Formating jpeg photos for contest

[Tintype_18]

I'm entering a contest for a wildlife calendar sponsored by the state wildlife agency. Here's what is specified- jpg photo, landscape, print no smaller than 8-1/2x11, minimum 300 pixels per inch. Here is the photo spec's:

1. jpg, 4.4 MB, 6000x4000.

2. jpg, 3.4 MB, 4608x3456.

Is there anything else you need? Thanks.

[rs-eos]

I'm not sure what you're asking with "Is there anything else you need?"

Anyhow, for both images you listed, they would give you at least 300 dpi when output to 8.5 x 11.   However, your photos are 3:2 aspect ratio and a US letter sheet is 1.29:1.

I would thus ask about if there's any aspect ratio requirement.  I mean, do they want an 8 x 10 put in the US letter sheet?  Or do they expect it to go edge-to-edge?

[Tintype_18]

Ricky, the calendar measures just shy of 8-1/2x11 and the photo goes edge to edge with no border. No ratio aspect is given. My concern is getting the photo to landscape. That's a new one for me. My question is if any other information about the photos is needed.

Thanks for your reply.

[rs-eos]

Wouldn't you just capture your images in landscape orientation?

Then, be sure to frame things such that you won't mind losing (cropping) the left and/or right edge.  In this image, the white rectangle is a 8.5 x 11 in landscape orientation.  The blue frame then represents a 3:2 aspect ratio photo set to fill the entire height.  You can see it going off the edges of the paper.

Thus, just crop your image as needed.

[Tintype_18]

Thanks for the lesson!

[ebiggs1]

"Here's what is specified- jpg photo, landscape, print no smaller than 8-1/2x11, minimum 300 pixels per inch. Here is the photo spec's:

1. jpg, 4.4 MB, 6000x4000.

2. jpg, 3.4 MB, 4608x3456."

A  print that is 8 1/2 x 11 with a resolution of 300 dpi is 2550 x 3300 pixels. It would be approx. 24 MB.  Resolution is directly and inversely proportional to the photo's actual size. When you increase the resolution of a photo, you reduce its physical size. When you enlarge a photo, you lower the resolution.

Keep in mind dpi is a printing spec and not a camera or monitor spec. You easily output this in PS or Elements.

[Tintype_18]

EB, thanks. My concern is emailing the photos and having them go through to the recipient. Had error messages in the past that photos were too big and I reduced them by 50%. The requirements were not critical but posted on a forum or personal email to friends.

[ebiggs1]

"1. jpg, 4.4 MB, 6000x4000."

6000 x 4000 at 300 dpi is 20" x 13".  If you reduced your 11" side to 3300 pixel resolution to obtain that requirement the other side will be 16 1/2". You will need to crop nearly half of the photo out to get down to 8 1/2".

There is no way to turn 6000 x 4000 into 3300 x 2550 by adjusting pixels (dpi) without scaling. When you tell PS or Elements to crop to a specific aspect ratio, maintaining that aspect ratio requires that both dimensions be cropped by the same amount. That would not be possible if you cropped just one dimension.

You can set your crop tool to the correct aspect ration and crop the photo there.

[ebiggs1]

"Had error messages in the past that photos were ..."

This perhaps the most misunderstood thing in photography. And it is not helped by many manufacturers. DPI is a print and printing specification. It is not a photographic spec.

[Tintype_18]

EB, noted on the dpi aspect. I would go to Explorer File to find the photo, resize 50%, save and then attach to the email. I usually send 3-4 photos to friends. If I attach some as taken, the last one won't attach to the email as too large. Then I reduce 50%. Easiest way would be to take Polaroid shots and send them snail mail.: