How do I print on canvas with a Canon MP640?

What is the best quality to shoot in for printing?

• So I was looking to print some of my pictures onto canvas or poster, but every time I go to print one, it says that the resolution of my picture is to low... I have a Canon T1i, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I was wondering if it matters what quality setting I shoot in.. When then led me to the question about that Quality setting. There is L, S, RAW, RAW+L and a few others and I have no idea what they mean! The obviously effect the quality of the pictures, but how? What setting is the best? How can I get better resolution on pictures for printing? Any answers or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

• Answer:

  Here is the direct link to Canon's tutorial on your T1i: http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetProductAct&productID=290 This should give you a much better understanding of your camera and how to achieve the best results. This review of your camera should also help you: http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/amateur_digital_slrs/0909canonT1/index.html Canon also has tutorial on printing digital files. If you go to http://www.shutterbug.com and do a Search for 'digital printing' you'll find every article they've published on the subject. 1) Always shoot at your camera's highest resolution - 4725x3168. 2) Always use the lowest ISO possible - 100. 3) When possible, use a tripod. Turn the IS (Image Stabilization) to "OFF" when using your camera on a tripod. 3) Shoot in RAW. Here are a couple of articles about why shooting in RAW is desirable: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/u-raw-files.html http://www.shutterbug.net/book_reviews/0210raw101/index.html As previously stated, 300dpi (dots per inch) is considered magazine quality for printing. At your camera's maximum resolution that yields a 10.56'' x 15.84'' print - 10x15 with minimal cropping. However, another consideration is viewing distance. Small prints - 4x6, 8x10 - are usually viewed up close. Larger prints - 10x15, 20x30 - are viewed from farther away. Case in point: billboards are usually printed at 30 to 40dpi but look great when viewed from a couple hundred feet. If you printed at 100dpi at your camera's highest resolution your print would be poster-sized at 31x47. Viewed from 10 feet or so it would look fine. The surface you're printing on also has to be considered. If you print on a smooth surface any defects in the file will be more apparent while printing on canvas will hide or at least minimize any defects. The better quality your image file is to begin with the better your prints. Suppose you make a 4x5 print of a person's face and they have a mole on their chin. On a 4x5 print lets say that the mole measures 2mm. If you then make an 8x10 print the mole will measure 8mm. What? Isn't 8x10 twice as large as 4x5? No it isn't - its 4 times larger. 8 x 10 = 80 square inches; 4 x 5 = 20 square inches. 80/20 = 4. So any defect in your original image file will be magnified the larger your print size. Make a 16x20 print and that mole will measure 32mm since a 16x20 print is 16 times larger than a 4x5 print. If your image file is the least bit out of focus or there is the tiniest bit of subject motion then it will be more and more apparent the larger you print. Happy shooting and printing!