Q about pic size for A2poster

[OLSEN]

Hi,

im working on a pic that will be printed as A2 posters, and i just got the thumbnail approved and applauded. Its basicly a pic of a clouded nightsky with the company logo projected onto the clouds a´la batmans searchlight.

Anyhow, now i have to start working on the final product, but what size and resolution should i work in? I doubt my computer can handle a fullsize A2 in 300dpi in photoshop, can i make it smaller and get away with it, or will anything smaller look terrible in print?

Thanks in advance.

[RONIN]

Best recommendation I have is to contact the printer first and see what they want sent to them. I have had jobs that I needed to redo to the printer's plate/press needs. It really depends on what type of plate they use for the press as to what they want in separations etc.. Hope that helps.

[OLSEN]

Thanks Ronin, but theres no printer to contact at the moment, the guys im doing the work for hasnt decided who will do the printing, they will most likely wait untill the last second before they decide where to print the posters. Thanks anyways. :)

Let me refrase the question: At what size should i work to be completely sure that even the most lowbudget printer can print the picture in A2 size without making it look like crap? :D

[Kortez]

The basic rule I learned is

NEVER EVER go under 150dpi or it will most definitely look like shite.

I'd go for 200-266 dpi if you're having problems. I once printed a 150 and it looked okey (not great, but it didn't look all that bad)

So, you can be lower than 300, but not much lower than let's say 200 ?

hope I've made some sense :)

[Kortez]

oh and btw. my brother is a graphic designer and does loads of posters. He goes for 300 dpi and his comp is 1,6 ghz, 256 mb ram, and it works smoothly, but it takes a minute or two to save his work. What is your computer like?

anyway, hope it helps,
kortez

[OLSEN]

Thanks kortez. You definitly made sence. :)

Ive got a 1,2 ghz with 512mb ram. I tested running A2 at 300dpi and it was really slow, but the deadline is still a few weeks away so im luckily not in a desperate hurry.

But do you think i can do the pic in A3 at 300dpi and get away with it? (to a certain degree, the smaller i can work the better in my eyes)

I never had any of my digital work printed so im a total noob conserning this.

thanks again. :)

[egerie]

I also had a tight deadline (a day eek) for an E3 poster... we decided to go ahead in 150 dpis since no one would have their nose stuck on it..

[Kortez]

I'm also a n00b at this :) so please take my advice with a pinch of warning :D

But, I think you could do the a3 300dpi, it's a better quality than for instance an a2 200dpi res. But, I don't have enough experience or knowledge to guarantee that it will work out.

But I'd say yes to an a3 300dpi.. but I would get a second opinion on it, cause I could be horribly wrong :rolleyes:

Hope this works out for you :)

[Goo]

i'd printed A2 at 150 n 200 dpi before.....150 is a bit blur on the details.......200 should be just fine...but if its really big promo poster you might wanna try 250dpi. 1000++dpis are only for photo-quality pix.

[GhostofMacbeth]

The basic rule is twice up from the line screen. Most newspapers print at an 85 line scren, hence you need at least 170. Most magazines print at a 133 line screen so you need 266. To be honest I am not sure what posters normally run at but 300 should be fine for most.

[OLSEN]

I think ill do it in A3 at 300 dpi and hope for the best then. :D

Ill post it here later if they let me.

Thanks guys. Now its time for me to start torturing my wacom. see ya! :)