Enlarging a print?

NecroticSoldier · 03-27-2010, 03:50 PM

Okay, my parents just asked me and I don't know the answer... They don't have the negatives to this 6x4 print I believe... and they want to enlarge it. The only thing I can think of is getting a scanner and scanning it then printing a larger print. Suggestions someone?

JeffJS · 03-27-2010, 04:08 PM

Lay it flat on a surface and take a picture of it. Make sure your WB is set properly, use a gray card if need be. Then you can print as large as you like.

NecroticSoldier · 03-27-2010, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

Lay it flat on a surface and take a picture of it. Make sure your WB is set properly, use a gray card if need be. Then you can print as large as you like.

LOL OKIES ;D thanks, I've become the photography guy of the house.

RioRico · 03-27-2010, 04:16 PM

Depends on the print. Is the paper glossy or matte, smooth or textured? Textured prints don't copy well. And yes, scanning is better. I refused to inherit a dedicated document photographing setup because it's bulky and balky -- much worse than a large photo enlarger. Using a camera to shoot a piece of paper is tricky. Keeping the target flat; lighting it adequately; dealing with glare; etc. Sure, it can be and has been done, but scanning is MUCH easier and more reliable.

SCRUPULOUSLY clean the scanner glass, and dust-off the picture. Scan at a high resolution; actually, try several resolutions, see which works best. Move the scan into your PP editor and slash away at any imperfections. Increase the contrast, sharpen it, pop the colors etc, then scale it up. Save it and print it. I usually print on glossy paper, then mount and matte and glass and frame my scale-ups. The glass (or acrylic) serves to hide the scale-up detritus. Have fun.

NecroticSoldier · 03-27-2010, 04:31 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

Depends on the print. Is the paper glossy or matte, smooth or textured? Textured prints don't copy well. And yes, scanning is better. I refused to inherit a dedicated document photographing setup because it's bulky and balky -- much worse than a large photo enlarger. Using a camera to shoot a piece of paper is tricky. Keeping the target flat; lighting it adequately; dealing with glare; etc. Sure, it can be and has been done, but scanning is MUCH easier and more reliable.

SCRUPULOUSLY clean the scanner glass, and dust-off the picture. Scan at a high resolution; actually, try several resolutions, see which works best. Move the scan into your PP editor and slash away at any imperfections. Increase the contrast, sharpen it, pop the colors etc, then scale it up. Save it and print it. I usually print on glossy paper, then mount and matte and glass and frame my scale-ups. The glass (or acrylic) serves to hide the scale-up detritus. Have fun.

Too late, ;( glare glare, everywhere, so hard... ;(

wildlifephotog · 03-30-2010, 04:59 AM

Make yourself a light tent from a white sheet. Position several lights to give even lighting.

Ratmagiclady · 03-30-2010, 07:04 AM

Scanning does seem to work pretty well for prints, indeed. *negative* scanning drives me up the wall, but even a much lower res scan has a lot more area to scan off of. (You can end up with a pretty ridiculous-sized file if you're not careful, actually.

)

By the time 4x6 machine prints became pretty common, I'm pretty sure the matte finish became, relatively-speaking, way more uncommon/out of fashion. (It's not like I made a study of it) but I think the odds are very good the OP's print has a glossy finish.

03-27-2010, 03:50 PM	#1
NecroticSoldier Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Scarborough, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 488	Enlarging a print? Okay, my parents just asked me and I don't know the answer... They don't have the negatives to this 6x4 print I believe... and they want to enlarge it. The only thing I can think of is getting a scanner and scanning it then printing a larger print. Suggestions someone?

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03-27-2010, 04:08 PM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Lay it flat on a surface and take a picture of it. Make sure your WB is set properly, use a gray card if need be. Then you can print as large as you like.

03-27-2010, 04:16 PM	#3
NecroticSoldier Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Scarborough, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 488 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS Lay it flat on a surface and take a picture of it. Make sure your WB is set properly, use a gray card if need be. Then you can print as large as you like. LOL OKIES ;D thanks, I've become the photography guy of the house.

03-27-2010, 04:16 PM	#4
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Depends on the print. Is the paper glossy or matte, smooth or textured? Textured prints don't copy well. And yes, scanning is better. I refused to inherit a dedicated document photographing setup because it's bulky and balky -- much worse than a large photo enlarger. Using a camera to shoot a piece of paper is tricky. Keeping the target flat; lighting it adequately; dealing with glare; etc. Sure, it can be and has been done, but scanning is MUCH easier and more reliable. SCRUPULOUSLY clean the scanner glass, and dust-off the picture. Scan at a high resolution; actually, try several resolutions, see which works best. Move the scan into your PP editor and slash away at any imperfections. Increase the contrast, sharpen it, pop the colors etc, then scale it up. Save it and print it. I usually print on glossy paper, then mount and matte and glass and frame my scale-ups. The glass (or acrylic) serves to hide the scale-up detritus. Have fun.

03-27-2010, 04:31 PM	#5
NecroticSoldier Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Scarborough, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 488 Original Poster	Originally posted by RioRico Depends on the print. Is the paper glossy or matte, smooth or textured? Textured prints don't copy well. And yes, scanning is better. I refused to inherit a dedicated document photographing setup because it's bulky and balky -- much worse than a large photo enlarger. Using a camera to shoot a piece of paper is tricky. Keeping the target flat; lighting it adequately; dealing with glare; etc. Sure, it can be and has been done, but scanning is MUCH easier and more reliable. SCRUPULOUSLY clean the scanner glass, and dust-off the picture. Scan at a high resolution; actually, try several resolutions, see which works best. Move the scan into your PP editor and slash away at any imperfections. Increase the contrast, sharpen it, pop the colors etc, then scale it up. Save it and print it. I usually print on glossy paper, then mount and matte and glass and frame my scale-ups. The glass (or acrylic) serves to hide the scale-up detritus. Have fun. Too late, ;( glare glare, everywhere, so hard... ;(

03-30-2010, 04:59 AM	#6
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	Make yourself a light tent from a white sheet. Position several lights to give even lighting.

03-30-2010, 07:04 AM	#7
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Scanning does seem to work pretty well for prints, indeed. negative scanning drives me up the wall, but even a much lower res scan has a lot more area to scan off of. (You can end up with a pretty ridiculous-sized file if you're not careful, actually. ) By the time 4x6 machine prints became pretty common, I'm pretty sure the matte finish became, relatively-speaking, way more uncommon/out of fashion. (It's not like I made a study of it) but I think the odds are very good the OP's print has a glossy finish.