[hockmasm]

the k-x shoots 8x12 300dpi i think.

is that the largest I can print that looks good? or can i go bigger (how so)

[Ira]

At the SMALLEST JPEG SIZE, it's around 7 by 10 at 300 dpi.

[SpecialK]

You can print as large as you like.

However, keep in mind the bigger the print, the farther away is the correct viewing distance. The rule of thumb for that distance is focal length x degree of enlargement.

So, it makes no difference, unless you want to stand right in front of a poster and look at dots :-)

I've done 24 x 36 from a K10 and it looks good. And I do stand up close and look at dots. Hazard of my profession. Always carry a loupe

[hockmasm]

when i put JPEG on 12megapixels and bring into photoshop its HUGE at 72dpi. I uncheck resample and change it to 300 (or 350 can't remember) and it says 8x12...

[Ira]

when i put JPEG on 12megapixels and bring into photoshop its HUGE at 72dpi. I uncheck resample and change it to 300 (or 350 can't remember) and it says 8x12...

That doesn't make any sense. I just did it now:

1) Smallest JPEG size/best quality: 42.667 inches by 28.444 inches at 72 dpi.

2) Change to 300 dpi, and it's 10.24 inches by 6.827 inches.

Are you set for best quality?

[mattb123]

I've sold several prints up to 20x30 from my K-x that looked good to me and (obviously) the buyer. I've even printed that big with a 6MB image from my old S3 which got a little grainy when you look close but is still my best seller.

[rawr]

the k-x shoots 8x12 300dpi i think.

is that the largest I can print that looks good? or can i go bigger (how so)

Good looking prints depend on a lot of things, including the ISO of your shot, as well as the image resolution you shot it at.

According to the imaging experts at Imaging Resource, who looked at print quality in their very extensive review of the Kx...

"The Pentax K-x's printed output is really impressive, able to make usable 20 x 30-inch prints at ISO 100, straight from the camera with standard noise suppression on. They're slightly soft in some places, tack sharp in others; a little sharpening in a program like Photoshop could make them even better. 16 x 20 images are about the same, with a little more sharpness than the 20 x 30-inch prints. The amazing part is that print quality remains this good up to ISO 800! Even our troublesome red swatch still looks better than most cameras do at ISO 800, even when printed at 16 x 20.

ISO 1,600 represents the first break from this remarkable print size, and it's also the first time the red fabric swatch begins to decay. Still, the rest of the detail looks fabulous, with just a little noise and noise suppression artifacts creeping in. Reduction to 13x19 at this size is a little better.

ISO 3,200 shots also look decent printed at 13x19 inches.

ISO 6,400 shots are generally usable at 11x14, remarkably, but of course better at 8x10.

Depending on the subject ISO 12,800 shots are usable at 8x10, though contrast is increased and there's some blotchy noise in the shadows. At 5x7 inches, though, no one will notice.

A truly excellent and surprising outcome from the Pentax Kx!"

So I wouldn't necessarily restrict myself to 8x12 prints with the K-x.

[Zebooka]

Ok, lets calculate (width)

Assuming that normal photolab prints 300-400 dpi --- 4288 / 300 ~= 14,3 inches or 36,3 cm
That is slightly (by 6,5 cm larger in width than A4 paper size).
But that size is for close viewing - looking at photo in your hands.

If you wanna expose your photos on the wall - 150 dpi is enough. So you get 28,5 inches or 72,5 cm in width (larger side). That is between A1 and A2.

In practice - even *ist D.. resolution is enough for making A3 prints for expositions.

[hockmasm]

ok. so if i print a big picture i dont need 300 dpi? i only need 150 cause you are far enough away that the dots run together to look normal?

[UnknownVT]

On paper (ha-ha!) or in theory for nose-to-paper examination the standard has been 300dpi.

The K-x shoots [12M] 4288 x 2848 pixels
so @ 300dpi that's 14.3"x 9.5".

In the earlier days of digital photography the generally recommended printing resolution was 200dpi -
so that will make it larger at 21.5" x 14.25".

Many can't tell the difference between 200dpi and 180dpi (in fact that's the Canon default image resolution) -
so that makes it - 24" x 16".

I have printed at 160dpi and have gotten very good and detailed results (eg: 10x7.5 prints from 2Mp digicam) -
so even larger at: 27" x 18".

Of course as mentioned it depends on the details needed in the subject matter and very much on the viewing distance -

do people remember that video linked in the thread -

How can they print that big with only 12mp?

From the UK TV The Gadget Show -
where they blew up a shot from a 12Mp Nikon D700.
(I don't seem to be able to view the video now from the USA....
- but I had saved a copy back when the thread was current
Hopefully people in the UK still can see it?)
but the gist is they printed to 17x10 metres(!)
and on the video the print looked not just "acceptable",
but great even on close ups, easily beating out the ISO400 35mm film shot......

[philbaum]

Old Think: never resize upward, maximum print size is dependent on what you get from the camera

New Think: modern resizing algorithms in quality software can do a creditable job of upsizing your images. In addition, comercial printing companies, e.g. MPIX, Costco, many others, seem to be using printing equipment that can do a remarkable job upsizing/smoothing at relatively low resolution. For example, this table was quoted from a help view out of the Costcon online printshop:

4 x 6 690x460 pixels
5 x 7 805x575 pixels
8 x 8 920x920 pixels
8 x 10 1150x920 pixels
8 x 12 1380x920 pixels
11 x 14 Enlargements 1610x1265 pixels
12 x 12 1380x1380 pixels
12 x 18 Enlargements 2070x1380 pixels
16 x 20 Posters 2300x1840 pixels
20 x 30 Posters 3450x2300 pixels
11 x 14 Collage Posters 1260x990 pixels
12 x 18 Collage Posters 1620x1080 pixels
16 x 20 Collage Posters 1800x1440 pixels
20 x 30 Collage Posters 2700x1800 pixels
Wallet Prints 374x259 pixels
Photo Gifts 900x600 pixels
4¼x6 Postcards 900x600 pixels
Notebooks 480x480 pixels
Notebooks with full photo cover 1350x1000 pixels
Notepads 370x370 pixels
Stickers

For the 20x30 poster, the pixels listed equate to only 115 ppi resolution. I've printed 12X36" from my local costco. I always resize my images to 300 ppi myself using Lightroom before submitting them.

Whether Kx or any camera, you need to try to get the sharpest photos you can. My standard is that at 8X LCD magnifcation on my K20, it should look reasonably sharp. Faster shutter speeds, monopods, tripods especially can really help your printing results because they result in a sharper image. I'm sure your Kx can print to 24 x 36" because i've printed to 12 x 36 with a K10.