Large Format Resolution

[riziharris]

I need to make an image 10x20 feet for a sign but cannot find any images that will remain 100dpi at those dimensions. Anyone know where to find unusually large images, larger than the typical size at Shutterstock, etc?

[Lumigraphics]

Typically, a sign that size might be printed at around 30 dpi, depending on viewing distance. You won't need anywhere near 100dpi.

[riziharris]

Thanks. It won't be viewed too far. It's for a fitness studio and will cover the whole wall but it's a smallish room. Second, what would I do if it had to fill a bigger space and wouldn't even be 30 dpi?

[Lumigraphics]

Do the math. 120 inches times 100 pixels per inch times 240 inches times 100 pixels per inch... 12000 times 24000... 288 megapixels.

Nobody uses 288mp images. even a third of that, 33ppi, is 96mp.

Wide-format printers can't do 10' wide graphics, so your image will be tiled. So you will need to cut it up anyway for printing.

I'd say get some help from the print shop that will be handling this job.

[Sahil.Chawla]

Hi there,

As you're looking for unusually large image, have you check Adobe Stock? Stock photos, royalty-free images, graphics, vectors & videos | Adobe Stock

Regards,
Sahil

[D Fosse]

A good rule of thumb is to consider what you'll get out of a current high end state-of-the-art camera. These days, that's around 8000 x 5000 pixels. Yes, a Phase One medium format back can push out around 12000 long side, but at the cost of a medium-sized car. You can safely disregard that, nobody has one if they have to pay for it themselves.

But a file from a Nikon D800 series, or a Z7, or a Sony alpha 7R series, etc - it can be used for anything. Magazine spread, wallpaper, billboards - anything. At any size. Nobody ever complained about resolution.

Every once in a while, for special effect, you'll want a big print that you can walk right up to, put on your strongest reading glasses, and study every little detail. But even then, an effective ppi of around 70 will look razor sharp, if the image is of good quality and well prepared. Consider a standard monitor. Can you see any pixels? Does it look blurry?

In short, you need to be realistic about these things. There's no need to go overboard.