Skip to main content
M
Mike26306098ytuo
Participant
October 28, 2023
Question

scaling 25ppi image to 300ppi

  • October 28, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 433 views

I am trying to take an image with a resolution of 25 ppi and scale it up to 300ppi for print. Every time I try to edit image size and change the resolution, photoshop provides me with a lovely error message saying that It crashed. I am using the newest macbook pro available so I don't think processing power is the issue.

 

I understand that is an extremely large jump to make in terms of resolution. If scaling such a small image to print quality is just not do able thats okay. however, if there is another way to achieve this scaling please let me know. Thank you:)

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 28, 2023

    @Mike26306098ytuo 

     

    What you should first do is go to image size and uncheck resample image, then change the width or height to the desired print size and unit of measure. The resolution field will then show you the effective resolution.

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 28, 2023

      While there can no doubt that the result will look horrible, there's no reason Photoshop shouldn't do it. If you still insist.

       

      However, ppi doesn't mean anything in itself. If this is a high resolution image that just happens to have a low ppi number assigned, then the resampling would produce a gigantic file, and you could get into other problems like scratch disk and so on.

       

      So how many pixels?

       

       Also post Help > System Info.

        M
        Mike26306098ytuoAuthor
        Participant
        October 28, 2023

        thank you for your timely reply. the dimensions of the image are 3620 x 4751 pixels. That would surely produce a massive file size, so you're probably spot on in terms of scratch disk issues. I did a test print on my home printer with the 25 ppi image file and it printed just fine. 

         

        I was under the notion that images needed to be 300ppi for print use. regardless, thank you for you help. 

        D Fosse
        Community Expert
        D FosseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 28, 2023
        quote

        I was under the notion that images needed to be 300ppi for print use.


        By @Mike26306098ytuo

         

        Yes, this is probably the most widespread myth in all of digital imaging.

         

        The image is just pixels, so many pixels wide by so many pixels high. That's all it is. Image pixels have no size, and so the image has no size.

         

        To make a print you obviously need to define a size. So then your image pixels are spread out over that size. That's the ppi number; that relationship is expressed as "pixels per inch". It's a measure of pixel density.

         

        In other words: The pixels are given. The ppi number defines the size. The size defines the ppi number.

         

        But that's just part of the story. The pixel density (ppi) required depends on reproduction size. The bigger it is, the further back you will go to see it. The eye wants to take in the whole image. Standing too close is physically uncomfortable.

         

        300 ppi is the traditional standard for book and magazine print, to be seen from less than arm's length. For a large banner to be seen from farther away, 25 ppi can be perfectly appropriate.

          Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
          Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices