Large prints

Is it possible to print a picture (gif, jpg, etc) with larger sizes than
sheets of paper (8.5 by 11 inches) like 2 feet by 3 feet

Jacques Desgagné wrote:
Is it possible to print a picture (gif, jpg, etc) with larger sizes than
sheets of paper (8.5 by 11 inches) like 2 feet by 3 feet

The fact that you are asking this question indicates that you are not a
professional printer, so I presume you are asking if you can print
poster size pictures with a consumer level printer and scanner/digital
camera combination.

Sure, both via software (as mentioned by other posters) and/or a large
format printer (which costs loadsadough). But unless you have a really
hi-res image (ie around 4000 pixels along the short dimension) it won't
look good "at normal viewing distances" of about 2-4ft. It will be
noticeably blurry. If the poster is going to be hung where normal
viewing distance is 5-6ft or more, it will look OK from that distance.

There's software that will change image size and interpolate pixels when
you enlarge the image, but it still won't look very good up close. You
can't get more information out of an image than is already in there. NB
that ordinary consumer level scanners that promise "up to 4800 dpi"
don't really scan at that resolution - they just interpolate pixels
between the ones that are scanned (usually at 600 or 1200 _optical_
dpi). You need a scanner that can do 4800 _optical_ dpi (or better) to
get a scan of high enough resolution to get decent large format prints.

Fact is, the typical consumer level scanner or digital camera will not
produce originals good enough for even good quality large format prints,
let alone very good or excellent. "Barely good enough at a distance" is
the best you'll get. Even for good 8-1/2" x 11" prints you need images
with a res in the 2400x1600 range.

That being said, only you know what compromises you are willing to
accept. Good luck and have fun experimenting!

Ed Ruf wrote:
On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 11:26:39 -0500, in comp.periphs.printers "Jacques
Desgagné" wrote:

Is it possible to print a picture (gif, jpg, etc) with larger sizes
than sheets of paper (8.5 by 11 inches) like 2 feet by 3 feet

Sure. There are large format printers capable of this. There are also
printing utils that allow you to tile a large poster across multiple
pages, such as Qimage.

----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 )
http://EdwardGRuf.com

It's interesting that very few if any at all allows printing on endless
paper - like if you have stickers on endless pack and you want to print just
one or two of them...in this case you MUST tear off desired lenght...i'd
like to printer print desired labels, then stop spitting out paper until it
reaches "out pf paper" signal...like that old dot printers...

Well, yes, of course, but what does possible mean?

Can you do it with a small home printer that doesn't accept paper over
letter size?

Maybe, if it allows for tiling, or if you have a program which allows
that. You then have to adhere the pieces together.

Do you mean, how will it look? You can certainly do it, or have it
done, but what will it look like. If the source material is detailed
and the scan of it, and or digital image (like a digital camera) had
enough information, you can certainly print it large.

If you are asking what size does the file need to be (pixel dimensions)
to result in a photographic quality print of 2' x 3', that can also be
determined. Also, to some extent how large something can be made
depends on the subject matter, how far away it will be viewed from, and
the image software used.

Art

Jacques Desgagné wrote:

Is it possible to print a picture (gif, jpg, etc) with larger sizes than
sheets of paper (8.5 by 11 inches) like 2 feet by 3 feet