newbie question: re large format output...
Rusty Dogg
I'm an aspiring graphics artist. What i've done up to now is basically just
small format art for the web or for hobby work.
My friend suggests that I shoud consider getting some of my work printed
into poster-size art to sell or display.
Since I'm at present working mostly in 640x480 format, I am wondering how to
go about preparing work that will eventually be taken to a printer. If my
intended output is "poster size" art - something frameable - what pixel size
formats should I consider working with, and what DPI?
Does anyone know of good resources on the web for helping people prepare art
for printing? What file types do most printers work with? Most of my work
is done in Paint Shop Pro at the moment - which I realize is not a
professional program - I do have access to Corel / Pshop / Painter, but I
choose PSP because of familiarity and ease of use.
Thanks folks, for any help you might offer!
Rusty
Dan
Your finished images need to weigh in at about 5-7 MB minimum; 25-50 would
be ideal. From there, you can upsize them with Genuine Fractals
http://www.altamira-group.com/solutions/photo/. You don't need to worry
about dpi until final output, where you want your tiff image to be 300 dpi,
CMYK colorspace, at your final size. For instance: to output a hi-res 48" x
48" image at 300 dpi, your final file size would be 791 MB.
Working on a 791 MB image is impractical for most of us, thus the upsizing
with Genuine Fractals.
If you are getting the look you want with PSP, there is no need to switch to
anything else. It all comes down to a final tiff image (although GF is a
Photoshop plug-in).
Dan
http://www.FreelanceWorkshops.com
"Rusty Dogg" <cat...@batman.com> wrote in message
news:pD6j9.21750$EA.8...@news0.telusplanet.net...
Roland Mösl
>
> I'm an aspiring graphics artist. What i've done up to now is basically
just
> small format art for the web or for hobby work.
>
> My friend suggests that I shoud consider getting some of my work printed
> into poster-size art to sell or display.
>
> Since I'm at present working mostly in 640x480 format,
What are You doing in 640 x 480 ?
Work only on old computers in development countries?
XVGA is now the broad majority
1024 x 768
--
Roland Mösl
http://www.pege.org Clear targets for a confused civilization
http://web-design-suite.com Web Design starts at the search engine
Mike Minovski
size
> formats should I consider working with, and what DPI?
I suggest you go the other way around: look for something printed that you
like (quality-wise) and ask where it was done (maybe visit a digital art
gallery and talk to the people there?). Then go to the print bureau (or
whatever), examine the options they are offering, show them some examples of
your art, listen to their recommendations, and ask for file specifications.
The point is, there are a number of technologies in large-format printing,
each of which has different requirements to the original file. Some need 150
dpi or even lower, others - at least 300 dpi; some need the files in RGB,
others in CMYK (where normally file size is 1/3 larger compared to the same
file in RGB) or even in Lab; etc.
Alternatively, you could do an Internet search on fine art printing and ask
for samples to be sent to you.
Also consider that probably some technologies would be more adequate to your
art than others. For instance, if you typically use smooth colour blends and
fuzzy outlines, I guess inkjet could hardly be beaten; anyway, thermal wax
and sublimation are also worth exploring. On the contrary, if you use
spot-coloured areas and crisp outlines, electrostatic printing might be best
for you. Not to forget the price factor, too - prices may differ
substantially between different technologies and substrates. Besides,
printers from different manufacturers may use the same technology but with
different dithering algorithms, which might also influence the looks of the
printout.
Last but not least important, be aware that there is a wide variety of
textured paper types for art printing, each of which is intended for a
specific printing technology. There is also the problem of preserving the
printouts from fading, scratching etc., for which there is a pretty rich
choice of laminating materials.
Altogether, you may need to do some smaller-size trial printouts at first
(to keep your expenses down) and then decide what to use.
When you have the file specifications needed, post again, and people here
will certainly be able to give you more specific advice.
Good luck!
mike m.
Rusty Dogg <cat...@batman.com> wrote in message
news:pD6j9.21750$EA.8...@news0.telusplanet.net...
Edward Wedig
>"Rusty Dogg" <cat...@batman.com> wrote in message
>news:pD6j9.21750$EA.8...@news0.telusplanet.net...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm an aspiring graphics artist. What i've done up to now
is basically
>just
>> small format art for the web or for hobby work.
>>
>> My friend suggests that I shoud consider getting some of
my work printed
>> into poster-size art to sell or display.
>>
>> Since I'm at present working mostly in 640x480 format,
>
>What are You doing in 640 x 480 ?
>
>Work only on old computers in development countries?
>
>XVGA is now the broad majority
>1024 x 768
>
Except 40% of web browsers still browse at 800x600....
-Ed
****************************
Edward Wedig
Graphic Designer - Web Designer - Gamemaster - Nice Guy
www.edtheartist.com and www.docbrown.net
****************************