STUDIO TALK

Thank you for the shout out, pxlsyndc8! :-))

This thread really answer my question and understanding on image resolution and printing guidelines...anyway I do check most of the link proposed in this thread..,shout out to alyzen_moonshadow...nice blog...here is the link straight to the image resolution explanation http://alyzenmoonshadow.tumblr.com/post/9949398370. She also provide external reference for this subject...anyway thanks kaphinga for re-directing me to this post....

There's an app called "Resize Photo" that let you set dpi of any image you have saved into the iPhone, but like iPhonePhil said, you can't increase resolution...

Also a good idea is to always check what APP resolution is before you edit your image, most are set at a default of LOW resolution, just click on FULL resolution or the highest setting and it will stay there as a default setting.

I find IF you need to change the dpi do it in Photoshop and please remember you can NOT add resolution. Here are the simple steps. Go to IMAGE click on IMAGE SIZE and make sure CONSTRAIN PROPORTIONS is checked and noting else. Go to RESOLUTION change to desired DPI (default is 72) then click OK. You will notice the higher the resolution the smaller the print size will be. There is nothing else you should do to the image as in trying to add file size or unchecking constrain proportions and trying to add resolution all you will get is a pixilated image. You can however use BLOW UP or another program to add pixels if needed. Remember these are iPhones not a high end digital camera, SMALL is good. Hope this helps ..... also check this out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_resolution

Thank you so much Kaphinga and to everyone else! Much appreciated. I learn by doing - so I think it's just going to be some trial and error. The other day I had to send an image in, in full resolution - I ended up changing the dpi to 300 and the pixels to something bigger. Not having any clue what I was doing, still unsure - but they haven't said anything so I'm guessing it worked.

Thanks again for all that great info!!

Such helpful information!! Thanks so much -- this really helps me a lot!!!!!
Cecily

Yep makes perfect sense to me :) thanks
And yes - I'm super grateful to those talented app developers too :)

@Sand625 and Leftcoastlens -- Most printers can print at 300dpi, which is the ideal. If you have enough pixels to print at 300 dpi, you should by all means do it. You can get by with printing at a lower resolution -- say 150 - 200dpi -- if you have to, and your print will still look good. At less than 150 dpi, however, you start to get into trouble. 72 dpi is the standard resolution screen resolution.

If you keep up with the pixel count high, you will be fine. Don't worry about DPI (dots per inch) until you are ready to print. If you have 3000 pixels on the longest side, then you can print 10 inches at 300 dpi (10 * 300 = 3000) or 20 inches at 150 dpi (20 * 150 = 3000). Does this make sense?

@leftcoatlens -- a muffaletta is a sandwich, with lots of Italian meets, cheeses and olives. It's delicious. You find them a lot in New Orleans. Abita is a brand of beer brewed in Louisiana.

Oh, and in general, there is always a tradeoff between time and space in software development -- the bigger the image the more memory and processing is required. Processing images in full res requires a more profound understanding of resource management than a simple low res image. My hat is off to the developers who go the extra mile to provide a full res option -- their efforts are greatly appreciated. (I am constantly amazed at how much these little phones can do.)

Wow thanks Marie :))) super helpful! I usually check sizes in Filterstorm but i suspect the photo sizer app will be quicker. I tend to use filterstorm to downsize for the web if needed and upsize on my pc, adding art / texture effects to hide any pixelation.

There's a lot of conflicting info out there about dpi. If you upload to a print on demand place they all ask for 300dpi. But lots of folks say this is redundant its the total number of pixels that matter rather than how many per inch. In the past I've altered the dpi using psp or elements whilst maintaining the image size, then gone up in increments (like Marie said) till an image is around 3000 pixels. Saving in jpg because although png has apparently more detail/larger file size I've noticed that there's blurring, especially with any graphics.
Now of course (purse permitting) I'll use photo resize 7 :) Despite the arguments against this not being 'pure' iPhone art...depends on the image of course. Some things are better small scale...

Great Information KAPHINGA especially about the free app "Photo Size" your right everyone should have this app.... now only if all the developers of apps would make them so they would support Full size....

Now I"m curious as to what a muffaletta and Abita is! lol.

And wow!! Thank you so much for that info! Super helpful! I'm starting to get it, I think! But just one more thing I'm not getting - when / why would I change the dpi and not just the pixels? Is it that if I want to get a better fuller resolution and I change my already 800x800 picture to say 1400x1200 at originally 72 dpi, would I then also change that to something higher ie. 250, 300 etc.?

Sorry guys, I don't speak numbers and my brain just doesn't function with technical info, so thank you so much for all your help!!

@Joel -- hey, thanks, I might just take you up on your offer of a muffaletta and an Abita!

Thank you for the detailed info, Marie!

Very useful knowledge, peeps! Thanks for the descriptive info and Photosize tip, Marie. I owe you a muffaletta and an Abita!