Creating 20 x 30 Collage on online photo service

[Bob]

The problem I'm having is a portion of the subjects heads are being cropped.

I'm using scanned photos from an HP PSC 1210 all-in-one.

I would appreciate some tips as to scanning resolution and preparing photo
sizes and resolution for uploading to the photo service.

I have PE5.

 

[John Inzer]

The problem I'm having is a portion of the subjects heads are being
cropped.
I'm using scanned photos from an HP PSC 1210 all-in-one.

I would appreciate some tips as to scanning resolution and preparing
photo sizes and resolution for uploading to the photo service.

I have PE5.

=============================
What is the pixel size of the image you
are uploading to the photo service?

Point being...20x30 is an aspect ratio of
3:2. In order to prevent unexpected cropping...
the image you wish to print should be the
same aspect ratio.

Also may be best if the image you upload
is the same orientation (Portrait or Landscape)
as the print will be.

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! -
Digital Image MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/695

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Galina Kolpatcheva \(MSFT\)]

You need to set the resolution to the highest level when scanning photos,
also I would recommend creating the collage in exact size you are planning
to send it to online printing company. You can use any photo editing
software to do that. It is important to have the correct dimensions of the
collage file before you send it out so all the details will be printed
correctly. You also will be able to see if the quality of the photo is good
enough for the size you're trying to order.

 

[Bob]

Thanks John and Galina. I'll work with the info you gave me.

 

[Bob]

When setting it up using my photo editing software, what resolution should I
use?

I chose 6600 x 4400 pixels, 30 x 20 inches. It defaulted to 220 resolution.
Should I go with that? It seems low.

 

[Bob]

One more newbie question.

I'm planning to use 15 photos in the 20 x 30" collage. Should I resize each
individual photo that I scan? As you suggested, I'll be scanning at the
maximum resolution which is 2400 dpi.

 

[John Inzer]

When setting it up using my photo editing software, what resolution
should I use?

I chose 6600 x 4400 pixels, 30 x 20 inches. It defaulted to 220
resolution. Should I go with that? It seems low.

===========================
Personally...I think the 220 dpi would
be acceptable. However...it would be
a good idea to visit the support site
of the Photo Service you are using
and ask what they require/recommend.

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! -
Digital Image MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/695

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[John Inzer]

One more newbie question.

I'm planning to use 15 photos in the 20 x 30" collage. Should I
resize each individual photo that I scan? As you suggested, I'll be
scanning at the maximum resolution which is 2400 dpi.

==================================
Personally...when scanning old snapshots...
I can find no advantage in scanning at more
than 300 dpi. And...I suspect you have
discovered...scanning at 2400 dpi produces
*huge* memory hogging files.

There is lots of info on scanning
at the followng website:

A Few Scanning Tips
http://www.scantips.com/

Example of one of the articles:

Photographic Resolution
How much can we scan?
http://www.scantips.com/basics08.html

What software are you using to create the
collage?

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! -
Digital Image MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/695

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Bob]

That's funny John. I asked yesterday and so far all I received is their
(Shutterfly) automatic email response.

 

[Bob]

==================================
Personally...when scanning old snapshots...
I can find no advantage in scanning at more
than 300 dpi. And...I suspect you have
discovered...scanning at 2400 dpi produces
*huge* memory hogging files.

There is lots of info on scanning
at the followng website:

A Few Scanning Tips
http://www.scantips.com/

Example of one of the articles:

Photographic Resolution
How much can we scan?
http://www.scantips.com/basics08.html

What software are you using to create the
collage?

Thanks for the links. I'll check them out.
I'm using PE5.

 

[Michael J. Mahon]

One more newbie question.

I'm planning to use 15 photos in the 20 x 30" collage. Should I resize
each individual photo that I scan? As you suggested, I'll be scanning at
the maximum resolution which is 2400 dpi.

Actually, it sounds like the photo site is creating the collage from
15 photos that you provide, right?

If that's the case, then each individual photo in the 20"x30" collage
will not be larger than about 5"x8", so any resolution of 1200x1800 or
more should be plenty. In fact, uploading photos of any greater
resolution would just be a waste of time, since the collage will not
show any more detail.

Something to be careful about is the color balance of the photos.
If they are not similar in color balance (like similar flesh tones),
the collage will accentuate the differences when the photos are
justaposed.

-michael



--

-michael

NadaPong: Network game demo for Apple II computers!
Home page: http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/

"The wastebasket is our most important design
tool--and it's seriously underused."