Resolution troubles for a job.

[DannySketch]

Hey guys and gals

I have recently managed to get myself a commission to do a display stand for a company and am having some resolution headaches.

The specs for the stand are here (http://www.popup-direct.co.uk/images/pop-up-stands-curved/classic-single-curved-popup/POPUPS%203x2%20CLASSIC%20CURVED%20SPECS.pdf).

The thing is huge, and I am afraid I have to plea complete ignorance in all things resolution to print based. Does anyone have a clue what would be an acceptable size to do this piece at? One of the problems I have is not knowing exactly how the resolution of the image effects what size you can do the image at? For example could an image be done at 300 dpi and be just 1000 pixel x 1000 pixel in size? Forgive my stupidity I just don't have a clue what the relationship is between the two.

The specs clearly say that 1/4 needs to be at least 300 dpi, I am confused again as to what that would mean the size would have to be (could i get away with 1/4 of the actual print size?) and also to whether I would need to split the images up and then try and match them up manually.

I am really sorry to come begging for answers but I am at a loss, any help would be appreciated!

cheers

[Baron Impossible]

I may be missing something (due to quickly scanning your post) but are you using vector? If so DPI isn't relevant. They ask for an EPS or PDF so it sounds like they want vector so I'm confused.

I don't know what the 1/4 business is about. But so you can work it out, for printing raster, dpi is normally synonymous with ppi so 300 dpi is 300 pixels per inch of paper. So for a 10 x 10 print @ 300dpi you'd need a 3000 x 3000px canvas. A little short of the four 8ft drops you're being asked for, however, and 300 dpi is art book quality, not stand quality. Which all adds up to not having a clue, myself, so I guess you need to ask them.

[Aphotic Phoenix]

After looking at the site, my guess is that your minimum print file per panel should look like this because otherwise you'd be looking at a really painfully large filesize (that one is a single layer blank canvas).

[Baron Impossible]

That's what I initially came up with but then I thought why ask for 1/4 height at 300dpi rather than full height at 75dpi?

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Maybe because most people are accustomed to working 300 ppi? Honestly I couldn't tell you, but it seems like it would take an awful lot of processing power to handle something larger.

[DannySketch]

Cheers guys, I am in your collective debt.

[J Wilson]

How I read that:
Make everything 300 dpi, at the size mentioned in the pdf. This could be 2225mm high x 2019mm wide just going by visible space (there is 336.5mm on each end of the display that won't show). Or it might be the full size of 2225mm high x 2692mm wide if they expect artwork to wrap around. Talk with your client and ask which they need. Communication is key for any job. Each panel size should be 2225mm high by 673mm wide and 300 dpi, understanding that the end quarter panels are only going to have half the viewable space from the front, with the other half folded back.

Do NOT quarter the resolution or the size. I believe they are simply referring to each quarter of the display (each panel). You can see they are giving measurements based on quarter panels. It could be how they are printing it and assembling it, but it shouldn't make any difference to you, unless they prefer that you pre crop the work into those quarters for their ease of printing. I'm guessing they want it as panels (quarters).

EPS or PDF files are so any text can remain crisp and sharp. Even 300 dpi flattened text won't be as sharp as vector information for your text. Convert all text to outlines in Illustrator so they don't need to load the font on their system. This will make the text essentially text shaped vector shapes.

You need to do some research and make sure you understand what you and they are talking about. Take a couple hours and look up the relationship between printing and resolution.

[Aphotic Phoenix]

In CMYK that's a 3.11 Gig file. >_>

I do recommend that yes you check with the client as to what they want, but the "artwork dimensions" section makes me think that the printers do allow dropping of size. Considering the size I'd imagine this is meant to be viewed from at least a foot or so away? Depending on the printing process and software used it, a full 300 ppi shouldn't be necessary for a file that large. Obviously it's best to work at the highest resolution that your computer can handle will give you the sharpest results, and most important do what the client wants, but that just seems really huge to me.

Now, if they were using a direct projection process such as some inkjet printing or doing an emulsion type print...then yes you'd want the highest resolution possible, because even 35mm film (which is has the approx. resolution of a 10-12MP camera) would show grain at 24 inches (approx size of each panel). Now if different software is used, such as one that uses algorithms to produce dot patterns, it becomes much easier to enlarge. With free software, and a trip to kinkos, I can make a 30in x 46in raster print from a 468px × 702px jpg that shows no pixels edges, and almost looks like the original photograph from 2 1/2 feet away. So yeah...that's why I'm curious about the whole thing.

[J Wilson]

I agree 300 dpi would most likely be over kill for anything meant to be seen at a distance, but it seems to be what they are asking for. I've never encountered a client giving sizes that they then asked to be quartered, else they could have just asked for 75dpi at full size. Then again, clients don't always make the most sense or themselves have the best communication.

I just noticed they also listed a "50%" dimension, halving each measurement, which would in effect quarter the image. So, maybe that IS what they intend, but I have no clue why they would ask for something in such a confusing way...

[Aphotic Phoenix]

I think the client said "I need you design x to fit this", and gave the printers specs. The printers are just trying to explain the dimensions and what they need for a decent quality print. From my own experience printing photographs and enlargements, you run into a lot of businesses and people who don't understand what "dpi" or "ppi" etc are, so it can be difficult to explain sometimes. (For example why a photograph taken with a cellphone won't look good as a huge enlargement).

[Baron Impossible]

Yes, having read it in more detail you must communicate with them. To embark on attempting 4 raster pieces at 8ft tall @ 300dpi is nigh-on impossible and ultimately completely pointless, as the work would look just as good at 75dpi or indeed 40 or 50 dpi. As I say, I suspect they're after vector and didn't realise that dpi doesn't apply to vector.

[DannySketch]

Ha cheers guys,

I have finally managed to get in contact with the printing company and indeed I have read the whole thing completely wrong. What they are saying is that you can do the entire art work for the whole stand at 1/4 of the size at 300dpi. Which means the width can be a min of 673 mm and the height 556.25 mm, far more manageable.

Again thank you for everyones help and input.

[Baron Impossible]

How utterly bizarre, they don't seem to realise that it doesn't matter what dpi you work at because dpi only affects printing and for that they're going to have to go with 75dpi anyway. Still, makes your job easier so good luck!