Canvas Gallery Prints

[DXLR8]

Can anyone give a recommendation on having a canvas gallery style print done larger than 24x36, and is it advisable or even possible to get a good quality print blown up larger than that? It is a 4 meg pic.

[boxofrocks]

It depends on the original image, and what method you use to enlarge the resolution.

I use Genuine Fractals to blow up things that large, and depending how far you'd stand from it when it's on the wall, I could confidently take a sharp 4MP image and print it as a 24x36.


Can you post a web resolution version of the photo here?

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

It depends on the original image, and what method you use to enlarge the resolution.

I use Genuine Fractals to blow up things that large, and depending how far you'd stand from it when it's on the wall, I could confidently take a sharp 4MP image and print it as a 24x36.

Wow. I knew GF was good but not that good. 4MP isn't that much information to work with.

[boxofrocks]

Read my post carefully. "It depends" on lots of things. I'd need to see the original hi res image to give my actual opinion. Also, sharp to me is much different than sharp to someone else.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Read my post carefully. "It depends" on lots of things. I'd need to see the original hi res image to give my actual opinion. Also, sharp to me is much different than sharp to someone else.

I read carefully, Tom. I was just looking for more of an explanation since I've never used GF.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by JohnT

I read carefully, Tom. I was just looking for more of an explanation since I've never used GF.

Sorry--didn't mean to come across as smug. GF does a great job, but isn't a cure all. I have enlarged sharp files from a Nikon D2H, a 4 MP camera, to 24x36 before with decent results. But they were shot with a sharp Nikkor lens to start with. If I was using a consumer lens, it would have been softer, and the enlargement process would have suffered.

GF claims to have a better resizing algorithm than even the photoshop bicubic stepping method. It also can apply sharpening simultaneously, which im my experience has yielded better results. They used to have some good comparisons on their website, but I'm not sure if they still do.

One thing to bear in mind is that most poster size prints aren't usually mean to be viewed close up. Also, it may be an image that naturally looks a little better on the softer side, so I can't really tell without seeing the image.

If the OP wants to post a link to the original high resolution image, I'll be happy to run it through GF and see how it looks.

Hope that helps.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Sorry--didn't mean to come across as smug. GF does a great job, but isn't a cure all. I have enlarged sharp files from a Nikon D2H, a 4 MP camera, to 24x36 before with decent results. But they were shot with a sharp Nikkor lens to start with. If I was using a consumer lens, it would have been softer, and the enlargement process would have suffered.

GF claims to have a better resizing algorithm than even the photoshop bicubic stepping method. It also can apply sharpening simultaneously, which im my experience has yielded better results. They used to have some good comparisons on their website, but I'm not sure if they still do.

One thing to bear in mind is that most poster size prints aren't usually mean to be viewed close up. Also, it may be an image that naturally looks a little better on the softer side, so I can't really tell without seeing the image.

If the OP wants to post a link to the original high resolution image, I'll be happy to run it through GF and see how it looks.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, Tom.

[jtrefet]

I use Genuine Fractals frequently for this very purpose. Although...I am blowing up a 12 MP file...but I print 30x40s on canvas and they are super sharp.

-Josh
http://JoshTrefethen.com

[ovimo]

I am not sure if the original question refers to the method of getting the image enlarged or printed.

I printed a picture from a 3MP Fuji camera (the camera, Finepix 6800, did produce "6MP" files through some internal interpolation, but the sensor was a 3MP one) to a 24x44", printed it on canvas, gallery wrap. From normal viewing distance it looks fantastic. You get close and you can tell the detail is not there. But at such size, you should be at least 3-4 feet away for viewing anyway.

For upsizing I used fractional increments in size by 10-15% until I got the final size, then unsharp masked it. That was some 5 years ago. Now I am using an action "DOP Upsizer" that does a better job. I got it from a different forum, a member from there produced it and offered it for use.

I heard great things about GF, but have no experience with it.

For the printing part I used an online service, I think they are in NJ somewhere. I am very happy with them, they do an excellent job, have a great turnover time and are not very expensive. PM me if you wish to have the name. Locally I tried a lab located on Westpark. They are excellent too, but are not cheap. They do offer more options though and you can see proofs before printing the whole shabang.

Hope this helps.