Specifications

The Digital Fine Print Course

Creating a Fine Print

Image Resolution

The optimum pixel resolution of a print is dependent on the printing medium, the intend-

ed print viewing distance, and the required optical resolution.

Printing Medium: The printing medium is a combination of the printing process and the

paper used. A low resolution file printed on a glossy paper will look quite different when

printed on a rough surfaced paper. While the glossy surface will reveal all the detailed dif-

ferences in the image, including its pixel resolution, the rough surface will tend to hide,

diffuse or obscure some of these differences.

Viewing Distance: Pixels clearly visible in a print at a close viewing distance become less

noticeable at increasing distances to the point that they disappear from view. Smaller

prints displayed in a book may therefore require a substantially higher pixel resolution

than a much larger print displayed on a billboard. Also printing very large prints at the

same high pixel resolution required for a book will result in extremely large file sizes

which will be more difficult to manipulate and manage in pixel editing programs like

Adobe Photoshop. Therefore as well as the aesthetic qualities of the print, there may also

be very practical reasons that influence a print’s pixel resolution.

Optical Resolution: Highly detailed images such as a large format sharply focussed land-

scape, or an image containing text, may require a higher pixel resolution than a small for-

mat or less carefully focussed or more abstracted image. On the other hand a very diffuse

image may actually require a high pixel resolution in order to preserve its inherently

smooth tonal transitions when significantly enlarged.

Optimum Pixel Resolution: Each printing process will also have a native or default pixel

resolution which is optimum for that process. This will be different for each printer, and

may influence which printing process is used. For example:

Lambda Digital Photographic Printer: 200 ppi (or 400 ppi for text)

Kodak Pegasus LED Digital Photographic Printer: 250 ppi

Epson Stylus Photo Inkjet Printer: 360 ppi

Hewlett Packard Deskjet Inkjet Printer: 300 ppi

An important experiment involves printing several (pictorially different) images at their

final size at different ppi resolutions, then examining them at various viewing distances.

This can help you decide on the required pixel resolution for different images.

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