, the picture will print smaller at 300 dpi than at 72 dpi, but will have, by definition, a correspondingly higher resolution. You start with a RAW image and crop it to the desired aspect ratio. Then you compute how many pixels you need in, say, the longer dimension, given the native resolution (e.g., 300 dpi) of the printer and the desired picture size (e.g., a length of 10 inches). Finally, you convert the image to JPEG, setting the number of pixels in the long dimension of the converted image to that computed number (e.g., 3000). Then when you print the image, things will come out right. What you describe above is Photoshop trying to do the calculation for you. But IMO, that usually just adds confusion. Work in pixels and you won't go wrong.

The calculation is different, though just as straightforward, if the printer differentiates "dots" from pixels. But I think most modern printers either don't make that distinction or do it behind the scenes, so that you can specify everything in pixels.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

cicopo — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 13:30:51 GMT

Are you working on your images in Photoshop and then saving them after selecting an IMAGE SIZE from the menus? This is what I'm asking.

SEE the box for resolution, it's set at 300. IF I select 72 this is what happens to that file.

If that's what you are doing it has nothing to do with the camera settings & is the result of not understanding Photoshop. Unless you like struggling along learning it on your own I suggest finding free tutorials on YouTube or paying for a 1 month membership to Lynda.com or another reputable on line learning site. That would be money well spent.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 14:59:42 GMT

Yes I know how to change the resolution. However, as the first post was discussing. I was hoping to not have to work through every photo through photoshop. Some of my images go straight to the printer. This is why I purchased this camera. To have professional grade high res. images. I'm still getting 72 and still have a problem unless I edit them in PS. I've had my art photographed in the past and all the images arrived to me in 300dpi from the photographer. He was using a digital camera. Maybe not a Canon Rebel. I'll find out what he used. I know he didn't take them through an image editor and manually change the resolution.

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

cicopo — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 16:08:44 GMT

Lets change directions. What size image files is your camera producing in PIXELS & the actual file size. Your manual will list the resolution (pixel dimensions) for the settings such as large fine jpg (the best setting for capturing fine detail) down to medium & then small. Your camera is more than capable of producing what you need. Something you have set or are doing in your software is WRONG, unless of course you're trying to print poster sized prints. .

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

ebiggs1 — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 16:11:33 GMT

Can you supply the name of the printer you are using? I have nevre heard of a printer refusing a file because it wasn't at 300 DPI. I am curious as I worked for Hallmark and thought I have seen them all.

What the others are trying to tell you is your camera is not saving the file at 72 DPI. That happens when you look at it on your computer.

Canon has a gadget called PictBridge availible on your T5, which prints directly to printers without any computer at all.

It is easy to get confused by this DPI and image size thing but it is not the cameras fault.

You used an iphone?

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

hsbn — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:03:51 GMT

Camera doesn't shoot a photo at any DPI, 72 or 300 or 30000000. It just produced image with pixel dimension. It's the same for $50 camera or $5000 camera. Again, it's not your camera.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:08:24 GMT

Okay.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:11:49 GMT

Basically a 72 dpi image does not print well. I was trying to become more professional by purchasing a camera that produces a higher resolution/printer acceptable photo. All designers have this issue now with digital cameras. I thought it was just the camera phones. Now I'm learning it's also an issue with an expensive digital camera. I'll figure something out. Probably will need to edit every photo in Photoshop. An extra step.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:12:52 GMT

All printers will send your files back if 72 DPI and magazines won't accept an image under 300 dpi if it's a print magazine. This is basic graphic design standards.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

cicopo — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:30:40 GMT

We understand that but the camera OPERATOR appears to be the problem. Get back to what I asked about the file sizes. Once you download them to whatever device you are using that's where the problem starts. Something AFTER downloading is your problem and whether you believe us or not you need to re examine your work flow.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:39:23 GMT

"Whether I believe you or not"? Seriously?

Why are you taking that attitude? I am doing nothing other than trouble shooting an issue. And I've appreciated everything everyone has said. That attitudes surprise me a bit. This is a common issue.

My workflow is exactly as the person who showed the screenshots of how the photos show up in Photoshop is. It's is accurate to everything you have said.

I am simply facing that I will need to ammend my photos in photoshop to meet the requirements of printers even though I just invested in this camera hoping that not to be the case. You seem to think I don't get that the image quality is still there and it doesn't matter that it says 72 dpi. But I have gotten that the whole time. I see the quality. I know I can resize - I know I can change the dpi in photoshop. I just was hoping not to have to do that. 72 dpi shows up on the printers side if I don't force the issue by manually changing it. I'm disappointed - that is all. There is no workflow issue here unless you have a trick you would like to share that makes the resolution change to 300 dpi magically without manually changing it. That would actually be helpful.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:50:39 GMT

-- What the others are trying to tell you is your camera is not saving the file at 72 DPI. That happens when you look at it on your computer. --

This is interesting to me. So if I import the photo that says 72 dpi into my In Design document (I use creative suite in my design practice) ... it will no longer read as 72 dpi once I output to PDF for CMYK print?

That would be great if that's the case.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

RobertTheFat — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:56:47 GMT

@writerinpjs wrote:

Basically a 72 dpi image does not print well. I was trying to become more professional by purchasing a camera that produces a higher resolution/printer acceptable photo. All designers have this issue now with digital cameras. I thought it was just the camera phones. Now I'm learning it's also an issue with an expensive digital camera. I'll figure something out. Probably will need to edit every photo in Photoshop. An extra step.

and

All printers will send your files back if 72 DPI and magazines won't accept an image under 300 dpi if it's a print magazine. This is basic graphic design standards.

The point we're trying to get across to you is that a digital camera has at best a rudimentary understanding of what an "inch" is. The notion of "dpi" is added by a photo editor or by the software used to save the camera's image to a file on a computer.

When the printer balks, it's because you tell it to print a picture n inches wide, but don't provide enough pixels for the printer to use 350 of them per inch in each line of the printed image. So you have to find a way to provide the number of pixels the printer needs. If the camera doesn't have a setting that will give you the right number (and few cameras do, especially in RAW mode, which you ought to be using if you really care about image quality), then something else (usually a photo editor) has to do it. I know that's not what you want to hear, but lots of us have had lots of pictures printed on lots of high-resolution printers, so we sort of know what works. You've implied that you routinely work with professional print shops. Ask them to explain what they need and why. I'll bet they'll tell you pretty much what we've been saying.

BTW, in regard to one of your earlier posts: You can get fine images out of a T5 if you're careful and know what you're doing. But not by any stretch of the imagination is it a professional camera, nor does Canon make any claim that it is.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

writerinpjs — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:33:55 GMT

Yes. This conversation has been interesting. I will be returning the camera. Thank you for helping me vet it out.

Re: Printers require 300 dpi - A different question/issue about 72 dpi

Skirball — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:10:01 GMT

Sorry, nothing personal, but it seems like you still don't get it, based on the above. It has nothing to do with the camera, the resolution of that camera is about the same as most all the others out there.

Basically a 72 dpi image does not print well. I was trying to become more professional by purchasing a camera that produces a higher resolution/printer acceptable photo.

And you have it. Your camera can print up to something like a 17" x 11" image at 300 dpi. If you really want to go significantly higher than that you'll need either the Nikon 800 series, or medium format.

All printers will send your files back if 72 DPI and magazines won't accept an image under 300 dpi if it's a print magazine.

I guess. I would think most printers would simply print it at 300 dpi if the resolution was sufficient. It would take them seconds to fix it; presumably your printer understands things like DPI.

I am simply facing that I will need to ammend my photos in photoshop to meet the requirements of printers even though I just invested in this camera hoping that not to be the case.

That's the point you seem to be missing. It's not the camera, it's your post processing.

I don't use In Design. But if you have a document set at 300 dpi and you import an image at 72 dpi, it will be huge. But if you resize that image to fit in the document then yes, I would expect the program to resample at the documents DPI.

There is no workflow issue here unless you have a trick you would like to share that makes the resolution change to 300 dpi magically without manually changing it. That would actually be helpful.

Magically? No, but if you're waiting for magic you're in the wrong business. However, most anyone that wants to play in the business should know how to use the Image Processor in Photoshop. It takes about 10 seconds to setup and it'll chug through all the photos you give it, automatically. Alternately, you could use Lightroom, which can automatically change your files to whatever DPI you want, upon import. It's not going to get any more magical than that.

Yes. This conversation has been interesting. I will be returning the camera. Thank you for helping me vet it out.

Ok, but any other camera you get will do the same thing. Perhaps graphics layout just isn't your thing.