![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
The Truth About Pixels, Part 2-1: Printing 4x3 Inch Photos
Why is a 3 megapixel camera better than a 1 megapixel camera? It really depends on how you intend to reproduce the picture. The reason cameras produce pictures at 72 pixels per inch is that this format is standard in video uses such as television and DVD. So there is no noticeable difference in quality when viewing pictures on a TV or DVD. The difference appears when you are cropping and/or printing these pictures. If you are not familiar with the term cropping, I will explain it later. First, let's talk about printing. Even the most inexpensive of printers these days are capable of printing at 300 dots per inch (dpi). Most are capable of printing at 600 dpi and you can buy relatively affordable printers that print at 1200 dpi and above. You may have noticed that with cameras it's called pixels per inch and with printers it is call dots per inch. The terms are hardware specific, but relate to the same principal. A printer prints a specific number of dots of ink per inch on the paper whereas a TV displays a specific number of pixels per inch on the screen. In either case, combining the dots or pixels creates the picture. So how does this affect quality? If we're printing a picture that has 72 pixels per inch from a 1-megapixel camera on 4x3 printer paper we've got a problem. (Here is where I have to crunch some numbers, so please bear with me.) Let's figure it out. Four inches times 72 pixels (dots) per inch equals 288 pixels (dots) on the vertical line. Three inches times 72 pixels (dots) equals 216 pixels (dots) on the horizontal line. The total picture would have 288 times 216 or 62,208 pixels. That's way short of one million. So where did the other pixels go? If you're printing this picture at a store or camera shop that has conversion capabilities, the machine that you are printing on actually crunches the picture down for you. The size of the picture taken by a 1-megapixel camera is approximately 16 inches x12 inches. (16x72=1152 and 12x72=864 and 864x1152=995,328 pixels). The machine makes this picture into a 4x3 by increasing the number of pixels per inch. The 4x3 picture is 1/4th the size of the 16x12 so there has to be four times as many pixels per inch to reduce this picture to 4x3. Four times seventy two equals two hundred eighty eight pixels (dots) per inch. With more pixels or dots per inch, the picture can be reproduced at a higher quality level making details sharper and more distinct. So a 1-megapixel camera can produce a reasonably good quality 4x3 inch picture on a 300 dpi printer. That's what most amateur photographers get with their snapshot cameras. If you try to get larger pictures, then the picture quality begins to deteriorate. Part 2-2 will deal with larger prints. Conclusion: If you have a printer with more than 300 dpi capabilities and all you want is 4x3 inch prints, then you are not using all your printer's abilities. If you want prints larger than 4x3 inch, then you need a camera with a higher quality output capability. If all you want is 4x3 inch prints and video reproduction without cropping much, then a 1-megapixel camera and 300 dpi printer should serve you fine. Note: Different printers produce different quality prints. Since this is a discussion of pixels and digital cameras, I do not get into choosing printers for the quality. Suffice it to say, if you have a reasonably good quality printer, then the information provided should work for you. Note 2: There are ways to enlarge prints with lower dpi rates and size and still get quality results. This information will come in later discussions and is probably geared toward the more advanced photographers and digital dark room users. Wayne Rockwell is a professional videographer at Legacy Pictures to Video and specializes in Video Montage creation and Photo Retouching.
MORE RESOURCES: 2024 Rural Kansas Photography Contest Salina Post A queer artist's journey from ballet to photography Out Magazine How Commercial Photography Sold Modernism Hyperallergic Bald eagle, mountain goats and marmot share the frame in Colorado photographer’s ‘once in a lifetime’ snaps Denver 7 Colorado News Artist sets the stage for her photography Restoration NewsMedia The legacy of Adirondack photographers J.S. Wooley and Seneca Ray Stoddard Sun Community News & Printing Park Fire, California’s largest fire this year, seen in photos The Washington Post South Dakota State Historical Society honors photographer William H. Illingworth Moody County Enterprise ODNR displays art and photography contest winners at state fair Spectrum News 1 A Few Extras: The photographer's view Jamestown Sun Robert Miller promoted to Director of Photography The Washington Post New photography award challenges Aberdeen students to take street portraits and recognizes contribution of local photographer Charles Skene Digital Camera World Ellis’ ‘Hereafter’ Photography Exhibit Opens Thursday in Downtown Haverhill with Reception WHAV News Award-winning photography exhibition opens at Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art Wausau Pilot and Review Sundarbans Cyclone image wins Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 Amateur Photographer Atlanta Center for Photography stretches out in its multifaceted new space The Atlanta Journal Constitution Photography + Review: Ben Howard and John Francis Flynn getalternative.com Former “Personius-Warne” photography studio up for sale in downtown Elmira WETM - MyTwinTiers.com SD Historical Society commemorating 150th anniversary of W. H. Illingworth photographs of the Black Hills Black Hills Pioneer Trinity Theatre presents musical about Matthew Murphey’s photography San Diego Community Newspaper Group Award-winning Photography Exhibition, THE STRING PROJECT®: We Are All Connected, Opens in Wausau on July 25th Wausau Pilot and Review Local News: Brigham Larington: Capturing life's unconventional beauty through photography, painting (7/23/24) McCook Daily Gazette 150th Anniversary of W. H. Illingworth photographs of the Black Hills - South Dakota State News Home 150th Anniversary of W. H. Illingworth photographs of the Black Hills South Dakota State News Home The Week In Photos - July 26, 2024 CapeNews.net Get inspired for autumn with these stunning infrared images Amateur Photographer Army Corps Of Engineers Holding Annual Great Lakes Photography Contest Radioresultsnetwork.com The Benefits of 645 Film Photography Fstoppers 'A win-win all around': Trash cans offer artist the chance to show off best of Gardner The Gardner News 'We lie to ourselves about progress': Exhibit laments the loss of South Florida's trailer parks WLRN Night sky photography with an iPhone 15 Pro Photofocus Austrian Photographer Wins Piston Bully Video Contest 2024 Unofficial Networks 15 remarkable images from the Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 BBC Discover Wildlife Meet Ron Sloan: a Missouri photographer with knack for capturing ‘moving’ moments Moberly Monitor Index Artwork by local photographer Christopher V. Sherman showcased in new St. Luke’s Marion emergency room Corridor Business Writer Ocean Vuong's Debut Photography Series Memorializes the Nail Salons and Family Trips of His Youth Cultured Magazine ‘Petersburg born, Petersburg bred’: Local photographer wins national competition, comes home to showcase exhibit WRIC ABC 8News How to Visualize the Climate Crisis The Nation Beauty In Despair: The Harsh Life Of Georgia's First Photographer Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Opinion | I’m a photojournalist. ‘Civil War’ gets war photography dangerously wrong. The Washington Post "Instagram has probably been the most important thing for my photography… The politics of the algorithm can be frustrating, but I try to look past that" Digital Camera World How a Photographer Snapped This Incredible Shot of the Northern Lights Milwaukee Magazine Lee Miller, Colita, Pérez Siquier... the greats of photography vacation on the Costa Brava La Vanguardia A Few Extras: The photographer's view Jamestown Sun Hot Springs poet, photographer will be featured at WNP Hot Springs Sentinel The Evolution of Smartphone Photography: Enhancements Await in the Galaxy S25 Series Smartphone Magazine The 2024 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners and Honorable Mentions National Audubon Society [feature] on "on photography" - Post-Magazine The Brown Daily Herald What our photographers saw on Thursday, July 25 The Philadelphia Inquirer Photography enthusiasts are increasingly returning to film and then sharing the analogue snaps online Islander News.com |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Digital Camera Memory - An Introduction The digital camera is essentially a computer-based device, whose core is controlled by the computer. And as a result the photographs are stored in a location called memory. Photography Contest - a fun and rewarding experience Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing by with your camera waiting for that moment that is meant to be captured on camera? You may even be taking photography classes or maybe you have already completed a photography course and you want to share your photos with others. You may want to get into photography as a career and winning a photography contest will help you get recognized. Photography 101 Part 3 ContentEven if you feel that you already know what kind of photography you like to do, it's always a good idea to try your talent at different aspects of photography.Pictorial, this is a general term but it applies to any photographer who's goal is simply to create beautiful photos. Digital Camera Memory Cards A digital camera accessory you should purchase is a spare memory card. Most cameras are sold with a 'starter' memory card that is usually a low capacity card that's enough to take a few sample photos on, but not enough for day-to-day use. The Truth About Pixels - Part I: Digital Cameras Most digital cameras today boast of greater resolution and picture quality. What does that mean to the amateur or occasional photographer? You hear of cameras with 3 megapixals up to 6 or 7 megapixals. Light and Depth of Field With such a fantastic device as the digital camera for the recreation of magic in arts, a lot of care needs to be taken so as to maintain the perfection of the end product. This perfection is not only obtained by the artistic feeling of the photographer but also with the intricate knowledge of every minute aspect of the medium of creation of art (in this case the digital camera). Cropping Digital Photos Into Shape Did you know that in many cases digital photos are cropped by the time they reach paper? If you have never "cropped" your photos manually, you may not be aware that it is happening.What is cropping?Cropping is the process of trimming portions of the digital image so it fits in the shape of the paper. Photography Has No Gender Women photographers are fortunate. Unlike other titles, photographer has no gender. Photo Equipment Lists You arrive at your photo shoot excited about the images you are about to take - that is, until you realize that you have left an important piece of equipment at home. You now will have to improvise, spend extra money or time to replace the item, or go without it for the shot. The Alligator Farm - Home to Beautiful Winged Creatures Your first thought when you read "Alligator Farm" might be "tourist trap," but that could not be more inaccurate. And while the alligators are wonderful and plentiful at the place fondly referred to as the "Gator Farm," it is the birds that attract the world's best photographers. Digital RAW Workflow for Beginners Having an efficient work flow is essential for photographers. In the days of film, many of the tasks in the film work flow were handled by the lab. Digital Camera Auto Exposure and Auto Focus The digital camera being a fantastic and technologically advanced device contains many different applications of its own. Many users of this fabulous device are unaware of quite a few of these functions which can actually do wonders. CCTV Camera Tip: Apply Simple Common Sense when Picking CCTV Cameras and Lenses Get a good face shot: Use Higher quality cameras at entry areas.Doors, gates and other entry areas need a good quality, high resolution camera to record a good 'face shot. Infrared Photography and the Car Thief - Successful Digital Imaging Infrared photography is sometimes placed on the outside edge of the mainstream photographic world. To the uninitiated observer infrared photography conjures up television images of car thieves speeding away from police helicopters during the dark hours of the night, only to be caught hiding beneath bushes beside a darkened home as their hot bodies light up the camera monitor in the police chopper like Bedouin camel herders atop a Sahara sand dune. The Naked Truth on Shooting Nudes There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude photography, not least of which is the need to practise technique. By its very nature there has to be at least one subject, and the big problem for the photographer here is image. The Well-Dressed Photographer - Summer Outdoor photographers shoot year round. That includes the hot summer. How to Buy a Digital Camera Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must be confused by the bewildering range of models out there. How do you know which model will suit your needs? To make things worse, digital cameras do not come cheap. Digital Wedding Photography: Myth Vs. Reality 1. Myth: Digital photos are pixilated or fuzzy. Fuji Digital Cameras Fuji digital cameras entered the market in the late 90's. Started in Japan in 1934, Fuji has always tried to stay ahead of the pack. Home Run Baseball Photography Tips Strike one! Strike two! Strike three!Baseball! America's Pastime, and a sport growing in popularity throughout the world, where the Boys of Summer slug it out. A baseball game is the perfect way to spend a lazy summer afternoon, plus it provides opportunities to take photos that last a lifetime. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 KeralaClick.com |