Skip to main content
Bob Howes
Bob Howes
Inspiring
December 3, 2016
Answered

Recommended Pixel Resolution for a B0 Poster

  • December 3, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 3900 views

I know this isn't strictly a Photoshop question but I know this forum is full of graphics experts...

I work mainly with Audio (Audition) and some video (Premiere Pro) but I made the mistake of helping one of my sound clients with some graphics (a theatre programme) and now he thinks I can work miracles.

He needs a poster for his next production--the size of the sign where it will be posted takes a B0 print.  I'm wondering what Pixel resolution is recommended to produce an acceptable product that size.

I suspect that the true answer is "what will you put up with" so, in case it helps, the sign this will go on is a bit more than 2 metres high...and the sidewalk running by it is about 2 metres away so nobody will get up really close to see slight softness or pixelation. 

Anyway, I'd appreciate any advice you can offer (and promise to try and answer you sound questions over on the Audition forum.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer davescm

    You rightly have mentioned viewing distance.

    There is a formula in the link below for what they eye can resolve at a particular distance in good viewing conditions

    ppi = 1/((distance in inches x 0.000291)/2). 

    So at 2 metres that is 1/((78 x 0.000291)/2) = 88ppi  anything more than that the eye won't resolve, at that distance

    That works out as 16.9 M pixels so your DSLR image should be fine

    What print resolution works for what viewing distance?

    Hope that helps

    Dave

    2 replies

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    December 3, 2016

    You rightly have mentioned viewing distance.

    There is a formula in the link below for what they eye can resolve at a particular distance in good viewing conditions

    ppi = 1/((distance in inches x 0.000291)/2). 

    So at 2 metres that is 1/((78 x 0.000291)/2) = 88ppi  anything more than that the eye won't resolve, at that distance

    That works out as 16.9 M pixels so your DSLR image should be fine

    What print resolution works for what viewing distance?

    Hope that helps

    Dave

    Bob Howes
    Bob HowesAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2016

    Thanks!  That's an amazingly useful formula which I've now filed for future use!

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 3, 2016

    Also what the content is, but it kind of sounds like the will be at least some photographic content?  150ppi works out to 8504 x 5906 pixels which feels OK to me for the size and viewing distance.  How many pixels do you have to play with regards any photographs in the design?

    Oh, and what does the printer want?

    Bob Howes
    Bob HowesAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2016

    The printer is closed today (it's Saturday evening here in Australia) but I plan to ring them Monday anyway.

    The content will be a sunrise in the background of the whole thing with a silhouette of a soldier down one side and text on the other (name of play plus dates).

    I have no way of generating a sunrise photo of the resolution you mention (just have a normal 16 Megapixel DSLR)  but, at the same time, it might almost be better if that was slightly soft.  I'm hoping to get somebody to draw my soldier so I can specify that size.  The text is the important part to be nice and clear and obviously I can control that in Photoshop.

    Thanks very much for the quick reply!

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 3, 2016

    Bob Howes wrote:

    The text is the important part to be nice and clear and obviously I can control that in Photoshop.

    InDesign is really the way to go here. This is what it's made for. You're right that a backdrop such as the sunrise can be allowed to be soft, as long as it's contrasted with crisp text and other foreground elements. Place the photo at around 100-150 ppi effective resolution in InDesign - upsample in Photoshop if necessary.

    Get a CMYK profile from the printer, and export a press-ready PDF from InDesign. To be on the safe side, use the PDF/X-1a preset in the Export dialog. This is always problem-free. Ask the printer if they want bleed with crop marks.

    If the silouette is a separate element, it can be prepared as vector in Illustrator, or it can be high-resolution raster. You might even find a stock image (raster or vector) to use.

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