Largest Print Size for 20D?

[Erin Kathleen]

What's the largest print size that you would recommend for the 20D? I've a bride wanting to go bigger than an 11 by 14, but I'm not sure how that's going to work. It would have to (of course) be a nearly uncropped photo. Just looking for opinions before I respond...

[ndsimm]

not sure about the 20D, but from my 6MP D70 I have done 16x20 with no loss in quality. I shoot RAW, convert to TIFF for editing and convert to JPEG for printing.....

[rphoto]

I have printed a 20 x 30 with a 6 mp file from my D60 and it came out fine. I have not tried one that big with my 20D but I would think it would go that big with no problem.

[Holly]

I myself have printed 16 x 20 fine, and have seen 20 x 30's printed from the 20D that were also beautiful.

[LoungeLizard]

I just got a 60x30 done...

[redneckbill]

I did a 24X36 poster size from my 10D so I would think that you can print what you would need for your client with your 20D

[cmalana]

I've done a 20x30 and it looks great, even at normal viewing distances as an 8x10. I have done a 30x48 that looks great from about 3 feet. Can't imagine someone wanting to view that from a foot away anyway. I shot it pretty close to what I wanted to see so there was very little cropping on my 20D.

[jasonp]

I just did a 24x36 of this shot of my daughters on canvas and EVERYONE who see's it want one of their family. It came out great:

Don't be afraid to print big.
Jason

[CaptainTom]

You will not be printing this yourself, so my advice is to communicate with your printer and find out what their suggestion is. They can look at your file and tell you immediately if it will make a good print at the size you want. I use an online printer who is very reasonable, and their printer "steps up" your file automatically. No need for me to resize, etc. as long as the file I present to them is in the correct ratio for the desired end print. excellent results.

http://www.elcocolor.com/hot_internet_only_specials.htm

[CalebSimpson]

CaptainTom is righ. Your printer will be able to adjust the file best. A friend of mine had a gallery showing of images he shot, mostly with a 4mpx DSLR's. He had prints varying ins size, but I know he had some at 24X36, if not bigger. The 20D will produce huge prints. Vincent Laforet has also had some of his 4mpx ariel shots blown up to large murels for showings. Printers should be able to interpolate your file to very large sizes. But with that 20D you will have no problems.

[byarger]

I also have printed 16x20 from my 20D. I have not gone any larger yet, but the print shop said the file could go even larger without any real loss of quality.

[84NETgal]

I think the real key points that i can think of (and from the great advice given in this thread) are:

1) Shoot in RAW to get the best resolution, maximizing your ability to go larger

2) Have good communication between your bride's wants and your printer's capabilities.

Also, remember to clean your lenses thoroughly! I've learned the hard way that those dust spots can be blown up to the size of your face if you're not careful to really keep it clean--of course you can remove those in PS, but the task is slightly more intimidating when you have to get rid of a spot that spans inches rather than millimeters. :)

[cmalana]

The 30x48 I had printed out was getting quite a bit of raves at the frame shop where it got dry-mounted. Most couldn't believe it was digital. Key is that you shouldn't be blowing up heavily cropped images so take the shot with the dimensions in mind so pixels aren't wasted.

On the other hand, big enlargements are not viewed from up close like an 8x10. They're usually framed, on a wall, and viewed from several feet away.