No portion of my tutorials, including but not limited to images, text and zip files are to be removed from this site.  These tutorials are my copyrighted works and are not to be redistributed in whole or in part by any media, including but not limited to: e-mail, e-mail groups, graphic groups, graphic groups private files, another server and/or website, CD collections for profit or not without my express written permission.  You may for instructional purposes only print out a copy of the tutorials contained in this site or store the tutorial on your computer for that purpose only.  If you would like to share this tutorial with your group of friends, please do so by providing a text link to this page.  Your use of my tutorials is your legal agreement to these terms.  If you have not already done so, please take a moment to review my Terms of Use before proceeding.  If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.  Thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last year I had need of formatting an image in 350 dpi instead of the standard 72.  In an effort to help those of you sending images to print and desiring a much cleaner, less grainy appearance with the end result, this tutorial is for you!

Before we open our canvas, we need to determine what size we want to have our final print image to be.  In this particular instance we'll format an image with an end printing result of 2 inches X 2 1/2 inches.

Now, before we open the canvas, we need to change a setting in our program preferences.  With PSP open, click File - Preferences - File Format Preferences.  Click on the Post Script tab and in the resolution field, change to 350 dpi, then click OK.  We had to change that setting, otherwise no matter what resolution we started out with for our canvas, the saved image would be saved with a resolution of only 72 dpi.

Now we can open our screen to begin working.  Click File - New.  We're going to make a few changes before we click OK to open the screen.

We need to change from pixels to inches, for the sake of sanity.  When I'm in a hurry doing math is not an option. LOL Once you select inches, change the settings to your desired image size that you want it to be when it is printed.

Now we need to change the resolution from the standard 72 dpi to 350.  72 is fine for web images, but for high end printing, most companies require 350 dpi.

When you click OK, you will notice that the canvas that opens is very large.  For a 2 inch X 2 1/2 inch image at 350 dpi, the canvas size is 700 X 875.  The end print result, however will be 2 X 2 1/2 inches.

Because of the size of the canvas you will be working on is so large, make SURE you remember to save OFTEN.  My suggestion would be to hit save after every change you make so you don't lose your work.

When you go to save, depending upon the preferences of the printers, you will need to ask them what formats they accept.  I've had best luck saving in EPS format, just need to make sure in your Program Preferences that you have that saving option enabled.

If you are printing the images yourself, you will notice a remarkable difference between an image saved in 350 dpi compared to 72.  The image will have better clarity.  I tend to do most of my printing right from PSP.  Mainly for ease since I already have the image open.  When I do my printing, I open File - Print Multiple Images, then select the image I want to print.  It automatically appears on the blank page.  Move that image to your right, then click on the image on the side bar to add again.  Now you have two of the same image.  I continue adding and moving until I have a full page, or the number of desired copies for print.  Then click print.

Paper quality will also affect your final print results.  You'll get far better results when using high quality paper for your printing.

When you are finished formatting your images and have them saved, remember to go back to your program preferences and change the resolution back to 72, otherwise all future images your save will be saved in 350 dpi.

I hope you find this information to be helpful and useful.  When I first started using PSP, it was mainly for web.  I have since had need to format my images for high end printing for clients, and with great success.  My only suggestion would be if you format an image and send it off to be printed, to check with the printer to make sure you save the image in a format that they accept.  Most printers aren't familiar with PSP and prefer images created in Photoshop or Quark, but that doesn't mean you can't format it to meet their standards.  Ask them what file format extension they prefer.  In most instances you can save in a format that meets their standards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~