file size for 8x10 print ???
 

Got a question … well I got a bunch of them but I’ll start with this one …

I use smugmug for printing, as a hobbyist I just don’t want to get into printing right now.

I shoot a D200 in raw … process the photo and end up with a jpg file that is;
3 – 6 MB
2592 x 3872 pixels

Now I don’t see anyone ordering a print larger then an 8 X 10…

My question is: Should I keep using the largest file possible –or- can I reduce the file size without sacrificing any quality?

thanks

I think I found my answer ... http://duggmirror.com/design/13_Phot...egapixel_Myth/

I think you should get a second opinion from a few of the more seasoned photogs on the site. If this chart is correct it is saying that with your D200 you can only print an 8 X 12 which I find hard to believe. It also says that the chart is for 35mm scanned...digital must be different?

I shoot a d200, and import into Lightroom - they have a handy crop tool that auto-crops to 8x10, 4x6 or whatever in the Develop section.

Look here, your files you are currently uploading are plenty big to make a 30"X40" print. What i gave you is the exact specifications for smugmug's printer.

I don't know about smugbug, or the like, but pro labs have interpolation programs that make excellent large prints. I have seen excellent 24x30's made from 4 meg cameras. Others have told me they get great 30x40 and 40x60's from 8 meg cameras. Of course, these are pro cameras, not pocket cameras.

Truth is, megs aren't the main factor, sensor size matters. I get a better image from my 8 meg Mk2n, than from my 10 meg XTi.

Ya, i agree. I have gotten beautiful 16x24's from my 1D (4 meg)

That chart is very misleading. It makes several common mistakes people make when they don't understand the technology involved. There is no relationship between the Resolution of a Camera and the DPI rating of a Printer.

I printed a very nice 20x30 from my 6.3MP 10D.

Ditto...when i had my 10D

I've got a 15x30 canvas print on my wall that came from a 10D... and another 18x24 from a D70 ... you'd never know that just by looking at them.

Search the forum for DPI to get a better description of the issues... but bottom line, ALWAYS keep the max resolution you can on your file. You can always "res down" when printing... but a "res up" has its limitations.

I am trying very hard to remember to do the cropping in LR, instead of PS after I make my adjustments.

geesh, I have several quite-fine 8x10 from my ancient-but-still-useful 2.1mpixel nikon coolpix. the high res JPG was (iirc) about 1.9mb, altho I tended to shoot in TIF more often.

I would say that unless you have some space considerations to worry about I would keep shooting at the highest setting. You never know when you are going to get that once in a lifetime shot and someone wants to create a bill board from it. Better to have a larger file and not need it than.......

The only problem with this is when you realize that you need a different crop and you're screwed because you have to go back and re-process the image. I've learned the hard way to save cropping for late in the workflow, especially for people pics where you don't know for sure in advance what print sizes will be needed.