96 dpi x 96 dpi?

I have a FujiFinepix a330, 3 mp. Using the stock software that came
with it, the best quality I can get is a 2016x1512 at 96dpi x 96dpi. Is
this the best I can expect or will better software improve my dpi?

 

I have a FujiFinepix a330, 3 mp. Using the stock software that

Yes, 2000 x 1500 => 3 million so that's what you've got and what you'd
expect in a 3 Mpixel camera ...

The "dpi" number is totally meaningless until you go to print. In
other words 2016 x 1512 at 96 dpi is the exact same file as 2016x1512
at 4,000 dpi or 300 dpi or any other dpi when viewed on the screen ...
until you go to print. You can change the dpi value to something
different in pretty much any decent software package but it's
irrelevant until you print.

 

well.. when I go to print, I'd like better than 96 dpi. Is this a
software thing, or 96 the best I can expect. My printer can print 600
dpi.

 

read the rest of your previous post.. and just answered my own
question. Thanks. What software would you reconmend?

 

As Bill indicated almost ANY image editing software will let you specify
the size you want the print to be.
e.g if you printed your 2016 x 1512 pixel image at 7" x 5" (actually 7 x
4.5) the dpi (actually ppi) would be 2016 ÷ 7 = 288 pixels/inch (ppi).
Perfect for an inkjet or online print.
I recommend Photoshop Elements mainly because so many people use
Elements or Full Photoshop that you can easily get online help with any
problem you have.
In the freeware category, Irfanview ( http://www.irfanview.com )is
regarded highly in this NG.
Bob Williams

 

If you are interested in only printing with very minor editing you might
take a look at Qimage. One of the best printing applications around. Decent
support and lifetime upgrades. It's the swiss army knife of printing.
http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage

 

I'd second that, Ed
I've had it for quite a while and I am totally satisfied. Although I use it
only for printing, apparently it can be used for many other purposes.
There's even a discussion group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qimage/
Cheers,
Marcel

 

Your printer 600 dpi is a totally different issue. It meant that printing
dot size is 1/600 inch in diameter. Your image 96 dpi means 96ppi to be
precise and that is 1/96 inch per pixel size (1/96x1/96 in square form).
When come to printing, there is a relationship between them. For inkjet,
change your image PPI to 1/3 of printing DPI and in your case is 200ppi
printing at 600dpi. Your 2016 x 1512 is the image pixel dimensions.
Therefore the print dimensions is 2016/200 by 1512/200 = approx 10 x 7.5
inches.

 

Boooger writes ...

There are two ways you can go, either keep this same number of pixels
and change the resolution for printing, or do interpolation on the file
to create more pixels. You need to decide how much resolution you
want, as you noted 96 ppi isn't enough so say 200 ppi as a minimum. If
you keep the same pixel count then you can almost make it to 8x10"
(divide 2016 and 1512 by 200 for 10.08 x 7.56"). If you wanted to
print at 300 ppi then 6.72 x 5.04" is what you can do without
interpolating.

If you wanted to print say 8x10" at 300 ppi then you need 2,400 x 3,000
pixels so you'll have to interpolate your file since it's not big
enough. Exactly how you do this depends on the software you're using,
let us know which program you're using and someone with that program
will chirp up with the exact steps.

This refers to the OUTPUT of the printer, the number of dots of ink it
can lay down. You don't need to give it 600 ppi (pixels per inch
instead of dots per inch) for the INPUT file ... probably 180 -200 ppi
will do OK with a printer like this and even high end printers like the
Epson Professional models need a max of 360 ppi.

The bottom line is that a 3 megapixel camera like you have will print
about 5x7" at 300 ppi and roughly 8x10" at 200 ppi without
interpolation, which is good enough for most users. Prints at these
sizes from 3 Mpix usually look pretty good.

Bill