resolution, aspect ratio and planning a shot

jovation · Jul 22, 2011

Hello all,

I will be taking a photo as a gift for someone, and the final dimensions of the print will be 18.5" X 28.3" (468mm X 720mm). I understand that this is what is known as an aspect ratio of 1.5, or 3:2 ?

My digital camera has various aspect ratios/resolutions, and I'd like to choose the one that will give me the best outcome for this photo. I suppose I will be able to frame and compose the shot according to the aspect ratio best suitable.

16M 4 : 3 4608 × 3456
14M 3 : 2 4608 × 3072
12M 1 : 1 3456 × 3456
12M 16 : 9 4608 × 2592
5M 4 : 3 2592 × 1944
1M 4 : 3 1280 × 960
10M 4 : 3 3648 × 2736
VGA 4 : 3 640 × 480

Am I right in assuming that the second option will give me the best overall result, assuming no cropping?

If I have to do some cropping because of bad framing while taking the photo (this will not be a portrait where I can take the time to compose and frame exactly), would it be wiser to also take shots at the 16M 4:3 mode?

Also, which ISO's should I avoid or are borderline for such a print? The sensor is a 1/2.3" CCD.

Any advice about how to plan this shot is greatly appreciated.

BIJ001 · Jul 23, 2011

jovation said:
14M 3 : 2 4608 × 3072

This seems to be a good choice.

If you know beforehand that you'll need an image with the aspect ratio 3:2, shooting it in this dimension (provided your camera assists you by showing the preview) is a help in the framing. You could frame it using 4:3 and crop later, but it would be then harder to compose the framing. You might decide to do some cropping in PP anyway. But it is not the same if you do cropping in order to have a major change in the aspect ration or in order just to crop away some minor disturbances at the edges.

It is of course completely conceivable to crop with a major change in the aspect ratio in PP. You could be of course much experienced in PP and cropping, juggling around with different aspects ratios all the time, but then you would not ask this.

On the other hand shooting with the maximal native resolution would give more opportunity to shift the framing for the final result.

It depends on which way is more appealing for you.

Good luck!

--
Iván József Balázs
(Hungary)

jovation · Jul 23, 2011

Ivan thank you very much.

Any other info concerning what to look out for while shooting that will help me keep image quality into the print is appreciated.

mszak51 · Jul 23, 2011

jovation said:
Hello all,

I will be taking a photo as a gift for someone, and the final dimensions of the print will be 18.5" X 28.3" (468mm X 720mm). I understand that this is what is known as an aspect ratio of 1.5, or 3:2 ?

My digital camera has various aspect ratios/resolutions, and I'd like to choose the one that will give me the best outcome for this photo. I suppose I will be able to frame and compose the shot according to the aspect ratio best suitable.

16M 4 : 3 4608 × 3456
14M 3 : 2 4608 × 3072
12M 1 : 1 3456 × 3456
12M 16 : 9 4608 × 2592
5M 4 : 3 2592 × 1944
1M 4 : 3 1280 × 960
10M 4 : 3 3648 × 2736
VGA 4 : 3 640 × 480

Am I right in assuming that the second option will give me the best overall result, assuming no cropping?

If I have to do some cropping because of bad framing while taking the photo (this will not be a portrait where I can take the time to compose and frame exactly), would it be wiser to also take shots at the 16M 4:3 mode?

Also, which ISO's should I avoid or are borderline for such a print? The sensor is a 1/2.3" CCD.

Any advice about how to plan this shot is greatly appreciated.

1. This is a big print, and it will expose any weaknesses in your technique. Setup the shot ahead of time and do some test print runs to learn. Start with small prints to save $ and work your way up.

2. Shoot it at maximum MPixels. Even though the aspect ratio is not your final aspect ratio, as long as everything is in frame, you should be good, and it'll leave you a few hundred pixels on the narrow side to position things best.

3. Which ISOs to avoid? Don't worry about ISO - set the appropriate DOF and shutter speed for the situation so that you get an in focus shot. Images can be de-noised reasonably well in post production - out of focus is pretty hard to fix.

4. Shoot RAW

BTW, what camera are you using?

jovation · Jul 23, 2011

mszak51 said:
Setup the shot ahead of time and do some test print runs to learn. Start with small prints to save $ and work your way up.

I won't be able to set up the shot, as this will be taken while the subject is in motion, and in surroundings I can't control - I can only try and plan ahead things like exposure and DOF. I will definitely be printing this small before sending it off for a larger print.

mszak51 said:
2. Shoot it at maximum MPixels. Even though the aspect ratio is not your final aspect ratio, as long as everything is in frame, you should be good, and it'll leave you a few hundred pixels on the narrow side to position things best.

I've taken your point - will make a shot at this resolution as well.

mszak51 said:
3. Which ISOs to avoid? Don't worry about ISO - set the appropriate DOF and shutter speed for the situation so that you get an in focus shot. Images can be de-noised reasonably well in post production - out of focus is pretty hard to fix.

Understood.

mszak51 said:
4. Shoot RAW

Unfortunately, don't have it.

mszak51 said:
BTW, what camera are you using?

I'll be using a Ricoh PX - a new P&S model just released, which I will be receiving in another two weeks. This is my first digital camera, and hence my questions. I won't have much time after this before I take the shot, so I'm trying to learn as much as possible beforehand.

Thanks for the input so far!

wmsson · Jul 23, 2011

jovation said:
Hello all,

I will be taking a photo as a gift for someone, and the final dimensions of the print will be 18.5" X 28.3" (468mm X 720mm). I understand that this is what is known as an aspect ratio of 1.5, or 3:2 ?

jovation said:
My digital camera has various aspect ratios/resolutions, and I'd like to choose the one that will give me the best outcome for this photo. I suppose I will be able to frame and compose the shot according to the aspect ratio best suitable.

16M 4 : 3 4608 × 3456
14M 3 : 2 4608 × 3072
12M 1 : 1 3456 × 3456
12M 16 : 9 4608 × 2592
5M 4 : 3 2592 × 1944
1M 4 : 3 1280 × 960
10M 4 : 3 3648 × 2736
VGA 4 : 3 640 × 480

Am I right in assuming that the second option will give me the best overall result, assuming no cropping?

No. And that is because you assume no cropping. Ignore the purists who say it should all be done in camera. It is infinitely better to shoot a little wide and crop to the best composition on the computer monitor instead of trying to figure it (and check those corners) through a teeny weeny viewfinder.

jovation said:
If I have to do some cropping because of bad framing while taking the photo (this will not be a portrait where I can take the time to compose and frame exactly), would it be wiser to also take shots at the 16M 4:3 mode?

Use the largest possible image size. This will give you the most leeway for cropping to the exact aspect ratio you want.

jovation said:
Also, which ISO's should I avoid or are borderline for such a print? The sensor is a 1/2.3" CCD.

I wouldn't go over 400 ISO. But that doesn't mean anything if you are determined to get this shot with this camera. You have to use the lowest acceptable aperture for DOF and the lowest possible shutter speed to freeze motion. And to get the exposure you want, the ISO will be what it will be. Hopefully it will work out to being 200 ISO or lower. Higher than that will definitely show a lesser IQ in a large print. If there is no motion and you can use a tripod, then you can use base ISO.

Just remember, widest possible aperture, lowest possible shutter speed....and ISO will be what it will be to get the exposure you want.

jovation · Jul 23, 2011

wmsson said:
It is infinitely better to shoot a little wide and crop to the best composition on the computer monitor instead of trying to figure it (and check those corners) through a teeny weeny viewfinder.

Understood.

wmsson said:
Use the largest possible image size. This will give you the most leeway for cropping to the exact aspect ratio you want.

OK.

wmsson said:
You have to use the lowest acceptable aperture for DOF and the lowest possible shutter speed to freeze motion. And to get the exposure you want, the ISO will be what it will be. Hopefully it will work out to being 200 ISO or lower. Higher than that will definitely show a lesser IQ in a large print.

Just remember, widest possible aperture, lowest possible shutter speed....and ISO will be what it will be to get the exposure you want.

OK, that's a good summary for me.

Thank you wmsson!

mszak51 · Jul 23, 2011

jovation said:
mszak51 said:

Setup the shot ahead of time and do some test print runs to learn. Start with small prints to save $ and work your way up.

Click to expand...

I won't be able to set up the shot, as this will be taken while the subject is in motion, and in surroundings I can't control - I can only try and plan ahead things like exposure and DOF. I will definitely be printing this small before sending it off for a larger print.

jovation said:

2. Shoot it at maximum MPixels. Even though the aspect ratio is not your final aspect ratio, as long as everything is in frame, you should be good, and it'll leave you a few hundred pixels on the narrow side to position things best.

Click to expand...

I've taken your point - will make a shot at this resolution as well.

jovation said:

3. Which ISOs to avoid? Don't worry about ISO - set the appropriate DOF and shutter speed for the situation so that you get an in focus shot. Images can be de-noised reasonably well in post production - out of focus is pretty hard to fix.

Click to expand...

Understood.

jovation said:

4. Shoot RAW

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, don't have it.

jovation said:

BTW, what camera are you using?

Click to expand...

I'll be using a Ricoh PX - a new P&S model just released, which I will be receiving in another two weeks. This is my first digital camera, and hence my questions. I won't have much time after this before I take the shot, so I'm trying to learn as much as possible beforehand.

Thanks for the input so far!

I'm going to guess that a quality print of that size from that camera will be a bit of a challenge. That said, us pixel peepers often forget that subject matter and composition rules - the right subject matter and composition, and you have a winner, despite any technical flaws.

As for practice - don't worry about replicating the exact same setup - make a print at that size of anything, so you can get a sense of what the quality you will be getting.

it would be helpful if you could tell us exactly what the subject matter was.

Given the equipment, and the fact that you are a beginner, I would have a back up plan, which would be:

1. If possible, Plan on getting 9 quality images that are "different" - instead of having a single big printed image, think about stitching together a 3x3 montage that tells a story.

2. Plan on converting to black and white after the fact . Getting good colors when printed can be tricky some times, and if not done right are more of a distraction than enhancement. Converting to black and white can solve that, especially if the scene has nice textures.

jovation · Jul 23, 2011

mszak51 said:
I'm going to guess that a quality print of that size from that camera will be a bit of a challenge. That said, us pixel peepers often forget that subject matter and composition rules - the right subject matter and composition, and you have a winner, despite any technical flaws.

mszak51 said:
it would be helpful if you could tell us exactly what the subject matter was.

I will be taking a photo of a friend who is a windsurf freak, while in the water - the PX is a waterproof camera, albeit with limited abilities.

mszak51 said:
Given the equipment, and the fact that you are a beginner, I would have a back up plan, which would be:

1. If possible, Plan on getting 9 quality images that are "different" - instead of having a single big printed image, think about stitching together a 3x3 montage that tells a story.

Actually, that's a good idea that I hadn't thought of - the PX has a consecutive shooting mode that could come in handy in this case.

mszak51 said:
2. Plan on converting to black and white after the fact . Getting good colors when printed can be tricky some times, and if not done right are more of a distraction than enhancement. Converting to black and white can solve that, especially if the scene has nice textures.

Hadn't planned on b&w, but I agree this might be an interesting option. Might even be an "artistic' sort of alternative that suits the gift idea.

Thanks!

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