Topic: inches on ruler not as same as printed version

Hey all,

I have noticed that when I print something out from PS or Illustrator that the printed size is different than what it should be (based on the PS ruler). does it have to do with res of my screen?

thanks

bill

You need to use 72dpi for printing.

He needs to do what now?

If the ruler in Photoshop is set to display inches, then it should reflect the print size of the image you're working on, based on that image's resolution. The resolution of your monitor has nothing to do with it.

For example, I have an image that's 8.5" by 6" at 300 ppi, as confirmed by Image Size:



The ruler reflects that size:



Therefore, that's what it should print at.

If these things look right to you and you're getting a different size on paper, the first thing I would check is that, when you print, there isn't something in the print dialog that's set to "resize to fit the page," or something along those lines. It may be in your particular printer's print settings.

quote:

---

Wes said:

the first thing I would check is that, when you print, there isn't something in the print dialog that's set to "resize to fit the page," or something along those lines. It may be in your particular printer's print settings.

---

Yep, first thing that came to mind for me.

quote:

---

zavaboy said:

You need to use 72dpi for printing.

---

Why on earth would you do that?

I'm sorry... am I wrong? I allways thought 72dpi was for printing...

72 dpi is standard screen resolution. Images printed at screen resolution are going to come out looking pretty crappy.


___________________________
Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

Doesn't really matter if you print at 1000 dpi, it's just a lot of dots (very small too) - an inch is still just an inch!
Eh guys

[sense] Organisation is anathema to organisations [/sense]

quote:

---

lan said:

Doesn't really matter if you print at 1000 dpi, it's just a lot of dots (very small too) - an inch is still just an inch!

---

True. The resolution is actually completely unrelated to the original problem. We were just trying to clear up zavaboy's confusion.


___________________________
Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

Just to add my 2p, as nobody mentioned it, 150 dpi is conventionally a good enough print resolution for regular jobs (not professional printing).

quote:

---

lan said:

Doesn't really matter if you print at 1000 dpi, it's just a lot of dots (very small too) - an inch is still just an inch!

---

Depends how cold it is

quote:

---

zavaboy said:

I'm sorry... am I wrong? I allways thought 72dpi was for printing...

---

As alluded to above, you can print at any resolution your printer/software allows. What resolution to use depends on a number of things, including how large you are printing, what you are printing on, why you are printing, etc.
72 dpi is, generally speaking, far too low for good quality printing.

quote:

---

150 dpi is conventionally a good enough print resolution for regular jobs

---

That's true; for most home printers, more than this won't get you much better quality. I always work at 300, however, as this is pretty standard for more professional jobs.

And just to make things even murkier (sp?).... When it comes to printing aren't we supposed to be talking about LPI ....or at the very least be aware of your printers LPI ?

quote:

---

NoJive said:
aren't we supposed to be talking about LPI ....or at the very least be aware of your printers LPI ?

---

I had this exact problem with a customer just the other day. They were printing from Quark (I believe) and it was coming out all grainy.

Our printshop's don't like to get anything lower than 300dpi FWIW.

Later,

C:\

that is what I thought too (as far as 1" should equal 1"). but I am printing photos (at 300) through whcc.com, a great company, and also a few things at home on my crappy little printer. some things have been photos (up to 20 x 30) and some have been logos and the like.

and I have sized it using the cropping tool with the size and resolution set.

hmmm, weird.

thanks for the input

wcr one, something is indeed strange
I had a quick look at whcc.com and their requirement re printing, sizes etc, and it would appear well nigh impossible if you send a psd file, with image sizes and resolution, that it could print incorrectly......yet you have the evidence.
Wes and DL-44 were on the only track I can think of, but after checking out whcc.com site and the way they receive files.......??????........ stranger and stranger.....have you sent them test prints as they request - did they come back correctly sized? Cheers.

[sense] Organisation is anathema to organisations [/sense]

Have you called WHCC? They're usually pretty good with customer support.