1. Images should be 300dpi at the final size in the layout.
2. Resolution and size (dimensions) are inversely proportional to each other. So, if you enlarge an image, you lower its resolution. If you reduce an image, you increase its resolution.
3. How an image is originally acquired will determine its resolution, and thus the size it can print at for clear and crisp printing.

Low resolution images print with jagged edges and appear fuzzy.

Preferred File Formats
Photographic images can be saved in different file formats. The format of choice is one that does not lose color quality, contrast or file size. TIF or EPS files are examples of lossless file formats. They are designed to print clear and crisp at a resolution of 300dpi at their final size in the layout. JPEG/JPG or GIF files are examples of lossy file formats. They were originally designed for easy file transmission and internet use, not for printing.

When a lossy file format is saved over and over again, the jagged edges are exaggerated. The process creates extra pixel garbage that you do not want printed. Therefore, if you start with a JPEG file that then needs edits, save it as an EPS or TIF file. This way, additional information will not get lost and the quality of the original JPEG image will be maintained.

Proper Resolution is Important for Good Printing!
Resolution is the measurement of the number of squares of color information in an inch.

The human eye cannot detect the squares of color if there are 300 or more in an inch. For clear and crisp printing, images at their final size in the layout should be at 300dpi (dots per inch = squares of color in an inch) or 400dpi if the images include text.

Resolution and size of an image are in inverse proportion to each other. An image 2 inches x 2 inches in size at 300dpi increased in the layout to 4 inches x 4 inches has a new resolution of 150dpi.

Upsampling
Upsampling is when a low resolution image is saved to a higher resolution with no changes in dimensions. This process adds more pixels squares in an inch (dpi), but creates blurry images, ugly blocks of color, and high contrast in images. Upsampling will not produce clear and crisp printing results on a printing press.

How the original image is acquired will determine its resolution.
Images from the Internet
Jpeg and Gif files are Internet images, saved with a compression process designed to remove color and visual quality to achieve small file sizes. Internet images are usually saved at a resolution of 72 dpi for quick screen loads and will not print clear and crisp on a printing press.

Physical dimensions of an image and resolution are in direct proportion to each other. Shrinking the physical dimensions of an Internet image by 4x will achieve decent printing results. (72dpi x 4 = 288dpi)

How to calculate the size you must reduce (shrink) an Internet image to get it to print well:
Reduce the size to 24% of its original size. (Because 72dpi is 24% of the 300dpi resolution you want)

Example:
Internet Image that is 3 inches x 3 inches, at 72dpi
You want to shrink it enough to get it to 300dpi for crisp printing
72/300 = 0.24
3 inches x 0.24 = 0.72 inches

Zoom into your images to see the quality. Be aware of your design, purpose of your printing, and the needs of your customers before using images from the Internet.

Images from your Scanner
Know the image size required for your layout before you scan. Guess larger if uncertain. If the photo is larger than the layout size, simply scan at 300dpi. If the photo is smaller than the layout size, adjust your scanner settings.

• Adjust the scanner resolution setting

• Adjust the scan percentage size

How to calculate the resolution you must scan a photo:
Increase the scanning resolution above 300dpi by the same percentage you will be enlarging the original photo.

Example:
Photo size = 2 x 3 inches
Image layout size = 5 x 7 inches
5/2 = 2.5 (you will be enlarging the photo 2.5 times, or 250%)
Scan photo at 2.5x 300dpi, or 750dpi

If you need to enlarge anything larger than 300% it is best to contact your local service provider for a professional scan.

Images from your Digital Camera
Digital cameras are wonderful tools that allow us to capture our images in many different ways. The camera is designed to actually take three pictures; one in red, one in green and the other in blue (similar to the way a projection TV works). It then combines the colors together and saves the image onto the picture card. It is very important to make sure that the camera is set to the highest quality setting possible. This means that if you can only save one image on the picture card instead of 12, 64 or 128 images, then this is good! You want to create the best quality picture that the camera can make. This will mean large file sizes and slow downloads from the camera itself, but it will get you the best possible results from your camera. Remember, images should be at 300dpi in their final size in the layout!
      More often than not, we notice that images that come from digital cameras print darker than expected on the printing press. Check to see if you have a brightness option in your image editing program to lighten the entire piece. If you have the opportunity to change the color space from RGB (red, green, blue) to the printing press colors of CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), then do so! It is always better to have you change the color space if you can, than for us to do it. Remember, not all colors that you can see that are created by elements of light (RGB) can be created by the elements of ink (CMYK) on press. If you do not have this capability with your software, do not worry about it, we will change it for you for free! Finally, we recommend that you apply a little sharpening to the image. This will make the image a little crisper and will print better on press.

How can I tell what resolution the image from my digital camera is?
Some digital cameras will let you know what the image resolution is, while others will tell you what the pixel dimensions of your image are. If you know what the pixel dimensions of your images are either from the camera itself or through the image editing software, you can do a little math to determine the resolution, and the size you can print the image at for clear and crisp printing.
      Simply write down the pixel dimensions of your image and divide those numbers by 300 if the image does not include text and 400 if the image does include text. For example: An image without any text has a pixel dimension of 600 x 900 pixels. Once each dimension is divided by 300 the result is 2 x 3 inches. This means that you can use this image at 2 x 3 inches or smaller in your layout for quality printing results.
      If your image editing software does not tell you what the pixel dimensions are, but it does tell you what the resolution is, then you know the maximum size you can use that image in your layout. We recommend that images be at 300dpi in their final size in the layout and 400dpi if the images include text. Please keep in mind that resolution and physical dimensions are in direct proportion to each other. If you have an image that is 2x2 at 300dpi and increase its size in the layout to 4x4 the new resolution is now 150dpi. So remember, when you bring an image in to your layout you can shrink it down in size (because the resolution will increase) but you will be limited as to how far you can increase it in size.

Before taking a picture, determine the quality of an image and how it can be used in a layout. Use the highest quality setting available on the camera. The pixel dimensions of an image identify the resolution. Dividing the pixel width and height by 300 determines the dpi. Divide by 400 for images with text.
For example:
Digital Camera Image (with no text) = 1200 pixels x 1600 pixels
1200/300 = 4 inches 1600/300 = 5.33 inches
Layout size for image = 4 inches x 5.33 inches

The image can print at this size or smaller for clear and crisp printing.
Digital cameras use the RGB color space. When RGB is converted to CMYK, images tend to darken. Brighten and sharpen your image for clearer printing. Convert the image to the CMYK color space, if possible. Professionals frequently use Adobe Photoshop for this task.

If you have any questions about all this, please call us at 443-850-6115 or email us at design@womensi.com