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]

"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.:

[ebiggs1]

"I would go to Explorer File to find the photo, resize 50%, ..."

I don't know what is going on with how you are resizing so I can't advise. But I believe you have PSE? That is where you need to resize your photos, not File Explorer.