Digital Shutters

When taking photos that you are going to print you will want the best resolution you can get from your camera, this will ensure the best print possible. I always recommend that you set your camera on the highest possible setting even though you will get fewer photos per disk. But what is resolution?
Resolution according to Webster’s online dictionary
a : the process or capability of making distinguishable the individual parts of an object, closely adjacent optical images, or sources of light
b : a measure of the sharpness of an image or of the fineness with which a device (as a video display, printer, or scanner) can produce or record such an image usually expressed as the total number or density of pixels in the image a resolution of 1200 dots per inch

Or in other words its how many pixels make up the image. Most experts according to Wikipedia on line encyclopedia do not like to use Resolution as a term to describe digital photography. But rather use Image resolution or otherwise known as Pixel count or DPI

The best way I can explain it is, Resoulution is a recipe of 3 things.
Pixels, Compression, and DPI

So what is a pixel?

A pixel is the smallest part of an image, a dot. And how many dots that makes up an image will determine how large you can print the image and how clear your image will be. Low pixels count will give you a blurry image or one that comes out looking mosaic. A higher pixel count will give you a clear sharp image. As you can see from my example; I used the same picture reduced the pixel count (compressed the image) and then reized it to the same size as the original photo.

High pixel count size 300 X 225 DPI 314

Low Pixel Count 300 X 221 DPI 72

Compression you may come across this term, someone might tell you to use a higher compression rate to safe disk space and get more pictures and what they are telling you is use a smaller pixel count. the more you compress an image the less DPI you will use.

DPI just means dots per inch; which when you are printing means how many dots of ink per inch are going to go on that paper. (But that’s all going in another direction and we’ll talk about that later. )

Most point and shoot Cameras have a set Compression rate to give you a 72 DPI. If you have a high end Camera or SLR you will be able to set your compression rate to get more DPI. Check your manual. If you cannot set the Compression of the camera use the highest pixel count allowed. This will give you the largest picture you camera is able to take without loosing clarity.