Printing Basics - Updated April 6, 2007

OK. We get lots of questions about resolution, print sizes and "what kind of files should I upload"? We've attempted to answer these questions in many ways, with many details. You can review more of our FAQ's below if you wish to get technical. But if you want the bottom line, here it is:

Imagekind wants you to upload the biggest files - in pixel dimensions - that you have because they make the best prints for customers! Notice that I said "pixel dimensions" without a whole lot of focus on the size of the file (in megabytes). There's a reason for that! Read on!

In our fine art printing and framing engine you'll see that customers currently have the following six print size choices to choose from:

• Petite
• Small
• Medium
• Large
• Grande
• Massive

The most common question we get at Imagekind is this: " I uploaded a REALLY huge file but most of the available large print sizes were crossed out as not being available! What image sizes do I need to upload to trigger each of these sizes?"

The answer is more simple that you might think. We use PIXEL dimensions to first trigger each size category and NOT the size of the file you uploaded! To say that another way, it doesn't always matter that you uploaded a file that is 200MB if the pixel dimensions of the image aren't very big.

At this point it is appropriate to give a little more insight into each of these six print sizes. Before getting into each of these however let us state categorically that we do NOT change the aspect ratio of your image at all! That means that if you upload a print that is from a typical digital camera, the aspect ratio is usually always the same. The image has a longer horizontal edge and a shorter vertical edge. That's why a typical camera print size is 4x6. Would we take an image you uploaded that was a 4:3 aspect ratio and change it to something different...like, say, 16:9? No!

Updated!! Calculating Imagekind's Print Categories

Ok, now it is a good time to tell you about those print sizes. Within the office we actually refer to them as "print containers" because they are really just invisible boxes of varying sizes. For the Small and Medium size your image MUST hit the minimum required pixel measurement on BOTH the horizontal edge AND the vertical edge to trigger the container.

Before we get into that further lets look at the "minimum" and the "maximum" container measurements we use behind the scenes to "trigger" each print size:

Here's what this means to someone trying to upload an image:

See the SMALLEST number in that second column (it is 8 for Petite and 11 for Small)? That means that your image MUST be at least 800 pixels on at least one size to trigger even our smallest available size (Petite). Many of our users try to upload an 600px by 600px and get an error. The reason is because one of the sides does not meet the minimum requirement for even the petite sized prints. An 600 x 800 pixel image triggers the minimum size required for Petite because ONE side is at least 800 pixels. This method is usually the case for all our sizes except a few. Here's the breakdown as to what image sizes would trigger each container size:

So basically each print size is triggered if one side of my uploaded image meets one of the specified edge lengths above?

Right. So let's consider a few examples:

Example 1: You upload an image that is 10,000 pixels by 700 pixels. Is any size triggered?
Answer: Yes. One side is only 700 pixels which is smaller that the smallest side for Petite but that other side is 10,000 pixels. Enough to trigger even the Massive size.

Example 2: You upload an image that is 500 pixels by 799 pixels. Is any size triggered?
Answer: No. No side of this image meets even the smallest requirement for Petite which is 800 pixels.

Example 3: You upload an image that is 4,400 pixels by 5,890 pixels. What sizes are triggered?
Answer: All sizes except Massive because no side is at least 6,000 pixels.

What file types can I upload? What about color space?

TIFF and JPEG are the image types you should attempt to upload.
Want to know about color modes? Ok, here's the basics. RGB is the primary color model used by electronic display devices (e.g., monitors). CMYK is the primary color model used by color printers. Did you know the Internet is an RGB universe? That's right! You cannot display a CMYK image in a web browser. That means that if you attempt to upload a TIFF file in the CMYK color mode we will convert it to sRGB.

Does DPI matter?

Yes and no! For starters, we will not remove, change or reduce the DPI of your original image. Some of you are pretty serious that your DPI should be very high! Well, that's pretty much a good idea but the story is not quite as simple as you might think. Let me explain...
A typical six-megapixel camera (digital SLR) will produce an image measuring 3008 x 2000 pixels. That is 6.1 megapixels. Now for fun let's do some simple math. Let's say you wanted to make a 6 x 4 print from your six megapixel camera. If you divide the number of pixels (3008) by the wide of the print in inches you get 500 pixels per inch. That's your print resolution. That's your "dots per inch". Now most photographic experts have for years told us that 300dpi was the only way to make photographic prints. However, couple of minutes with a calculator shows us that our 6.1 megapixel camera would be capable of producing a 300dpi photo at a MAXIMUM of 10 x 6.7 inches.

Don't be a slave to resolution.
The assumption that you've got to print at 300dpi and above causes this fundamental problem that no consumer could use their digital camera to make prints any larger than 10 x 6.7 inches. The reality is that anything over about 137dpi produces a fantastic print when printed on modern giclee printing equipment. Users are welcome to have art scanned and we're happy to print at the highest dpi setting you can produce. But 300dpi printing is no longer the minimum resolution in our opinion. Printing technology, paper and inks have just come too far. Don't be held back!