Finished product picture size

[brianjanet]

What size are the photos on a finished deluxe book on the 6 and 9 page layouts. While creating my book I do not want the finished product to be to small and I wasn't sure. Hopefully someone who has a finished book can help me with this question.

Thank you.

[mypublisher]

I saw someone already answered your post. Let me know if you need any additional information.

Sincerely,
MyPublisher

[jessica]

On the 6 photo page the size is roughly 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and the 9 photo page is 3 1/2 x 4 3/4. My opinion is that they are plenty big and it looks great. Hope this helps!

[brianjanet]

Thanks Jessica....that does help. However MP responded to one of my previous post and the DPI of my pictures is too low so I will not be able to finish creating my album. My pictures are 72 DPI.

Has anyone out there created albums successfully with a DPI not within their range of 180-300? I didn't even know about DPI until I started reading the post and checked my pictures.

Thanks again for answering my question.

Janet

[irusan]

Hi Janet,

Depending on the number of pixels in your original image, you may still be able to get a high quality book from your images. You'll probably have to stick with page layouts that use smaller images (8-12 images per page). If you try to use the layout pages with a single large image, you (most likely) won't be happy with the result.

As I wrote in another post, DPI is a relative term. Your images will be 72 DPI at a particular size, but if you change the image's resolution to half the size, your DPI will be 144 DPI. Shrink it again, at it's 288 DPI, and so forth.

That's a very simplistic approach and I would recommend you read the original post here for more information. (http://www.ononesoftware.com/detail.php?prodLine_id=2)

Another option, if you have Photoshop CS2 or higher (or Photoshop Elements 4 or higher) is to use a plug-in called Genuine Fractals from On One Software (http://www.ononesoftware.com/detail.php?prodLine_id=2).

I had to re-size (interpolate) a small image (640x480) for a friend so that it could be printed at 18"x12". It did an amazing job; the image was still soft and fuzzy, but the quality was sufficient enough that the print hangs in a financial institution here in the Chicago-land area.

The plug-in is $160 but, if you need to use it to change a lot of small images so that they can be printed in a MyPublisher book, you may find the price worthwhile.

HTH,

Rob

[brianjanet]

Hi Rob,

I do not have photoshop and I am a novice at digital picture. However, I would really like to make an album. Would my pictures work for this process without changing them. I never get the red line around them, only blue but I don't know if this makes a difference.

Some of our pictures are 640 X 480 and from our other camera 2048 X 1536.

Again,
thank you for your help.

Janwt

Janet

[irusan]

Not a problem,

First, I am not going to suggest you go spend money on Photoshop (yet <grin>).

The 2048x1536 images should be fine. That's almost an 8x10 at 200 DPI. You'll love the output from those images. The smaller images, the 640x480, will give you a 4x6 print at about 120 DPI (give or take). That's a bit on the low side (I tend to print my stuff at 300 DPI or higher, depending on a variety of factors).

But, that being said, when I prep and print my images, they are often for a client and I need to be attentive to the end quality. That's why I am so obsessive about the resolutions and such that you read in my posts.

You are making a book of memories and that's the most important thing. You may find that the quality of the print of those 640x480 images meets your needs and expectations. I can't (nor can anyone) make that decision for you.

So here is my recommendation. Assuming that there is a Costco or Wal-Mart, or Ritz Camera nearby, have one of those 640x480 images printed. The quality from that will give you an excellent idea of the quality coming in your book. So, if you like the way it looks, then use the images. If you don't, then you've wasted a dollar or so (if even that much) instead of being disappointed in an entire book.

I can understand the hesitancy you feel after reading all these crazy posts, but in the end, let your own eye be the judge and print one or two pictures first.

HTH and, if I can answer anything else, don't hesitate to ask.

Rob

[brianjanet]

Hi Rob,

Thank you, thank you for your reply. We do want to purchase photoshop at some time and I probably should learn how to use it as well! But for know, as you said, I am making a book of memories and I need to take this digital picture thing in "baby steps". Your reply really help me to understand it all a little more clearly.

I do have another question. With your experience and my picture image sizes and DPI, in your opinion what would be the correct number of pictures to put on a page for the best results?. I would like to make the large deluxe album but I can also do the classic size if that would be better. I not sure if fewer pictures on a page or more smaller pictures on a page would be better. I have plenty of pictures from a few different camera so I have plenty to choose from!

I have printed pictures in the past from the 640 X 480 in the past and the results have been fine for a regular picture size. Thank you for that suggestion.

Thanks again for ALL your help. I really appreciate it

[brianjanet]

Hi Rob,

Wasn't sure you saw my last message????

Thanks,
Janet

[irusan]

Oops, no I didn't. I've been traveling a lot over the past month and haven't been on these forums as much as I'd like. I know have several books that I am in the process of making, too.

Anyway...

It really is going to depend on the style of book you want to create. A personal preference of mine for fine art is to put a single image on a page using the full page layout. But, size the image so that there is 2-3 inches of space all the way around. It puts a smaller image alone on a big page. The result is to have an image that looks like it is matted.

I also like triptecs - having three images that are of the same theme together.

Compositionally, the human brain always likes to seek balance. So, creatively, putting things out of balance will cause the eye to stop and engage the image. That means using odd numbers, putting images out of center, etc. There's more to it, obviously, but that gives you an idea.

I would stay away (and this is purely opinion) from balancing things on a page too much. But, I would put fewer images on a page, leave a lot of white space, and let the story you are telling with each image to come through loud and clear.

Less is definitely more :-)

HTH,

Rob

[brianjanet]

Thank you Rob for your reply and for all your help. Regarding your answer, does this hold true for the DPI #'s we discussed in the above post. Is picture size per page on the deluxe album a consideration with DPI #'s that I am working with?

Sorry for ALL the question but I really do appreciate your help

Thanks a bunch.

Janet

[irusan]

It certainly is a consideration, but it will depend on how much of the page you want to fill with the image. If you look at my book again, there are a couple of images in the B+W section that are one image per page but are fairly small on the page.

That was an artistic decision on my part but, for those smaller (640x480) images that you have, that style may look really good too. Often, the use of white space around an image helps draw the eye to the picture and will let the picture stand out.

Of course, I would say 'try it out' in Bookmaker and, if you don't like the look, delete the page. But, I would certainly try that layout.

Rob

[brianjanet]

Hi Rob and thank you once again!

Since I'm making a family book of memories, I do want to put a variety of pictures on each page. So, given my DPI # and image size, putting 5-6 pictures per page would work ? I've tried it in bookmaker with different layouts and I think it looks good. I just didn't know if more or less than that would not print well or if a certain number per page would be a better guideline to stick with???? I have a lot of photos to work with and plan on making a large album.

Thanks,
Janet

[irusan]

Glad to help!

If there was (or is) one, over-riding, all-important item to keep in mind, it's this: there is no better judge than your eye or opinion more important than your own.

If you think it looks good, then it does.:-)

[brianjanet]

Thank you! I was just concerned a certain number of photos per page might be better due to my DPI #.

Janet

[irusan]

You should be fine - have fun building the book (it really should not be seen as a chore) and just keep an eye on the color of the frame border. If it is blue, continue on.

Rob