Does higher DPI mean a better quality print? &where can I get professional prints?

I am a photographer and am starting to sell my prints. I have a Canon 300D so my photographs are 6.3mp (3072pixels by 2048 pixels) at the minute. (I have just purchased a Canon 500D so my new images will be 15.5mp) I have checked the DPI on one of my old images by going to ';image size'; and looking at ';resolution'; and it says 96. I read somewhere that prints will be better quality if the DPI is higher so I changed it to 350. Will this actually improve my prints? Will it make any difference at all and if so how?



Also, if anyone knows where I can order online (UK only) to get professional high quality prints that would help a lot. I've been looking at Jessops because I know they are a proper camera store but I've heard their printing is not excellent quality. I'm looking for 7 by 5 at the minute or just ordinary A4 sized prints.



Thanks in advance, =)Does higher DPI mean a better quality print? %26amp;where can I get professional prints?
Before you to anything, make sure that your computer monitor is calibrated. If it is not, there is no way it will match any prints a lab will print for you.



300 DPI is the standard photographic print setting. Less with result in lower resolution images.



150 DPI is what is used on screened print in high quality magazines and books



80 DPI is typical of the screened print in newspapers



72 DPI is what your computer screen resolution is.



As you can see, the smaller the DPI, the less resolution you can expect.



DPI over 300 DPI is not recommended.



You really should be talking to your printer. They will tell you exactly which image file settings are the best when using them to make prints. You can do a test with the Jessops lab using image files set to 300 DPI and see if they meet you quality standards .... or not. Otherwise, look for a custom or professional lab in your area.



Usually when looking for a lab, we use a known image file and have three or four different labs print the image file and then compare them to our known standard. Differences in colour balance and resolution can then be determined. To assure that you do not send image files that may be out of gamut, shoot in the sRGB colour space.Does higher DPI mean a better quality print? %26amp;where can I get professional prints?
DPI = dots per inch

So 300dpi means that when its printed out, it will be scaled on the paper so that 300 pixels cover 1 inch. It is tied into how big the physical print will be.



You can print you images as very small (and high detail), or very large (low detail).

So, for your example of 3072x2048 pixels.

If you print it as 300DPI, it will be printed at 10 x 6.5 inches

However, if you print it at 150DPI, then it will be 20 x 13inches



Since the 300dpi has 300 pixels in one inch, then it will look better at closer inspection.

But 150dpi for putting on the wall is absolutely fine as you don't stand right up next to it.



In PS.,....

1) do set image size

2) note down your pixel dimensions

3) change the DPI to 150-200

4) and reset your resolution to original values.

--%26gt; the image won't be rescaled, the DPI (and hence print size) will just change
DPI stands for DOTS PER INCH.



When printing, that's how many tiny dots will be put onto the paper. It's not very useful with a digital image onscreen, since the screen is counting pixels (like 3072x2048)...however it's critical in printing.



Make sure you print with at LEAST 300 - 600 dpi if available. While this isn't the only factor in making a quality print, it can often be the most noticeable.



Think of it this way...if you're printing your 3072x2048...that translates to 6,291,456 pixels (or as printed, dots). You'd have to have nearly 200,000 dots per square inch to get every last pixel on a 5x7 card...not gonna happen. 600 should be plenty though, as the size you're working with anything smaller would be nearly invisible to the naked eye anyways.