How Many Megapixels Do I Need For Certain Print Sizes

Printing megapixels vs size — Print size chart created by the author – Jim Harmer

I'm oft asked how big of a print a lensman can brand given their camera'south 24, 16, 12, xviii, 8 or whatsoever megapixel count they have on their camera. I understand why information technology'due south a confusing question, but the truth is that my answer is almost ever "Go for it! It'll look just fine printed that large."

When it comes right down to it, almost cameras manufactured in the last few years (really anything 16 megapixels and up) are capable of press billboard-size prints. However, if y'all want the ultimate in print quality perfection, then at that place are limits to how big you lot tin print earlier y'all commencement to lose a small amount of impress quality.

[x_alert heading="Note most the chart higher up!" blazon="success"]PLEASE NOTE: A xanthous check mark on the chart above does NOT mean the impress quality will be bad… AT ALL. Information technology just means that it won't be the PERFECT magnifying-glass pixel-peeper perfect paradigm quality at that size. Don't stress information technology. Even a few of the red Ten's could be ignored if you take viewing distance into account.[/x_alert]

Why Virtually Cameras Can Print HUGE Even if They Have a Lower Megapixel Count

A very common resolution for printing an advertising on a very large outdoor billboard is 1800 pixels on the long edge and 1200 pixels in height (most xv dpi). That equates to a mere 2.one megapixels. Sound crazy? Well, it's really not. And agreement this principle will help you to exist able to print at much larger sizes than you lot think you probably can.

The underground is that as impress size increases, so to does viewing distance! If yous were to stand right up in front of a billboard, you'd clearly see that the resolution is AWEFUL and the print looks pixelated. Only nobody stands with their nose to a billboard. We see them from far away.

The aforementioned thing happens on a smaller scale with prints. When you print an 8×10″ print, it's probable that someone will concord it an arm'due south length away from their face. So we need a resolution that volition exist as fine equally our eyes tin resolve (and the printer can pull off) at that distance. Merely when you print very large (like a 24×36″ print), no ane would stand that close to information technology. Since the viewing distance is further, the impress resolution does not need to exist as fine.

So the outset question you lot have to inquire yourself when determining how large y'all tin can impress is, "What will the viewing distance be?" Just don't worry, nosotros don't need any complicated math and yous don't demand to measure anything. Just realize that bigger prints mean longer viewing distance, and that's why I said in the opening sentence that almost all modern cameras tin can produce a good quality print of whatever size.

What PPI Produces "Perfect" Print Quality? (Light-green Check Marks)

In the chart on this page, where I mark "Perfect" every bit the print quality, I mean 300ppi. That isn't to say that some printers can't print at a college resolution than 300 dpi, merely that the deviation becomes scientific after 300 ppi. Information technology takes an impressive eye to exist able to tell the departure in a print betwixt 300 and 400 dpi–and probably a loupe would be necessary.

The gold standard in printing is usually regarded every bit 300 ppi.

But that'due south completely unlike in press compared to viewing an image on screen. When you're saving a picture in Photoshop and it asks you the resolution, that box is COMPLETELY irrelevant if you'll be showing the image on a screen (internet, Facebook, email, etc). Y'all could put one in that box or 2,000 in that box and it won't make a lick of difference. https://improvephotography.com/ppi-exam/ Why? Because the screen'south resolution sets the resolution! Put any number you want in that box and you'll encounter the file size stays exactly the same. All that matters when you're putting an image on a screen or sharing information technology on the web is the overall pixels wide and loftier.

In the chart, I show you how big you can overstate your print to get perfect, 300ppi print quality. 300ppi impress resolutions are marked with green check marks in the chart.

Yet, remember what I mentioned previously, that this really just matters when yous're inspecting the impress under a magnifying glass. In reality, as the photo gets larger, the viewing distance scoots back. Simply if you desire the ULTIMATE impress quality, this is a handy guide.

But remember that the difference between a green and a yellowish checkmark on the chart to a higher place is mostly scientific. More on that below.

For Very Skilful Impress Quality, Follow the Yellow Bank check Marks for Resolution

On the guide at the peak of the page, I marked with a yellow check mark all of the impress sizes that I'd feel completely confident in printing. I've printed at all of these resolutions with cameras at near of these resolutions.

You lot'll be surprised at the quality and detail you'll see in a "yellow bank check mark" print. In fact, the deviation between the xanthous and green check mark sizes is then tiny that most photographers couldn't dream of telling the difference with a naked eye at the proper viewing distance (without putting your nose upward to the print and squinting through a magnifying glass, for example).

five Tricks to Help Y'all Print Big Even If You lot Don't Have Plenty Megapixels

Sometimes you want to print big, just you lot may not have a camera with enough megapixels. In those instances, here are some handy tips that have helped me to impress HUGE prints even on lower resolution cameras.

Shoot a panorama – When you shoot a panorama, y'all take multiple pictures and combine them together to produce a wider or taller epitome. Since you're combining resolution, you have a HUGE resulting file. I use this ofttimes when shooting landscapes on my 16 megapixel Fuji XT1.
If your camera has a high megapixel mode, employ it! –You may be lucky enough to shoot a camera that has a high megapixel mode. For example, some of the Olympus Micro 4/3 cameras usually shoot xvi megapixels, only tin can use sensor shift to make a true 40mp file. At that place are limitations in using something similar this when there is motility in the scene, merely it produces a fantastic file.
Use higher-end programs to resize before uploading to the printer – Whatever you do, don't just upload a depression resolution file to the printer. Some printers handle this well, and others do not. Accept the fourth dimension to upwards-res your lower resolution file in Photoshop and transport that to the printer. By doing the upward-res yourself, yous can add in some of the clarity and contrast that is usually lost when enlarging a photo.
Add a texture to the photograph – If it works with the artistic goal you have in mind for the picture show, you may consider adding a texture to the photo. That masks a lot of the loss of resolution and can exist a creative effect. A matte end tin can exercise the aforementioned affair.
Impress on metallic, canvas, or matte newspaper. Avoid glossy paper. – Glossy paper is the most probable to show the lower resolution affecting the print. If you lot impress on metal, you tin can EASILY get away with a very resolution picture, considering the inks smear on the metallic. Sail and matte paper are simply very slightly better for low resolution when compared to glossy, considering the inks bleed just a tiny bit.

Decision, and an Important Printing Resource!

Much more important than the number of megapixels in your camera is the quality of the printer y'all cull to do your printing.

Near a twelvemonth ago I ordered the verbal aforementioned 3 prints from about 12 different printing companies to compare the prints and to see which visitor produced the highest quality and least expensive impress. I wasshocked to observe that the cheapest lab produced the all-time print, and one of the most expensive labs produced the worst print. There'southward actually a HUGE departure betwixt the labs in terms of impress quality.

You can read my full print exam article hither, and keep in listen that NONE of the companies paid me a dime to do the test. Information technology's completely unbiased.