Resolution Question with Large Format printing

[margo]

Hello, I'm working on a project that involves huge wall panels that will be printed. I'm creating my file in InDesign and pulling in multiple images that have been scanned.

These scanned images have resolutions all over the place. Some of them are 600 dpi, but a smaller image (say 3x5 inches) and others are 400 dpi but larger images (12x10) just for a rough example.

Will all these images print remotely consistently? They're being enlarged to be 16-25 inches in some places.

They're historical images, so some variance is fine in my opinion and a little grain is fine.

What quality should be minimum for an image that will be 25+ inches wide?

And will it look terrible if I don't resize all the images to the same resolution?

 

[CHM]

I most cases resizing images don't make the images better.
Off course you can fiddle around with some setting, but bottom line you could say: "shit in is shit out" in this case.
Did you already try to save your file to see how the quality is on screen?

 

[margo]

right, the images are high enough resolution and pretty great quality for normal print jobs. I guess I'm just a little apprehensive since it will be scaled so much larger than I can see on screen... 155 inches x 96 inches.

Onscreen it looks great. Just hoping it will look as good when printed.

 

[CHM]

well if resolution is OK, print will also come out OK.
You have to keep in mind that in most cases people wont look at it very close but at a distance.

 

[oxburger]

The important question you have to ask yourself is "where is my intended audience in relation to the final printed piece?". If they're going to be right up on it, then yes, blowing up images and losing quality will be a huge issue. If they're, say, hanging on a wall and being viewed by several feet away, they it's not quite so much an issue as you won't be able to see that kind of quality loss from a distance.

 

[buckeye]

If those 3x5 400 dpi images are going up to 16" and 25", that's a 500% enlargement. You'll end up with 80 dpi images. Like Ox and CHM said, it'll all depend on how far away they'll be viewed.

Erik

 

[Correct Color]

Just as an aside, it's not dpi (dots per inch), it's ppi (pixels per inch). But it sounds like you've got enough data in all your images to get a more-than-acceptable final image.

What I'd do if I were you is to take all your images and size them in Photoshop before you bring them into Indesign. In the Photoshop image size dialogue, type in the final size each is going to be--with resampling unchecked--and make note of the resolution of each one as you enter the upsized dimensions.

For a project like this, as long as you're over 60 ppi--which is about the limit below which you'll begin to see obvious pixelation--you'll pretty much be okay. Anything over 80 and you'll be just fine. Then if it were me I'd probably go ahead and do the actual upsize on all of them to resample to--say--100 ppi. (That's just for consistency's sake, however. It's not mandatory.)

Also, do the printer a favor and send them the final file as a .pdf. Most large-format RIP's won't process an Indesign file.

Mike Adams
Correct Color

 

[michaelejahn]

Use Photoshop !

Use Photoshop !

For a project like this, as long as you're over 60 ppi--which is about the limit below which you'll begin to see obvious pixelation--you'll pretty much be okay. Anything over 80 and you'll be just fine. Then if it were me I'd probably go ahead and do the actual upsize on all of them to resample to--say--100 ppi. (That's just for consistency's sake, however. It's not mandatory.)

I concur with Mike Adams. Even when you consider viewing distance and the 'what is the point' issues, no one wants to see square pixel shapes on one of the images, so, please use Photoshop and not simply scale in InDesign...

Here is a link to a well tested approach;

Enlarging and Improving Photoshop JPG Images | PhotoshopSupport.com

There are products that one can buy, but that does not seem to be a requirement for this project.

Hope this helps and good luck !

 

[MacDaddy]

I have a few ideas. But too keep it short and-you are concerned download a program
Called Qimage. It is a refractoring program. Enlarges images without losing quality.
Set up the size you want choose image and print to file. It will enlarge the files say to 300 dpi.
Works good

 

[Correct Color]

Funny thing, I got to rereading this and realized that none of us has as of yet actually answered the questions you asked. So...

What quality should be minimum for an image that will be 25+ inches wide?

Anything below 60 pixels per inch at final print size will likely give you pixelation issues.

And will it look terrible if I don't resize all the images to the same resolution?

No, but it would be better to resize the images in Photoshop, so you may as well while you're there. (And note that for this project, anything over 100 ppi is overkill. You might even find that you can resample some of your images down.)

 

[88Blades]

What would be the best machine I'm going to use for large printing like streamers and billboards. For me, I'm apt to optimal quality printing. Best resolutions for my prints.


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