[Hyderabadi]

After spending endless hours/money trying to learn how to use Photo Shop etc., I mostly use Google's freebie Picasa.

Today Google released Picasa 3 (Beta) with some new features like retouching, adding text, movie/slide-show maker and other cool stuff. As with the older version you can directly upload to Picasa Web album and also synchronize any edits later too.

They've also added a face recognition feature:

Quote

Google wants to help you put a name to that face.

With a face recognition feature set to launch at noon PDT Tuesday, Google's Picasa Web Albums will help users label their photos with the names of subjects. That and other changes to the photo-sharing site are joined by a new beta version of the accompanying Picasa 3.0 photo-editing software.

The "name tag" feature presents users with collections of photos with what it judges to be the same person, then lets them click a button to affix a name. Once photographic subjects are named, users can browse an album of that individual on the fly. http://news.cnet.com...0026577-39.html

More features and download:
More: http://picasa.google....y?answer=93773

[Somerset]

I have a digital camera, but these things are too complex for me. I'd like to change the dpi of one photo from 180 to 200 and see how large the resulting print would be, but I can't figure out how to do that with the limited software I have. I don't think the Picassa will do that, either, but don't know. Any suggestions?  Thanks!

[Hyderabadi]

Somerset, on Oct 23 2008, 10:33 AM, said:

I'd like to change the dpi of one photo from 180 to 200 and see how large the resulting print would be

I am assuming you want to see a print preview? Or do you want to crop or resize a picture?

For cropping in Picasa double click on any picture in your 'library' and it will go int the edit mode, and on the left hand side you will see the options 'Basic Fixes', 'Tuning' and 'Effects'. Why not play around with it a bit and see if it has anything that will help solve your problem?

Here is a YouTube video tutorial that may be of help:

[Somerset]

Hyderabadi, on Oct 23 2008, 04:14 PM, said:

I am assuming you want to see a print preview? Or do you want to crop or resize a picture?

For cropping in Picasa double click on any picture in your 'library' and it will go int the edit mode, and on the left hand side you will see the options 'Basic Fixes', 'Tuning' and 'Effects'. Why not play around with it a bit and see if it has anything that will help solve your problem?

Here is a YouTube video tutorial that may be of help:

Thanks! I'll give this a shot this evening. I have this snap I took in Kenya last year that turned out well, and I'd like to print it out as an 8x10 at 200 dpi, but have no idea what I'm going to get. It is 180 dpi now, and I've been told the resolution at 180 is too low to make a sharp print. Beats me.

[Hyderabadi]

Somerset, on Oct 23 2008, 11:18 AM, said:

Thanks! I'll give this a shot this evening. I have this snap I took in Kenya last year that turned out well, and I'd like to print it out as an 8x10 at 200 dpi, but have no idea what I'm going to get. It is 180 dpi now, and I've been told the resolution at 180 is too low to make a sharp print. Beats me.

You're welcome!

To my understanding, you cannot create resolution that is not already there in the original picture - you can decrease it but not increase it.

If the picture is shot in low resolution and is 'grainy' when blown up, there is software to fix it: http://www.neatimage.com/download.html , the free demo version comes with limitations, obviously.

[cyberhippie]

I'm not very good at this but digital photos don't actually have a resolution as such, only dimensions and file size.

Both of these you can adjust up and down.

[Hyderabadi]

You are right CH, though 'resolution' is commonly used it's maybe really the amount of data or information that's in the file.. but then I too say that from a layman's point of view.

Searching some more, I found this:

Quote

How do I change the print size of a digital photo?
Answer: Many digital photos will open into your photo editing software with a resolution of 72 ppi. This is either because your digital camera does not store resolution information when it saves the photo, or the software you are using can't read the embedded resolution information. Even if your software does read the resolution information, the embedded resolution may not be what you really want.

Fortunately we can change the print size of digital photos...

http://graphicssoft....geprintsize.htm

Some more info here:

Quote

Increasing Image Resolution
Make Your Photos Bigger With Minimal Loss in Quality

One of the most commonly asked questions in relation to graphics software is how to increase the size of an image without getting blurring and jagged edges. New users are often surprised when they resize an image and find that the quality is severely degraded. Experienced users are all too familiar with the problem. The reason for the degradation is because bitmapped, or raster, image types are limited by their pixel resolution. When you attempt to resize these types of images, your software either has to increase the size of each individual pixel - resulting in a jagged image - or it has to "guess" at the best way to add pixels to the image to make it larger.

Not long ago, there weren't many options for increasing resolution other than using your editing software's built-in resampling methods. Today, we are faced with more possibilities than ever. Of course, it's always best to capture the resolution you need right from the beginning.

http://graphicssoft....creasingres.htm

Perhaps photoguru Cameleer could clarify a little more?

[cyberhippie]

Yeah Hydeabadi, for me it's also a confusing concept, like Jpeg is a compression algorithm?????

After I managed to half understand it, I let the software do the rest, adjust dimension and (jpeg) quality.

I've found little loss of quality.


Somerset, the 20 DPI difference you speak of probably won't make much difference in the end.

If you're printing at home, the jpegs talk to, printer (all sort of editing lies within the on board softeware) the picture bridge, that talks to the best image possible, to how to spare the ink............................

Result lovely print.

Any good digital print shop will work out a great print.

I've only recently become part of the new printer/DTP/Scanner age

My ancient HP960 rolled out great stuff on photo paper, from scanned images from a Russian Zenith 35 mm....... at 200 DPI

A digitel photo will give plenty detail to a small print.

[Somerset]

cyberhippie, on Oct 23 2008, 07:48 PM, said:

Somerset, the 20 DPI difference you speak of probably won't make much difference in the end.

I'm learning a lot from this discussion, and will try the different freeware later this weekend. CH, I thought as much about the 20 dpi difference. I left out one small detail...I would like to submit this to a photo competition, and the rules are that they must be 200 dpi or better. The organizers are not willing to accept the 180, even though it won't make a big difference. The photograph isn't high art, but it shows something different from most photos of Kenya. Live and learn.

Thanks again!

[Hyderabadi]

Somerset, on Oct 23 2008, 02:57 PM, said:

it shows something different from most photos of Kenya.

This sounds interesting! Would you mind sharing it? Very much part of this discussion of course!

[Somerset]

Hyderabadi, on Oct 23 2008, 08:17 PM, said:

This sounds interesting! Would you mind sharing it? Very much part of this discussion of course!

Now I feel a little sheepish. As I said, it ain't high art. I was in Kenya briefly last year and took plenty of photos of animals. What struck me, however,was how separated I was from Kenya. I think most Americans ride around in air conditioned cars and are warned against getting out on the streets. I think the separation I felt is evident in the picture...the Kenyans themselves are very warm and open people. I suppose some people also have that experience of India, and it doesn't do any of us much good. Critiques are welcome...I'm no photographer, but fire away!

Attached Files

•  Kenya_031.jpg   190.1K   9 downloads

Edited by Somerset, 24 October 2008 - 01:12 AM.

[Hyderabadi]

That is a great picture Somerset! It's got a something that's difficult to point at and say "That is what makes it interesting!".

One more question, is this the original file or a reduced size copy?

[cyberhippie]

Somerset I found this on the net for you it's a pixel : DPI calculator

http://www.mihov.com/sw/en/dc.php

Mihov has some nice ideas, have a look Hyderabadi.

[cyberhippie]

Just had a thought, does your printer/Scanner have a memory card lot or USB connection?

If it does, connect  your memory card or card reader (with card) and set the DPI using the sanner/printer, instead of printing it just make it a JPEG file, problem solved.

[Hyderabadi]

cyberhippie, on Oct 24 2008, 01:12 PM, said:

Mihov has some nice ideas, have a look Hyderabadi.

Great find CH!

[Somerset]

Thanks, CH and Hyderabadi!

Hyderabadi, I think you're right, it isn't obvious why it might be interesting...with a little digital magic, I think I could work on that.