Image resolution refers to the spacing of pixels in an image and is measured in pixels per inch, ppi, A pixel, short for picture element, is a single point in a graphic image. Computer monitors display pictures by dividing the display screen into thousands (or millions) of pixels, arranged in rows and columns. The pixels are so close together that they appear connected.

The more pixels, the higher the resolution. This creates a better image quality because you end up with more realistic representations of color, better gradations of colors and gray tones. The images will appear crisper and clearer. Higher resolution allows for more detail and subtle color transitions in an image. A printed image that has a low resolution may look blurry, or pixelated (made up of small squares). The image could appear to have jagged edges and hard color transitions.

Image size refers to the actual dimensions of an image. The size of a digital image is measured in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB). The size of a file is proportional to the pixel dimensions of the image. In other words, the more pixels (the higher the resolution), the larger the size of the file. Images with more pixels should produce more detail when printed. Because the number of pixels in an image is fixed, increasing the size of an image decreases its resolution, and it turn decrease the quality of the print.

For our products, to produce a quality print, the file size of your digital photo should be a minimum of 500KB. Basically, the larger the original file, the less we will have to increase it’s size to fit on our album/journals covers. If the original file size is too small, we will have to “stretch” it to fit on the cover. This may result in an image that appears grainy or pixelated and will result in a decrease in the quality of the finished product.

For scanned images, the original photograph should be at least 8¢,¬?x10¢,¬? to produce the best quality image. Photographs that are 5¢,¬?x7¢,¬? (or smaller) will usually produce a good image for our smaller albums and journals. Wallet size photographs are too small and will not work. The quality of the scanned image will also depend on the type of photograph being scanned. Many photographs are printed on photo paper with texture. This texture can show up in the scan. Older photographs may also have ¢,¬Å“yellowed¢,¬? or contain scratches. In most cases, depending on the severity, we are able to clean up the scanned image and produce a quality product. We will make every attempt possible to obtain the best quality scan.