Image Buyer’s Guide Tip #2: Size Matters (less than you might think)

We often hear stock photo agencies touting the size of their image files: 45, 50, even 60 megabytes!

Sounds impressive until you realize a few things. Like most of those files are interpolated up from the original image size to make them bigger. And that those sizes are much bigger than needed for the vast majority of uses. And of course the RF sellers charge by the megabyte, so the bigger file they can sell you the better for them.

But what very few of them will admit is that far and away the best-selling file size is around 10 megabytes or less. Which is still big enough for a half-page print use at 300 dpi and overkill for any digital use.

But so what? If you’re not paying by the pixel bigger is always better, right? Gives you plenty to work with, room for cropping, etc. When you’re licensing an Rights Managed image, or in any case where you are provided with the largest file, you’ve got nothing to worry about, right? Especially if you’re using the image in print.

Well, sort of. Because when you are working with a large image file what you see on your screen may not be what you’ll see in print. The good news: what you see in print will almost always be better!

Back in the days of film, if you looked at a 35mm transparency with a standard 8X loupe, what you saw was roughly equivalent to what you’d see printed at 8”x10”.

Today, when you look at one of those 50MB files at 100% on your monitor you’re looking at an image that’s sized for about 11”x17” at 300 dpi. And since most current LCD monitors run roughly 100 ppi resolution, it’s really more like looking at more than a four foot image!

Screen grab from Photoshop showing the print size of a 55MB file. Photo Credit: © Stuart Westmorland/evolveimages.com

Why does that matter? Because while a lot of photos from today’s top digital cameras look good at that size, there are a lot of great images that may seem less perfect but are still perfect for your needs.

If you don’t believe it, just look at all the iPhone and other mobile captures being used online and in print today. Then look at all the amazing images throughout history that were captured on film and are now digital – at 100% what do you see? Grain! And finally all the digital image captures at higher ISOs that provide texture and authenticity and spontaneity (and a bit of “noise”) not found in highly-lit “production” shots.

So if you find an image you love, but you’re worried about what you see when you look up-close, make sure you’re not looking way TOO close for comfort. Consider the size you will actually be using the image, not the size it has been pumped up to. And if you’re still worried, remember that there are lots of ways to minimize the appearance of grain or noise. (Most of them are most effective when custom matched to the specific print output, so your production person or printing pro is your best friend there.)

Just like with people, an image that may not be perfect may still be perfect for you.

More information:

What Print Shops Really Want: http://www.rideau-info.com/photos/printshop.html

The Myth of DPI: http://www.rideau-info.com/photos/mythdpi.html