Understanding Image Sizing
Image sizing is a tough topic, but it is important that you understand it. If you zoom in while you are in Photoshop, and look at your image up close you can tell if it is blurry or sharp. If it looks sharp in Photoshop when zoomed in, then it should print sharp. If it prints blurry, then you may have resized it incorrectly. To get an 8×10, or 4×6, etc. ready to print, it is better to crop the image, because if you resize it, it may not be proportional to the shape you want.
If you ever do resize it by going to Image – Image Resize, be sure you leave all the boxes checked (including Resample) on the bottom of the window, to keep the image proportional. Some digital cameras take photos that are the same proportions as a 4×6, but sometimes you will need to crop part of the height or width to get the image to be an 8×10, that is why it is easier to see what you are going to get, if you use the crop tool instead. But you have to set the correct sizes for the crop tool.
Sizing your image to 8×10 or 4×6 at 150ppi:
1. Make your edits in Camera Raw or Photoshop, then open it in Photoshop and save it as a .psd, so you have the full size quality and layers, should you need to make edits later.
2. Flatten all layers (click the little black arrow at the top right of the layers palette, then choose flatten layers)
3. Select the crop tool, and change the dimensions in the top menu to 10 inches by 8 inches (or 6 inches by 4 inches, etc.) and change the resolution to 150 pixels.
4. Drag the crop tool around the area you want to keep, and double click to apply the changes. The image should shrink down in size. If it grows in size when you do this, you have a problem. It means you have started with an image that has already been sized down too small, and you are trying to make it larger, which will make it look blurry and pixely. In this case, you should go back to your folder and locate the original full-size image.
5. Save your down-sized image as a jpeg. When it asks you, choose maximum 12 quality, and optimized.
Do not re-edit jpegs!
If you need to make changes, do not open the jpeg to edit it. It will reduce quality each time you edit a jpeg. Instead go back and open the .psd and edit that, and save it as a jpeg.
If the image won’t upload to a one-hour photo lab online, remember to check these things:
1. It must be a jpeg
2. It must be RGB color mode (Open image in Photoshop, go to Image-Mode- then choose RGB)
3. It must not have any special characters in the filename
4. It should not be any larger than 150 pixels per inch, at the actual print size in inches.