Help - can an image with 96 DPI be upgraded to 300 DPI?
Discussion
I'll accept that photographers are probably far more at fault that printers with these kind of issues, but that is why I would expect a printer would know better 
The issue I had was that I was providing some photos fo a charity calendar and has no idea how big it or the window in the setting was going to be, but just kept getting told it doesn't matter as long as it's 300dpi we will take care of it
I had to collate the images from other photographers and once we had established it was A4, I gave the photographers the specification. I then got photos turn up in the wrong aspect ratio from the photographers 
The issue I had was that I was providing some photos fo a charity calendar and has no idea how big it or the window in the setting was going to be, but just kept getting told it doesn't matter as long as it's 300dpi we will take care of it
I had to collate the images from other photographers and once we had established it was A4, I gave the photographers the specification. I then got photos turn up in the wrong aspect ratio from the photographers When clients send images in for print I resize to 300dpi and convert to CMYK as a matter of course, it takes seconds, then if the image is going to be small to use for what they want I let them know.
When I explained to one client (in so many words) that a picture the size of a postage stamp wasn't going to be any good for the cover she told me to use Picassa as that allows you to resize pictures as big as you want
When I explained to one client (in so many words) that a picture the size of a postage stamp wasn't going to be any good for the cover she told me to use Picassa as that allows you to resize pictures as big as you want
binliner said:
When clients send images in for print I resize to 300dpi and convert to CMYK as a matter of course, it takes seconds, then if the image is going to be small to use for what they want I let them know.
When I explained to one client (in so many words) that a picture the size of a postage stamp wasn't going to be any good for the cover she told me to use Picassa as that allows you to resize pictures as big as you want
Exactly that - and when you get 20 a day it isn't fun anymore...When I explained to one client (in so many words) that a picture the size of a postage stamp wasn't going to be any good for the cover she told me to use Picassa as that allows you to resize pictures as big as you want
binliner said:
When I explained to one client (in so many words) that a picture the size of a postage stamp wasn't going to be any good for the cover she told me to use Picassa as that allows you to resize pictures as big as you want
The good old "well it looks alright on MY screen".
RicksAlfas said:
I can understand you chaps get frustrated by the seemingly haphazard request for "300DPI" with no dimensions to back it up, but spare a thought for the printer who is not always dealing with people who know what they are on about.
If they don't know what they're on about, telling them "supply it at 300DPI" isn't going to mean anything to them either, not least because "300DPI" is completely meaningless on its own.Maybe try "I need a higher resolution version" instead.
xkrsupercharged said:
Didn't realise I'd start a debate LOL
Well if this is Printers vs Photographers I'm taking my Manfrotto 055 with fixed bayonet! The problem of course is the chunk in the middle that used to be called 'repro'. So there is the photographer with his pretty photo, and there is the printer with his sack of King Edwards and a knife, and the two don't quite join up...
RicksAlfas said:
However in many cases of commercial print the customer supplies the artwork for the entire job - so they themselves are setting the dimensions of the images, not the printer. The printer will invariably have asked for PDF files, CYMK, 3mm bleed and 300 DPI. He will invariably receive a Word file, RGB, no bleed and 72 DPI. Really there isn't much choice but to refer it back to the customer and ask them to try again, or suggest that the artwork is handled professionally at £XYZ. It's not a 60 second magic fix as Simpo suggests, especially on a many page book.
It's a chicken and egg situation, but as Davi mentioned "everyone" is a computer expert these days and many are reluctant to pay for something they think they can do themselves. So, to get cheaper prices they tell the printer they will supply their own artwork, the printer knocks off the artwork element of his quote, the customer gets a crap job and blames the printer. To carry on DIW35's analogy it's like supplying your own tiles, the tiler suggest they aren't up to the job, but you tell him to get on with it, and come home to find the tiles crack first time the sun comes out.
I can understand you chaps get frustrated by the seemingly haphazard request for "300DPI" with no dimensions to back it up, but spare a thought for the printer who is not always dealing with people who know what they are on about.
This is pretty much spot onIt's a chicken and egg situation, but as Davi mentioned "everyone" is a computer expert these days and many are reluctant to pay for something they think they can do themselves. So, to get cheaper prices they tell the printer they will supply their own artwork, the printer knocks off the artwork element of his quote, the customer gets a crap job and blames the printer. To carry on DIW35's analogy it's like supplying your own tiles, the tiler suggest they aren't up to the job, but you tell him to get on with it, and come home to find the tiles crack first time the sun comes out.
I can understand you chaps get frustrated by the seemingly haphazard request for "300DPI" with no dimensions to back it up, but spare a thought for the printer who is not always dealing with people who know what they are on about.
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