Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Dan" 
<orkspace@y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi, sorry if this is a basic question.
> 
> I'm just starting to experiment with digital printing with an Epson
> C86.  What dpi should I shoot for when editing my images in 
Photoshop
> and shooting them straight to the C86 using either the MIS EZ 
inksets
> or the stock durabrite inksets?  300 dpi?  600 dpi?  As high a dpi 
as
> I can get for the specific image I'm printing?
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Dan Neal
> (http://www.agriope.com)

Hi Dan

First thing to get straight is the differnece between dpi and ppi. 
Now dpi dots per inch is what your printer uses, ppi pixels per inch 
is the resolution of the file you send to your printer. Confused ?

For printing dpi, most people seem to use 1440. My printer can print 
at 2880 but I can see no difference in print quality at 2880 and its 
a lot slower.

ppi is the resolution you set it photoshop and controls the size and 
quality of the print. If you go to image size in photoshop at the top 
of the dialog box it will display the size of your file in pixels. 
Say for example 2400 x 1200 pixels. Untick the resample box. Now have 
a play and input different figures for the resolution and you will 
see the output size of the print change. Eg 300 ppi would give you a 
print 8 x 4 inches. Number of pixels / resolution. 

Question is what should this figure (ppi) be ? With a C86 the largest 
size you will be printing is A4, so I would say anything above 180 
ppi would be sufficient. 300 ppi is optimum. Anything above 300 ppi 
the eyes cannot see. 

With Epson printers there is a school of thought that you should use 
an integer division of 720, something to do with how the printer 
engine works. Eg 360, 240, 180

Hope this helps.


Peter