We look into what image really is an
uncover how it affects the outcome of your images
Resolution plays a bif part in determining
the quality of your photos. Working alongside your imade sensor, resolution is
measured in pixels. For example, a 16- megapixel camera may offer a maximum
resolution of 4,920 x 3,264, this is because if you were to multiply both
nubers togerther it would equal 16,058,880 which traslates to 16 million pixels
(megapixels). The more megapixels your camera’s sensor has, the better the
resolution and overall quality of your captures.
We
look into what image really is an uncover how it affects the outcome of your
images
Resolution is also used to measure density,
which determines the amount of detail in an image. Put simply, the closer
together pixels are, or the more pixels per inch (ppi), the more detailed your
shot will appear on screen. Equally, when printing images at 300 dpi (dots per
inch) the more dots, the more detail included in the image.
Print and image size is an area where
resolution really makes a difference. Hight- end DSLRs or medium format cameras
will offer more megapixels, which enables you to print at bigger and better
sizes. Low- end consumer camreas and cameraphones will produce images that are
great for the web and small prints, but they struggle to stretch in image size
without pixelating quickly and deteriorating in quality.
Resolution and Print
Find out how resolution can affect the
print size of your shots
Resolution can also have a big impact on
the outcome of your prints. A low- resolution image, for example, will struggle
to expand for larger print sizes and as a result will become blurred or
pixelated in the process. You can work out how big you can print your images
while retaining their best quality using a quick calculation. Simply divide
each resolution dimension by 300 to work out the maximum prints size in inches.
Why do you need to worry about
resolution for print?
To ensure your images can print clearly at
their maximum size, you will need to adjust the dpi size (dots per inch) to
300. This is because screen and print resolution differs. A computer screen or
other digital sharing device only really requires a resolution of 72ppi, whereas
a printer measures detail in dpi (dots per inch). Essentially the same only
translating across different mediums, the more dots perinch in a print, the
better the quality. Changing your dpi/ ppi however will not increase your
overall image size, it simply makes sure that your shot is printed or seen on
screen at its best- possible quality.
Resolution
and Print
How to adjust a photo’s resolution for
print
To ensure the shot you want to peint is at
300 ppi, use photoshop or elements image editing software and select, image
> image size. Opt to constrain proportions, then type in 300 pixels per inch
in the resolution box. You will notice the pixels dimensions automatically
change to accommodate the resolution increase. For web uploads or sharing devices
such as smartphones or tablets, a resolution of 72 ppi will suffice.
You
can work out how big you can print your images by using a quick calculation
Resolution
Resolution refers to how many pixels there
are per inch. 300 dpi (dots per inch) is classed as high resolution and 72 dpi
is classed as low
Pixel dimensions
This box tells you the size of the image in
pixels and how many magabutes (M) the image is. This is a very large image. To
email a photo, it shoule be no more than about 5MB
Resample image
To reduce the size of your photo for
emailing or online sharing, tick this box first and then reduce the dpi to 72
Linked chain
The linked chain means that the width and
height of the document are relative to the resolution- if you increase the
resolution, you will decrease the width and height
What else affects quality?
Resolution is not the only element that can
affect the outcome of your images. There are plenty of other factors you should
be aware of when you shoot. Your choise of camera lens for example can have an
impact on the quality of your final captures with some distorting proportions
or even struggling to focus correctly. Poor optics can also increase the
possibility of destructive chromatic aberration (fringing) due to the lense’s
inability to focus correctly on all colours of light. Therefore choosing the
right optics is important to ensure your images appear sharp and realistic.
What
else affects quality?
Your camera’s sensor can also impact the
outcome of your captures not only in megapixel offering but slao in image
quality. There are various different types of image sensors, which come in a
range of sizes to suit all camera systems including cameraphones right through
to DSLRs. Sensors can also affect the way the camera records light and manage
colours. To find out more on how sensors can affect the outcome of your images,
check out our next How it Works feature in PFB 12.
