Photography Thailand Forum

[alter]

Hi,

I guess mine is a basic question: I just bought a Nikon D80, and cannot find how to change the configuration to take pictures at 300dpi instead of 72 dpi. I would appreciate some help.

Thanks

Isabel

[agitlits]

You cannot change resolution in-camera, only image size, I believe. What resolution do you get when you take the photos straight out of your camera?

[alter]

Thank you for answering.
I have maximum size and quality, but I get always 72 dpi. I was told that I can change the size to the half and then change the resolution to double, 150 dpi without loosing quality. Is that right?? Is it then that I am always going to get only 72 dpi with the D80?

[agitlits]

I think you would have to do it using software. I believe the problem is that your software, e.g. photoshop is set to display images at 72 dpi resolution. Change it within software. I think it's nothing to do with your camera settings.

Alex

[alter]

Ok, I will check that. Thank you very much!  :)

[agitlits]

Also, what are the dimensions of the images out of the camera at 72 dpi?

Alex

[alter]

The dimentions are 3872 x 2592. I have been trying to find out how to change the dpi within the software, and cannot find the way  :'( . I've got Photoshop C2. I appreciate very much your help. Thanks a lot

[epixx]

In Photoshop, click on Image, then Image size, be sure to uncheck the option that allows resizing (forgot it's name now, but it's in the bottom left corner of that menu), change to 300 dpi.

If you know how to run batch jobs under Photoshop, you can do the change for whole folders in one go.

Why do you want to do this btw.? Most printer programs manage the sizing of the photos themselves, as long as there are enough pixels available for proper resolution. The only times when I do this, is when I want the photos correctly sized in design and publishing programs like Illustrator and InDesign.

[alter]

I am learning about photography and phtoshop, and that's why I wanted to know how to do it.
My question is, if I change the resolution from 72 to 150 or 300 dpi in a picture, am I adding information to it, so it looses quality, or am I mixing up concepts here? (interpolar in Spanish, I don't know the word in English!!) 
Thanks again

[agitlits]

As epixx said. In PS CS2 Go to Image, image size. change resolution to 300 dpi, but make sure "RESAMPLING" is unticked!

Alex

[alter]

Thank you both for your help!  :)

[agitlits]

Did it work?

Alex

[alter]

I couldn't check it yet. I'm still working, but I'll have a look at it tonight and will let you know

[Chris Savery]

Something you should keep in mind when thinking about photos is that the DPI value is an arbitrary number that determines how some software will interpret the size of an image. As far as quality what matters is the total pixel count. So for example a 3000 x 2000 pixel image can be displayed or printed in many sizes, like 30" x 20" @ 100 dpi, or 15" x 10" @ 200 dpi. Same image, no more or less information content but interpreted to show various different sizes.

When you select "no resampling" in the image size options in PS you are telling PS you want to change the DPI number but not change the image content at all. When you resample in PS you are changing the image content by either adding pixels in (when increasing pixel count) or removing them (when decreasing pixel count).

I haven't seen any way to change DPI values in cameras but as described above it's easy to do in PS and other image software. Doing that doesn't matter generally except perhaps if you submit to an agency and they request that images be tagged as 300 dpi because that makes it standard and easier for designers to work with them. In the end the quality of your print will depend primarily on the total pixel count and it's own ability to render them at the desired size.

[alter]

Great explanation! It makes sense now with all the answers. I had heard things about how to change dpi here and there, but I have it quite clear. I still have to take time to make tests to see it by myself (too much work doesn't let me time!) but I don't think I should have any more trouble with it.
Thank you all soooo much!