Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/02/22

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Subject: Re: Pixel resolution for 8x10 was: Re: [Leica] Reasons to use film
From: Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 16:42:42 +0000

You should try it for yourself, even with a loupe the difference 
between 300 dpi and 600 dpi is not great, I use 300.
Frank

On Sunday, February 22, 2004, at 03:27  pm, animal wrote:

>
>
>>
>> On Feb 22, 2004, at 1:49 AM, Frank Dernie wrote:
>>>  Does one often need/fully exploit the potential of 35mm film on a
>>> Leica? I only exploited the full potential in the darkroom on my
>>> biggest prints, most of the time the resolution superiority was just
>>> wasted on a print of only 10x8".
>>
>> It is generally excepted that 360 ppi is a reasonable maximal printing
>> resolution, that is increasing printing resolution beyond this does 
>> not
>> generally yield better prints. Assuming an 8x10" print, that is 10
>> megapixels. Consequently, although 8x10s can look fine with 6
>> megapixels, the optimal resolution for 8x10 is 10 megapixel (assuming
>> zero cropping).
>>
>> Thats for an unmanipulated image, if you are going to run USM etc. on
>> the image it is a good idea to start with a higher resolution -- to
>> minimize the introduction of digital processing/blocking artifacts.
>> That is why I scan at ~40 megapixels.
>>
>> The other issue is the difference between shape and distribution of
>> pixels vs. film grains. Rectangular pixels when enlarged are not
>> pleasing to the eye. Film grains have a more irregular shape and more
>> random spatial distribution and when visible are *much much* more
>> pleasing. That's why photoshop filters exist to *add* the appearance 
>> of
>> film grain to digital images, and why it is often recommended to *add*
>> gaussian noise to a digital image ... this "randomness" (which is a
>> characteristic of film) reduces the appearance of digital "blocking"
>> artifacts.
>>
>> Enlarged film grain is very often not a terrible problem -- that is 
>> why
>> folks like Tri-X and can accept 35mm enlargements of 16x20 or greater.
>>
>> On the other extreme, if you need to be convinced about the potential
>> benefits of higher resolution, look at a good 8x10 contact print (i.e.
>> from an 8x10 negative). As much as I like my Leica, these 8x10s have a
>> characteristic look that cannot be equaled in smaller formats. I can't
>> explain the neural physiology or physics behind it, but it just *looks
>> different*.
>>
>> Jonathan
>>
>> --
> Well, i have read that good eyes can easily spot the difference upto 
> 600
> dpi.So my guess is that if people can get close to let,s say an
> architecturial photo they,ll spot the difference.Probably as long as 
> the
> viewing angle is the same as it was with the camera it wont 
> matter.simon
> jessurun
>
> --
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>

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Replies: Reply from "animal" <s.jessurun95@chello.nl> (Re: Pixel resolution for 8x10 was: Re: [Leica] Reasons to use film)