Preparing Image for Billboard Use

[SHavard]

Hello all,

I have a request from a client to use their family portrait image for an 8ft x 10ft billboard. I want to make sure I give the cilent a file that will work for their need.

I shot in Large format with a 8 megapixel Digital Rebel XT. The original image size is 2304 pixel width by 3456 pixel height, 350 DPI. However, we ended up making the image a horizontal one, losing a lot of data.

What do I do from here to give the client a file that the billboard company or ad agency can use? Do I even need to do anything?

Thanks,
Sarah

[ktixx]

I think you should just give them the image and hope that it is good enough quality to make a billboard, I am sure the advertising company will know what to do with it. I must say that an 8MP image, cropped doesn't seem like it is enough resolution to make an 8'X10' Print. I realize that the billboard print doesn't need to be crystal clear up close because of how far away the viewers will be, but I thought that these pictures were taken by pro's with 16mp+ Cameras. I have no experience with this and could definitely be wrong, so don't take my word for it. Have you ever shot prints for a billboard before and if so what were the results?

[SHavard]

I'm sure you're right, the ad agency will know what to do the original image.

I tried to find a chart online as to how large an 8 MP image can be enlarged with no luck.

Thanks,

Sarah

[acepho99]

Billboard printers require very low resolution, typically between 60(!) and 100 dpi. The better companies have special-purpose software to enlarge images, which work better than Photoshop's standard bicubic interpolation.

If you wanted to do it yourself, you could invest in one of those applications. Many people think Genuine Fractals is the best, but it's too expensive for one-time use. Of the inexpensive alternatives, the one sold by Fred Miranda (www.fredmiranda.com) gets high praise.