Printing from digital work question

[JoyB]

Hi,

Want to print from some digital work. I use artrage but usually save them in jpeg . I did find that when I printed out large a outline picture the other day it was very pixilated. That was ok as it was just a template for doing mural work. But I want to produce work digitally in the future, but am worried about the transition to prints.

What is the method so no pixilation happens when they are enlarged for printing. I understand a little about vexctors. I do have Illustrator paint but done use as much as artrage.

Do you print from work done in artrage?

thanks

[Elainepsq]

Hi, I don't have any specific experience with Artrage, but it is a raster based program, therefore, you need to look at the pixel size of your images. When you start a new document, you should be able to control the size.
It will also depend on how you print. A commercial printer will have some recommendations for you. If you are printing to an inkjet printer 300 dpi is considered about as high as will make a difference to your printer.
Here's a link that explains a little about printing photos to an inkjet printer, and it should work for Artrage documents as well:
graphicssoft.about.com/cs/digitalimaging/f/pixelsprint.htm
As far as a vector based program is concerned, I consider that for a document that contains a lot of fine lines or text.

[jade_1664]

hi JoyB, will link you some info from previous post on the same forum. Its a guy who was explaining how to print out digi. Check it out
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=715721

[Einion]

Originally Posted by JoyB

What is the method so no pixilation happens when they are enlarged for printing.

That's part of the problem, enlarging for printing. Ideally you want to work on an image at the final size, choosing the resolution at those dimensions. When working on something that might eventually be printed out at a very large size though it's not as simple as that, so get guidance from the people where you're getting it printed if you can (some help on this in the links below).

Ideally you don't want to save for print as a JPEG since this is a lossy format; at high quality levels there is very little image degradation but below a certain setting you get characteristic blocks in the image formed by the compression that can be easily seen at large sizes.

BTW, just a technical note I've made before: image resolution is PPI, printer resolution is DPI; very good idea not to get them mixed - we have control over the first, the second we don't

Here are some previous threads you might want to look over which cover some of the same ground:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339978
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=406037
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608858

Incidentally vector images largely sidestep all these issues since they are scalable or resolution independent, so if saved the right way they're as sharp at 2m as they were at 6cm

Einion

[JoyB]

Originally Posted by Einion

That's part of the problem, enlarging for printing. Ideally you want to work on an image at the final size, choosing the resolution at those dimensions. When working on something that might eventually be printed out at a very large size though it's not as simple as that, so get guidance from the people where you're getting it printed if you can (some help on this in the links below).

Ideally you don't want to save for print as a JPEG since this is a lossy format; at high quality levels there is very little image degradation but below a certain setting you get characteristic blocks in the image formed by the compression that can be easily seen at large sizes.

BTW, just a technical note I've made before: image resolution is PPI, printer resolution is DPI; very good idea not to get them mixed - we have control over the first, the second we don't

Here are some previous threads you might want to look over which cover some of the same ground:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339978
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=406037
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608858

Incidentally vector images largely sidestep all these issues since they are scalable or resolution independent, so if saved the right way they're as sharp at 2m as they were at 6cm

Einion

thanks for all this great info Einion and everyone.

[mshaiku]

There is a plug-in called Genuine Fractals 6 for enlarging work without losing quality. It's for Photoshop, but even works with Photoshop Elements. I haven't yet printed out the results in large format, but I can definitely tell a difference on the screen.

Here's an online review.
http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...fractals_6.php

Good Luck.

Stay inspired!
Michelle

[JoyB]

thanks for this info that you all sent a while back. resurrecting some painting time at last!

Another quick question: if I am not sure where I will have work printed/ ie which company, seeing as it seems they tend to differ in what type of file they work with - what should I save my work as at first/ this digital art for dummies question. ( my son is very good at all this but at school right now)

I am worried that I will save my work in the wrong type of file and not be able to transfer, then jeopardize using it in the form of printing it out.


p.s I am using artrage :0
thanks

[Rastermon]

Best format is a non-lossy compression like .tif or .png. Jpgs lose information when they compress (though jpg set at the highest quality, lost information is virtually undetectable) Most print shops will take tif, jpg, png, or pdf. Ask them if they want RGB or CMYK - can Artrage work in both colorspaces? Some 6 color digital printers prefer RGB.