Providing jpgs to clients - how to restrict to 5x7 resolution

[yubbie2]

'evening all-

I need to provide a series of JPGs to my clients. As part of our contract, they are allowed to make prints up to 5"x7" resolution - anything larger and they have to order through me.

Using Lightroom (or a batch job in Photoshop), what's the best setting to accomplish this? In LR I know how to restrict the longest side to 7", but what resolution (PPI - pixels per inch) should I give them? I want their 5x7's to look good, but anything larger to pixelate.

BTW - the originals are between 6MP and 12MP (Nikon D50 and D300 RAWs).

[Ahh!]

I am looking forward to other's answers on this...but.

I put my photographic releases on the CD with the provisons or limitations right on it. I also pre-size my images, THEN SHARPEN THEM, and then save them, and name them accordingly, so if they are unsophisticated, they will just not choose to violate this sort of agreement. I tell them they must be sharpened at the proper resolution and sizing, which most places do not do...and I do not want my work displayed poorly. Do you think that will work to your satisfaction and trust level with your clientelle?

But frankly,

[Ahh!]

Originally Posted by Ahh!

I am looking forward to other's answers on this...But frankly,

If you are worried about the kind of client who would violate your agreement, or that you did not make enough during the session and package, did you price it right, or are you dealing with clients who have more time than money? But that may take the thread to a business bent you had no wish in considering.

[AndrewCCM]

The simple answer is you can't.

[110240]

If I remember correctly the human eye can see 150dpi.

Digital is a pure image, so you could try 5x7 at 150dpi.

How I would find out is:

save the following files:
5x7 @ 75dpi
5x7 @ 100dpi
5x7 @ 125dpi
5x7 @ 150dpi
5x7 @ 175 dpi
5x7 @ 200 dpi
5x7 @ 225dpi

dont forget to save as jpg with no compression.

Grab a CF card run down to walgreens or somewhere get them printed in 30 mins and then line them up and asses the print quality. Give the client a file size that is acceptable to your eye.

Don't forget to publish the results of your experiment here, I for one would be interested to hear what you come up with.

[AndrewCCM]

Just remember, once people have digital files...Most will accept image degradation to get a print the size they want. Question is: Do you care? Personally, I just price myself where I turn over full res.... OR...I don't and sell prints. There is no in between. I do not want subpar prints out there from me. Of course, if they take the image to a terrible lab, then I still have an issue, but at least it's not funky pixelated. Drives me nuts when I go to some people's homes and see prints that they had made from a small emailed pic. I about shot my mother one time. LOL

[yubbie2]

Well, the short answer is I'm going to try this today or tomorrow:

Originally Posted by 110240

save the following files:
5x7 @ 75dpi
5x7 @ 100dpi
5x7 @ 125dpi
5x7 @ 150dpi

The long answer is, it's a long story. I actually shot the wedding for free, as a favor to a friend. In hindsight, I should have charged them *something*, but there was a miscommunication as to how many degrees of separation I was doing a favor for. I thought it was for my friend's friend (2 degrees), turn out it was for *their* friend (3 degrees). Bah! Anyway, I'd like to make *some* money off it if at all possible, so I wrote in the contract that I'd give them digital files good enough for 5x7, but anything larger they'd have to order through me. Since the couple that got married was 3 degrees removed, they were less involved in the contract signing than I would have liked. So, I don't know if they're fully aware of the restrictions. I don't think the 2-degree couple that signed the contract would violate it, but I have no idea about the 3-degree bride and groom. (I told you this was a long story - yes, it was a HUGE learning experience. It was also my first wedding).