Patricia Pinsk - Artist and writer
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Patricia Pinsk - Blog

Artist and freelance writer

Why size matters when it comes to digitizing art

6/5/2015

 
This article was originally published in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) newsletter, the Bulletin (Fall 2015 edition).
SCBWI fall, 2015 (260 Kb)
File Size: 265 kb
File Type: pdf
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Whether you are a traditional or digital artist, you need to understand pixels and pixels per inch (PPI) to best display your work. Images for a website or blog differ from those that are for print in a magazine or purchase in an online shop.
Image setting screen: 300 PPI setting for 8x6 inch print
Image setting screen: 300 PPI setting for 8x6 print
Image setting screen: 72 PPI setting for Web
Image setting screen: 72 PPI setting for Web

The Basics

How your image is printed (4 colour separation or digital) determines in which mode you need to create an image.  Ask your print shop or client before you begin your work. This will save you time in the end.

Consider the following before you create your image:
  • CMYK  is for print in 4 colour process e.g. a magazine
  • RGB  is for Web and digital use only
You can set the mode of your image within a decent graphic program. If you scan an image, you may need to convert it from RGB to CMYK - which is a bit tricky to colour correct.
Create digital images, or scan traditional ones at a minimum resolution of 300 PPI so it is large enough for print purposes. I usually create or scan my images in 400-600 PPI, so I can print larger than original size. You can always re-size to something smaller, but not bigger (otherwise distortion A.K.A. pixelation occurs).
a 72 PPI image resized to 300 PPI
a 72 PPI image resized to 300 PPI - pixelation occurs

PPI and resolution

Generally when it comes to print, the greater the resolution, the better the print looks. Other factors such as printing press quality etc. come into factor as well. Ask your print shop for samples if you have any hesitation about quality.

Web images are generally 72 PPI. Smaller images load faster on a website, and take up less space on the website server. So as long as no pixelation occurs, the smaller the file size, the better. To test how your image looks, upload it and test it on a desktop computer as well as a small device. Things look differently on different devices. Keep in mind that everyone uses a different device with different settings. All you can really control is the clarity of your image.

To test how your image will look when printed, zoom in to 300%. If things still look clear and sharp, your printed image will be OK. Another thing to consider, are you printing at RGB or CMYK? You can't just convert from one to the other without some colour changes occurring.

It‘s best to use .tiff files for printing purposes, as they are uncompressed, unlike .jpg, .gif,  and .pdf files. That is, some digital info is lost if an image is compressed. Depending on the amount of compression, you may not see the difference in a small print, but you will see the difference in a large print size.


Web – saved at low resolution:
  • 72 PPI
  • RGB mode for websites, blogs (some digital print shops prefer RGB mode)
  • Cannot increase size for print or pixelation occurs
  • Save as.jpg for images with lots of depth
  • Save as .gif for flat-coloured  images
Print – created or scanned at high resolution:
  • 300 (or higher) PPI
  • CMYK mode for 4 color print e.g. magazines (RGB mode for digital print at certain print shops)
  • Can size down for Web once it is in RGB mode 
  • CMYK to RGB conversion causes colour shifts. Adjust colour when converting from one mode to another
  • Save as .tiff or.pdf – depending on your printer’s requirements
As for sending large format files to your printer, there are removable USB flash drives, but they carry the risk of viruses if you use them on unknown computers. You can also use file transfer programs such as Dropbox where all you need to do is upload your files and share the link to the files.
If you liked this blog post, you may also like:
  • What makes good Web design?
  • Showcasing your illustrations with micro-video
  • Design: why you need to know your audience
Need someone to write blog posts for your website? Let's connect!
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  • About
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