Photo to poster

[beanz]

This has probably been asked before, but i did a search and didn't come up with anything!?!

You often see Posters that are made from a photo. My question is........ How do you go about doing this? What sort of pre-press is involved? Is there anything i need to be aware of when taking the initial photo, and while making alterations in Photoshop???

Pretty much everything i've done up until this point has been for display on the computer, but i want to start thinking about the print side of things now...

Thanks for your help

Beanz




http://sighost.fuelie.org/accounts/beanz/beanz_17.jpg

http://dabeanz.deviantart.com

[PrintDriver]

The question is how big is the poster and how many are you printing?

Image resolution varies by print process.

For Digital printing check out this thread
www.graphicdesignforum.com/default.aspx?f=36&m=22127 (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/default.aspx?f=36&m=22127)
Note that resolutions for images is at FINAL size.
A 24' x 30' image done in inkjet should have a resolution of 100 to 150 dpi at that size.
If you scan an 8' x 10' image you need to scan at 300 to 450 dpi. Etc.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[PrintDriver]

Or check out Kool's post in the Resources about preparing files for print if you are thinking of having them done on a press of some kind.

Digital is for limited runs usually under 300 pieces or less.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[beanz]

Thanks alot PD, yeah i guess digital. At the moment i'm just thinking about doing a photo manip poster for myself, something to go in the living room... I guess it'll work out quite expensive! :D

http://sighost.fuelie.org/accounts/beanz/beanz_17.jpg

http://dabeanz.deviantart.com

[PrintDriver]

Depends on where you get it done.

Find a digital image lab that does lambda/lightjet, vutek and/or inkjet prints. Figure anywhere from $15 to $35 per square foot (depending on process) for a one-off.

You may get cheaper on an HP at Kinkos or such like. Just don't expect quality or miracles with color. Color can be finicky on these big printers sometimes - and an untuned machine (or operator) can create banding in the print.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[beanz]

If i do it, i'd rather pay the extra and get good quality. I'd have to look at it every day! :D

http://sighost.fuelie.org/accounts/beanz/beanz_17.jpg

http://dabeanz.deviantart.com

[PrintDriver]

Top of the line continuous tone photographic print is either Lambda or LightJet. Ask for a top quality print (you will pay a premium for the slower print speed).

A good HP5500 in the right hands can do a sweet print at either 600dpi or 1200dpi (again, the 1200 will cost you a premium cuz it takes forEVer to print). Same goes for a Colorspan.

Vutek prints, either 6 color or 8 color (CMYKcmyk), are passable at 3 to 5 feet but not for small photographic images. Don't use a 4 color machine for small stuff. Always ask for Ultra print speed in Vutek. Wouldn't use it unless it's nearly a wall size poster.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PrintDriver) : 8/19/2004 10:08:04 PM GMT

[beanz]

I think the maximum size i'd be looking at would be about 4ft. I'm not 100% sure what i'm gonna do yet, maybe a landscape panorama turned fantasy or something along those lines!?!

The only thing i'm worried about is using my digital camera instead of a 35mm. I'm not sure i'll be able to get the quality i need on it!?! It has 3.4 effective megapixels with a 6mp output, but it only outputs to .jpeg, so i'm losing quality straight way!?! I may have to wait til i can afford a better camera, or maybe go back to 35mm...

I love the idea of creating such a large piece, but the scale of the project is a bit daunting on my little 17' monitor lol!

http://sighost.fuelie.org/accounts/beanz/beanz_17.jpg

http://dabeanz.deviantart.com

[PrintDriver]

What's the max size jpg you can get on your camera? Usually digital cams have different settings.
If you are going Lambda where the resolution should be 200dpi at final you would be better off doing slides on your 35mm or if doing photos you are going to scan, using the slowest film you can to reduce grain. Goes without saying if you are doing photos to scan to do them on glossy stock. Satin or matte stock...texture bad.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[MikeyB]

I'd go with the 35mm and a negative or film scan. This will give about the equivalent of a 12MP image.

3.4MP is quite low and i think you would notice a big drop in quality, even with the best interpolation.

[PrintDriver]

Don't know much about digicams. Other than most suck at taking large format images.
Hate scanning negs. Color correction sux on neg scans. Never get it exactly the way the designer wants it.
Color chrome slide or 8x10 glossy is perfectly fine for a 48' lambda. Go bigger and the chrome should be a 2' or a 4', not 35mm. Photo still okay if done with slow film. Grain will start to show in the 10 foot and bigger size on lambda.
Drum scan for chrome. High dpi flatbed for photo. Unless you can find someone willing to put a photo in their drumscanner.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[beanz]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I was looking at saving up for a digital SLR, but now i'm wondering if it's really worth it!?! I could get a really nice 35mm for half the price of a Digital!?! I'll have to look into scanning negatives, i think you can buy home scanners but don't really know anything about them!?! :D

Every answer brings more questions lol!

http://sighost.fuelie.org/accounts/beanz/beanz_17.jpg

http://dabeanz.deviantart.com

[PrintDriver]

How serious are you?

There are some digital SLR's out there that do wonderful shots. Digital Scanbacks too that fit on a standard SLR. SERIOUS money. But you aren't going to get much over a 50mb file from a digital SLR yet and Scanbacks have their own issues.

As for a negative scanner, I would go for one of the Nikon scanners, either the 5000 or the 9000 (9000 might be overkill for your purpose). Don't get a flatbed scanner with a little holder for slides or negs. Not for large format. For large murals though you really should have the negs professionally drum scanned. Don't say I didn't warn ya.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PrintDriver) : 8/20/2004 10:24:13 PM GMT

[beanz]

Wow! Just been looking at the film scanners, and they're seriously out of my price range at the moment! the 5000's about £900. I'm so gutted i wasted £700 2/3 years ago on my digital camera, which i've never been happy with!?! When my 35mm Canon died i figured i'd go digital... Why??? :D

I have been looking at the Canon 300D, not sure what the maximum image size is though!?! I really like the idea of digital, but the loss of quality so far has been un-acceptable! Not sure the lower range digital SLR's are going to be good enough to replace 35mm either!?!

I'm very serious about doing this, it doesn't have to be right away and until i get some more money together it definitely won't be! lol! It's good to know though, so i don't make any more mistakes when buying equipment...

Thanks for all the help guys! ;)

http://sighost.fuelie.org/accounts/beanz/beanz_17.jpg

http://dabeanz.deviantart.com