There are many instances where you may need to
enlarge an image, be it a web image that you need to print for a
project or perhaps a low quality digital photograph that you would like
printed onto canvas or photographic paper for display purposes. There
are many problems that are encountered while trying to enlarge an
image. As well as an explanation of the key terms that you need to
understand before enlarging an image, below is a link to a method for
reducing very visibility of some of these problems.
1. DPI.
DPI (or dots per inch) is a measurement that is used to show either:
- The amount of individual dots that make up 1 inch of an
image. This measurement shows the total amount of dots that make up 1
inch of an image when displayed on screen. Most images found on the
Internet today are displayed at 72 DPI. The minimum DPI necessary to
produce a good quality print is around 150 DPI. This is where problems
start when it comes to printing these images. Always check the DPI of
the image you wish to print using photo editing software to ensure that
the DPI is over 150. Any lower than this will result in poor image
quality when printed.
- The amount of individual dots of the ink used to print 1 inch of an
image. This measurement shows us how many droplets of ink are used to
make up 1 inch of an image when printed. This measurement is very
important when it comes to printing a photo on canvas or other media.
Regardless of the resolution or DPI of an image, if the printing
equipment being used does not prints at a high level of DPI, (at least
300 DPI) then even the greatest quality image will appear blurry with a
huge loss of detail and clarity. Always check that the company you
choose to print your photo on canvas or photographic paper will be
printing your image at the least 300 DPI.
2. Pixelation.
Pixelation
is a problem that is caused by increasing the size of a bitmap (an
image made up by pixels such as JPEG files) to such a degree that the
individual pixels become visible to the naked eye. There are ways to
reduce pixelation using modern photo editing software such as
Photoshop. There are methods that can be used to minimalise the impact
of pixelation.
3. Resolution.
The
resolution of an image is the amount of individual pixels that put
together that image. The higher the amount of pixels, the less each
pixel is stretched when the image is enlarged. The resolution of an
image is the most important factor when thinking about enlarging an
image. The higher the resolution of the image, the less pixelation that
will occur and the better the image quality will be when printed.
So what is the best way to reduce pixelation when printing an image?
When
you are thinking of printing a digital photograph on a larger scale,
whether ordering a photo on canvas print or printing an image onto
photographic paper yourself for display purposes, the best way to avoid
pixelation altogether is to select an image that is high in resolution.
With digital cameras now commonly available taking photographs at a
minimum of 5 megapixels, taking high-quality photos that can be
transferred onto canvas is now even easier. If you have no choice but
to use a poor quality photograph, always speak to a professional first
to see what kind of result you can expect to see when your image is
printed at a large scale. Many photo on canvas sellers specialise in
editing and enlarging photographs and they will inform you of any
issues before sending your photo to print.
Canvas prints
Canvas
prints are by far the best choice when printing images at a large
scale. Even at low resolution, photographs can remain crisp and clear
when printed onto canvas.
