5 Replies Latest reply: Dec 30, 2010 6:09 AM by sheana2002 RSS

    Need help with image/print size in Photoshop CS

    sheana2002 Community Member

      I drew a picture with a number of animals. I didn't like the positioning of some, and to try my newbie skills in photoshop, decided to select and paste the different animals into different layers in a NEW document. I was able to move the animals to my satisfaction, but to my dismay, when I went to print it out it was half the size of the original. The canvas size for both documents is 11x8, but I noticed when I moved the animals to the new document in Photoshop, they already looked smaller. How can I keep them the original size? Please help. Thanks in advance.

        • 1. Re: Need help with image/print size in Photoshop CS
          Marek Mularczyk Community Member

          Are both documents the same resolution? It looks like the second document is higher resolution since they're both the same size and the animals are smaller in the second document...

          • 2. Re: Need help with image/print size in Photoshop CS
            sheana2002 Community Member

            Yes, that did it! You're a genius! Thanks so much.

            • 3. Re: Need help with image/print size in Photoshop CS
              Marek Mularczyk Community Member

              I'm glad I could help! 

              • 4. Re: Need help with image/print size in Photoshop CS
                Aegis Kleais Community Member

                The mystery of resolution. 

                It's all about how much data per inch is provided.  With images, think "72 pixels per inch"  BUT don't think of INCH as in physical size just yet.

                 

                If an images is 600 pixels x 400 pixels on screen, then at 72 pixels per inch, that is:

                 

                600/72 = 8.3"

                400/72 = 4.15"

                 

                So it is 8.3" x 4.15".  However, when you provide this to a printer, a printer often starts around 300DPI (dots per inch, which is the same as 300PPI)  So that same 600x400 pixel image, when printed, becomes:

                 

                600/300 = 2"

                400/300 = 1.3"

                 

                You go from an image on screen that says it's 8.3" x 4.15" to something printed in your hands that is only 2" x 1.3".

                 

                This is why when people try to stretch images up to print sizes you get very poor quality images (because Photoshop has to make up information and increase the amount of data 400%.

                 

                Also, if you have an image that is 600x400 pixels and you're viewing it on a monitor whose resolution is set to 800x600 (a rather low resolution), at 100%, that image will take up 600 of the 800 pixels wide (3/4/ths the width) and 400 of the 600 pixels high (2/3rds the height).  Yet, if you change the resolution on that same image to 1600x1200, the image now only takes up 600/1600 (40% of the width) and 400/1200 (1/3rd the height)  But it's the same image!

                 

                Lastly, to confuse you more, the PHYSICAL SIZE of the monitor can be confusing you as well.

                 

                Let's take that 600x400 image again.  On a 17" widescreen at 1680x1050, the actual width of that monitor (since 17" is the diagonal) is about 14.8"  600 of the 1680 pixels is is 35% and 35% of 14.8" = 5.18".  For height, the monitor is 8.3" and the 400 of 1050 pixels is 38% and 38% of 8.3" is 3.1".  So if you measure that image PHYSICALLY, it would be 5.18" x 3.1".

                 

                If you take that EXACT SAME image and put it on a 32" widescreen at 1280x720:

                27.8" wide, 600 of the 1280 pixels = 47%, 47% of 27.8" = 13.06"

                15.6" high, 400 of the 720 pixels = 55%, 55% of 15.6" = 8.6"

                13.06" x 8.6"

                 

                But how can that be?  It's the same image, but on 1 screen it measures 5.18" x 3.1", and on another screen it measures 13.06" x 8.6" ?  This can be fixed in Photoshop, believe it or not, but you have to setup Photoshop properly first!

                 

                I have a 1920x1080 resolution on a 32" TV.  The width of the screen is  27.8" and the height is 15.6"  Take the width resolution (1920) and divide it by the space (27.8") and you get 69.  now goto Photoshop > Edit > Preferences > Units & Rulers and for Screen Resolution type this value (69) into it as 69 [pixels/inch].

                 

                Now with that image open on screen, select VIEW > PRINT SIZE, and PS will resize your image on your screen to the ACTUAL print size. (Does all the internal math for you)

                • 5. Re: Need help with image/print size in Photoshop CS
                  sheana2002 Community Member

                  Thanks for the explanation. I will chew on this for awhile and be better for it.