Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Sarah Renkes" <sagaface@...> wrote:

> 
> How large can I print and still have decent detail? 

A lot has to do with the quality of the RAW file.  I shoot with a Nikon D200 and D300 (10 and 12 MP respectively), and I routinely print 16x20 prints where I have done significant cropping to the original file.  So 11MP is more than sufficient to make large prints.  You just need a workflow that will allow you to make prints at the desired sharpness level.

One thing to consider is the intended viewing distance from which people will view your prints.  The larger the image, the less tack-sharpness you will need (except if you intend to show your work to a lot of pixel peepers.  Personally, I like having the option of printing large, but I like the "intimacy" of an 8x10 print, where the viewer gets much closer to the print.  Michael Kenna rarely prints larger than that size for precisely that reason.  To me, it's a way of making the experience more personal.  But in the end, it's all a matter of preference.