Higher Resolution Images

[WindGarden]

I'm creating a flyer/poster to be posted on the web, but I don't know how to create higher resolution images so that when the file is converted into a PDF format, the images would look crisp and clear. Everything looks a bit blurry - resolution not so good.

Any help would be MUCH APPRECIATED.

Thanks in advance.

[lZakl]

With print design, you have 2 types of images:

1) Raster-based: This is an image made up of a bunch of little squares. These are generally things like photos, and scanned images. To increase the resolution, it must be started with the original. If you have to scan something, scan it in between 300 and 500 dpi (dots per inch) depending on the physical size of the image. The smaller the image, the greater you will want your dpi to be so you will be able to increase the size of the image. Once the image is reduced down to -- say 72 dpi, it’s ruined. You cannot retrieve the lost quality. You MUST start with the original. If it’s a digital image, increase the DPI FIRST, before making adjustments. Print quality is about 300 dpi most times.

2) Vector-based: This is an image that is made up of coordinates rather than squares. This allows the image to be infinitely expanded, without loss of quality. All PDFs (Other than those made by imaging software such as Photoshop) are usually vector-based, except for any raster images placed in the PDF (which as explained above, should be at least 300 dpi).

So you should ask yourself 2 questions:

1) Is it my photos and images that lack the quality while my text remains sharp an clear?

Answer: If so, resolution is the culprit, and the images should be started from scratch to recover the original image quality.

2) Is my text and EVERYTHING fuzzy?

Answer: Do not create flyers/posters in imaging programs! (Photoshop/Corel Draw, etc) And if you MUST, don’t dissolve the image down to a 72 dpi JPG. Keep it at 300 dpi, and save it as a TIFF. (Remember, once the dpi is reduced, you cannot retrieve those lost pixels, so it is very important to never reduce the size of the original unless you are sure you want to do it.) Also you must use a layout program that retains the vectors when saved as a PDF. Good layout programs include InDesign, Illustrator, Pagemaker and Quark. (I put them in that order myself, although that’s a whole other debate).

So are you reducing your images to 72 dpi and saving them as jpgs, not saving a vector-based PDF, or is it some other problem? ;0)

-- Zak

[billythekiddo]

If you use Acrobat and your source images are high res you should get a sharp PDF file, even if you safe it for the web.

[WindGarden]

lZakl: Wow...thanks. You've been most helpful.

I will do that. :-)