May 2006: Topic: Preparing Digital Images

When taking digital photos, remember that higher resolution yields better results – especially for book cover images.

Digital cameras are a wonderful tool for self-publishers. They’re easy and inexpensive to purchase and use, and the results are great. However, that ease of use can be misleading when it comes to preparing photos for your book. In most cases, your digital images aren’t ready for publishing “hot off the camera”.

Photo retouching at the prepress stage can be costly, so if you have the capabilities to correct your digital photos yourself, you can save some time and money. To get you started, here are answers to some of the most common digital photo questions we get asked at IGI Publishing:

JPG, GIF, TIFF, EPS… Which are the best types of image files for printing?
The simplest way to break down the different types of image files is to classify them as either “lossy” or “lossless” compression files. “Lossy” compression files, such as JPG, GIF and PIC, sacrifice image information for a smaller file size. This makes these file types popular for web applications that put a premium on size over detail.

“Lossless” image files, such as TIFF and EPS files, retain much of their information during compression. This yields a much larger file, but also allows for much higher resolution and much finer control over image details and color. At IGI, we recommend TIFF or EPS images for high-quality color printing.

At what resolution should I save my images for printing?
Resolution is the amount of information in an image. The higher the resolution, the more detail an image will possess. The “correct” resolution for an image is based on how it will be displayed or output. Images that will only be displayed on a monitor, such as those on a website, only require a resolution of 72 dpi (dots per inch), which is the maximum resolution a monitor can display.

On the other hand, images that will be printed professionally require higher resolutions, as a printed piece yields much finer detail. Most printers require images to be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) for accurate reproduction; this is particularly important for cover photos or other large images. To ensure that the digital images you’re taking contain sufficient resolution, set your camera for the highest resolution (or largest picture or file size) available. While this may limit the number of images you can store, the higher resolution gives you greater image editing flexibility.

The IGI Publishing Solution
At IGI Publishing, we focus on helping authors, agencies and organizations create books that best represent their subject. Our 25 years of experience in every aspect of publishing – from design, layout, typesetting and photography to printing, binding and beyond – means that your publishing project is in the best hands from concept to completion.