new user-need some basics (i.e. minumum specs for printing)

[Duckrogers]

I am creating a tour program which I anticipate being about 8.5" x 11"
For photos (i.e. takes up the whole page), what specs should the images be? (I've heard 300 dpi, but then I've heard that is BS).
Please help.

 

[docilebob]

300 DPI is a standard, but it depends on where you are getting it printed and what method they use. Best thing to do is ask the printer what he needs, and work from there.
Welcome to PSG .

 

[Duckrogers]

thank you.
How wrong is it for me to use fireworks, instead of photo-shop for this project (I know fireworks much better).

Also, (for example) one photo I want to include is 1200 x 1800 pixels. But when I change the print size to 8.5 x11, it seems to get grainier on my screen, anyways.
I mean, typically what size would a 1200 x 1800 pixel photo be (300 dpi)?

 

[ronmatt]

1200 x 1800 at 300 pixels per inch ...... divide the size by the pixels [ 1200 divided by 300 = 4" / 1800 divided by 300 = 6" ]
The 300 is ppi not dpi. dpi is the screen frequency the printer will use. Most printers request the resolution to be 300 ppi or at least 2x the frequency. ( if the printing line screen is 100 dpi then the photo can be 200 ppi and so on )

 

[MindBender]

if the printing line screen is 100 dpi

Line screen would be in LPI

How wrong is it for me to use fireworks, instead of photo-shop for this project

Fireworks, last I checked, had no ability to deal with color management or CMYK. For offset printing you will need both of these things.

Welcome to PSG. Good luck.

 

[ronmatt]

Mindbender..... I'm so freakin' stupid some times....of course it's LPI, They must have the 'D' and the 'L' too close together on my keyboard...yeah, that's it...too close together \:/

 

[Duckrogers]

Wu-Oh. This is already getting over my head.

1200 x 1800 at 300 pixels per inch ...... divide the size by the pixels [ 1200 divided by 300 = 4" / 1800 divided by 300 = 6" ]

Meaning this will only print a 4x6 print and not an 8.5 x 11 inches (decent)?

I also have photos I wanted to edit into these and they are approx 425 x 283 pixels (300 dpi) does that mean they shouldn't be any larger than 1.41 x .94 inches? essentially worthless? Or the other ones I have that are 96 dpi?

Regarding firworks, I don't care about colour management. Just basic editing.

 

[Gaussian]

Regarding firworks, I don't care about colour management. Just basic editing.

I think you're confused. Color management has nothing to do with editing colors, color management is the controlled conversion between the colors of various color devices, such as scanners, digital cameras, monitors, TV screens, film printers, printers, offset presses, etc and corresponding media.
So for example your image might look right in an image editor, but once printed or viewed with a browser it might look to dark or the colors might be wrong, in that case you can't ignore color management, it's the only way to solve these problems.

 

[Duckrogers]

I think you're confused. Color management has nothing to do with editing colors, color management is the controlled conversion between the colors of various color devices, such as scanners, digital cameras, monitors, TV screens, film printers, printers, offset presses, etc and corresponding media.
So for example your image might look right in an image editor, but once printed or viewed with a browser it might look to dark or the colors might be wrong, in that case you can't ignore color management, it's the only way to solve these problems.

You're right, I am confused (but that is normal for me 8}) But I've done some editing in fireworks before with digital pics and truthfully they came out fine.