In order to maximize printing size, one must first understand the concept of dots per inch (DPI). A printing machine will place dots of ink onto paper to create an image and the quality of the image is determined by how many dots can be placed in a given amount of area. “Dots per inch” is the number of printed dots in a linear inch. When it comes to photo enlargement printing, it is recommended that you do not reduce the number of dots per inch beyond 100 dpi. Professional photographers prefer to print their work at about 300 dots per inch, but the average point and click digital camera user would be satisfied with a print of 150 dpi. For the sake of this article, we will equate the pixels in a camera to a dot in printing and use the two terms interchangeably.

Most digital cameras that can be purchased in today’s retail electronics stores will produce between 6 and 12 megapixels. For demonstration purposes, we will choose 8 megapixels as our guideline. A standard 8 megapixel camera will produce a digital image that has the dimensions of 3456 x 2304 pixels (7,962,624 square pixels) at an aspect ratio of 3:2. (Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of the image compared to the height of the image.) To calculate the maximum print size of this digital photo at 150 pixels per inch, we would divide the dimensions by 150 pixels.

Example:
3456 pixels/150pixels = 23
2304 pixels/150pixels=15.4
Using the example of an 8 megapixel camera, we see that 23×15.4” inches would be our maximum print size at 150 DPI.

However, it is not always necessary to maintain the photo quality printing requirement of 150 DPI. If your photo enlargement print is being viewed from several feet away, we are able to drop the DPI lower. This is because the human eye begins to blur the dots as viewing distance grows. We experience this effect on a daily basis as we drive. For example, billboards are printed at much lower resolution, because of the great distance at which they are viewed. It is not uncommon for billboard printers to print their images at 10 or 20 DPI! If your print is hanging high over a mantle or on a high wall in a room with vaulted ceilings, there is no reason to print at high resolutions. From this distance, even 100 DPI would create a stunning image. Use the chart below as a reference when calculating image DPI and distance of viewing.

Under 2’ feet distance = 300 PPI
2’ to 3’ feet distance= 200 PPI
3’ to 5’ feet distance = 125 PPI
5′ to 10′ feet distance = 100 PPI

Always consider these key factors when printing photo enlargements:  number of megapixels your camera can create, size of print you wish to create and the expected viewing distance. Knowing these factors will help you calculate the maximum size of your print while maintaining excellent photo quality.

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This is a picture of a print created by Online Poster Printing. As you can see in the image the photo paper is glossy and shows great detail! If you are picky about quality, then our high gloss photo poster print is a great choice for your next photo poster.

Do you consider yourself a capable photographer? Here are a few ideas for creating your very own art poster print.

Take to the streets and try your hand at creating an art poster print of a busy main street or downtown area in your community. Urban buzz or rural comfort can both serve as great themes to your photography style. Here is an example of a photograph taken during a busy morning commute.

Vacation photos are perfect for creating unique art poster prints with an exotic twist. Foreign backdrops make for eye catching design and can spice up your decor. This photo was taken in Phuket, Thailand and lends an aura of serenity to your wall space.

Close up photos of everyday objects can be taken in an artistic style that adds an element of contemplation. Consider trying out everyday objects in an unusual perspective. Art lives all around us waiting to be captured. The above photo is entitled Shiny Spoons and was taken by Flickr  member froggygrl727.

Don’t fancy yourself as a photographer? No problem. Enjoy the photography of others on such photo communities as Flickr.com! Be sure that you do an advanced search for photographs shared under the creative commons license. This allows you to enjoy the artwork, but not to resell the artwork or use for any commercial purposes. Below is a great photo of the San Francisco Bay with the Presidio in the foreground and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background by Flickr community member Nicholas Macgowan.

I hope that these ideas have got you thinking of some great ideas of your own! Check out OnlinePosterPrinting.com to print your art poster print today!

Once you have selected an image and product that you wish to print as a photo enlargement, you will need to select your photo poster size. This can be a tough choice, because Online Poster Printing offers custom sizes starting from 8×10″ inches all the way up to 59×100″ inches! Here are 7 common photo poster sizes to spark a few ideas for your next photo enlargement project.

11×17″ in. Photo Enlargement:

16×20″ in. Photo Enlargement:

18×24″ in. Photo Enlargement:

24×24″ in. Photo Enlargement:

24×36″ in. Photo Enlargement:

27×39″ in. Photo Enlargement:

46×60″ in. Photo Enlargement:

I hope that this post has sparked some great ideas for future photo enlargements. For more more information, check out Online Poster Printing | Photo Prints!