Additional Information on Digital Entries
Chris Krupinski, Entries Committee

Each prospectus seems to request digital images to be prepared differently. I would like to add a few definitions and information that would be pertinent.

What is resolution? Image resolution is the number of pixels displayed per unit of printed length in an image. For a given number of pixels in the width or height of an image, t he higher the resolution, the closer the printer packs those pixels together in order to make a beautifully smooth and sharp print. The closer the pixels are packed together, the smaller the image will be physically when printed. Conversely, the lower the resolution, the more loosely those pixels are packed and the larger the image can be physically-though it loses definition and the print will look extremely undesirable and, well, chunky. Resolution is defined by DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch).

What is a pixel? A pixel is the smallest picture element of any digital image. A pixel is displayed as a tiny block of color that when put together with other pixels forms an entire image.

DPI (Dots per inch). Dots per inch are a measurement used for printing.

Any image file can be measured at 72, 96, 100, 300, etc. dpi. The importance is that you revise your image property to the correct dpi as indicated in the prospectus.

An image from a digital camera at a high-quality setting usually will produce a large image at a 72 dpi. EXAMPLE: The image opened in your imaging software shows measurements of 1600 pixels wide x 1200 pixels high and 22.22 inches wide x 16.667 inches high at a 72 resolution (pixels/inch). If the prospectus requires a 72 resolution with a specified size, all you need to do is change the size. But, many of the prospectuses require a 300 resolution (good for printing the catalog). There is a bit more to increasing the resolution than to just change the number in the resolution box. The point is to change the resolution of the image wi thout messing with the number of pixels. If your image program has a "Resample Image" checkbox, uncheck the box and then change the resolution to 300. This will take the example above and change the dimension in inches to 5.333" x 4" and yet leave the pixel dimension at 1600 x 1200. I have exactly the same number of pixels I started out with; they’re just packed more tightly together.

Both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements have the "Resample Image" checkbox. I cannot speak for other image editing programs although just about all of them allow you to adjust the size of images.

PLEASE, PLEASE do not just revise the resolution number. All you will accomplish is creating a pixilated blurry image in the end.