Working with small images or low res?

I have 2 images,

Last week my client gave me an image that?is 8'' x 8'' at 72 dpi, That I need to place on a poster at the size of 20'' x 20''. I told them that I needed a better image, but that was all they had..?So they sent the art to the printer and the proof came back and the image looks bad.

So today they sent me a second image and it is 4.5 '' x 4.5'' at 300 dpi.

My question is will this print any better then the orginal image and is there anything I can do to make this new image work?

TIA

Karleen

Working with small images or low res?

You are pretty well stuck with the original quality of the picture.?Unlike TV detective stories there is little one can do to increase picture quality.?A litle bump in contrast and shapening may help some, but will add to problem if blown up much.

DPI is a printer spec., with photoshop you need to work in PPI (pixel per inch). How will they look - best quick test is just enlarge them on screen to see the difference.?Since the first one is twice the size you would need to enlarge it say 200% and enlarge the 2nd one 400% and see how they compare.?You know how the first image printed, so you should be able to guess how the second image will print at the same paper size.

Working with small images or low res?

The first was 576 x 576 px (= 972KB)

The second was 1350 x 1350 px (= 5.21MB) so it should be better.

But not if they just tweaked the first one to ge more pixels interpolated.

As John points out, the second should be better. When up-rezing, you might want to consider ''stair-stepping'' the interpolating at about an increase of 10% per operation, until you have the desired size. This will take a bit more time, but is likely to yield better results. Many seem to prefer an increase of 20%, and are satisfied with the results. Maybe try both, and judge the two results. Be prepared for less than stellar output. If you and the client felt that the first was at all close, maybe ''better'' will do.

Good luck,

Hunt

PS it amazes me how clients can find things that did not exist, only after they see the results of the first attempt. It happens to me all of the time too.

When up-rezing, you might want to consider ''stair-stepping'' the interpolating at about an increase of 10% per operation

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