Upload for 4x6 Proofs; What file size? Using Adobe PS / Bridge / Camera Raw

[skdupre]

I have uploaded a few small orders to Pounds in Dallas. At the time, file size was no big deal - I sent a few 8mb files for proofing - sure over kill.

However, I'm about to send around 100 of a wedding images to be printed 4x6" - standard proofs for me. So, mucho megabits are going to be cruising the information super highway from Lufkin to Dallas and I would like to optimize that trip while maintaining pro quality.

In PS Camera Raw I changed the crop size to: 1733 by 1155 (2.0mp). This just made sense to me to downsize them here before BATCHing to JPG for proof prints. Helps me run a little faster in PS editing also.

Q: What is the smallest file size that can be used to produce professional quality 4x6" prints. (I'm not worried about these files going bigger - I'll work that angle on the reorders.)

Q: Would the Adobe Camera Raw crop setting: 1300 by 867 (1.1mp) be acceptable?

Hope some more experienced users of PSCS2 can help me out here. I just got my copy last week and I'm still waiting on my copy of PhotoShop for the Digital Photographer to arrive.

Thanks.

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by skdupre

Q: What is the smallest file size that can be used to produce professional quality 4x6" prints. (I'm not worried about these files going bigger - I'll work that angle on the reorders.)

Q: Would the Adobe Camera Raw crop setting: 1300 by 867 (1.1mp) be acceptable?

In general I print at 300 dpi for "professional" results. A 4 x 6 at 300 dpi is 1200 x 1800 pixels. 1300 x 867 is about 217 dpi. Assuming a continous tone print (i.e. a dye sub or photo paper with lasers that transfer the image to the paper before the wet chemical printing of the paper) 217 dpi would be acceptable as professional in my opinion.