Large Format Imaging, how large is large?
Originally Posted: January 9, 2020
Updated: July 25, 2022
Introduction
When I talk about ‘large format’ imaging, I get numerous questions about:
- How Large is Large?
That prompted me to write this post.
Let’s start by looking at three examples presentable via the web; all images range in the 250–600 Megapixel size (I do have pictures that are 1–4 Gigapixels in size; however, these examples are more aesthetically pleasing).
I include the complete image and slices of the image at 100% zoom to demonstrate the resolution of these large-format photographs.
Haleakala Crater
This image is still a work in progress; however it illustrates the size of the picture.
The first image is the photograph zoomed all the way out to see the entire scene.
Image Details:
- 66 frames over 3 rows
- Stitched size of 34,111 x 13,494 pixels or 460 Megapixels
- Large enough that printing with a standard output of 300DPI, the print will measure 113 x 45 inches (big enough to print an awesome print on my Epson 9900).
The 2nd image (big yellow box) is a sample of the image at 50% zoom.
This image is still a work in progress; however it illustrates the size of the image. The first image is the photograph zoomed all the way out to see the entire scene.
Image Details:
- 66 frames over 3 rows
- Stitched size of 34,111 x 13,494 pixels or 460 Megapixels
- Large enough that printing with a common output of 300DPI, the print will measure 113 x 45 inches (big enough to print an awesome print on my Epson 9900).
The 2nd image (big yellow box) is a sample of the image at 50% zoom.
The final 2 images are 1:1 (100%) zooms of the source file.
Notice the fully blooming SilverSword in the 1st image? and the hikers taking a break in the 2nd image?
When I printed this image originally on a 24 inch Epson the print was 24 x 60 inches @ 570DPI source output and I had to literally place my face several inches from the surface to see the hikers and the SilverSword.
Click on the images to see them larger in the lightbox. Due to compression for the website, they are not as sharp as the soure images, however they convey the details in master image.
The Beehive — Winter
As with many of my large format images, the Beehive in Winter is high resolution enough that it yielded several surprises when I was viewing it at full resolution for the first time.
The full width image.
Now, the observation hut at the top of the mountain.
I have hiked to this hut numerous times, and the view from the top of the mountain is spectacular.
That said, I was honestly surprised when I saw it in this particular image as I would never have imagined that I would capture enough detail to resolve people standing in the hut (assuming they were there on this cold and snowy day).
Canadian Pond Hockey
Finally the best example is one of my favorites.
Canadian Pond Hockey is a high resolution large format image taken with my Gigapan.
As with the other examples, the clarity of this image when printed at 44 x 110 inches even with your face almost touching the print is simply amazing, something that cannot be truly realized on the web.
Full width image.
A sample of full 1:1 crops compared against the full width image.
Conclusion
I hope this post helps demonstrate the overall resolution of these large-format images and aids in answering how large is large.
I can state with fact that having printed many of these images in 24 x 65 inches and 44 x 110+ inches fine art prints, the website cannot do justice to the high resolution that the source images capture. That said, it is important for me to note that I pursue high-resolution photography from a fine art point of view and not from a “technical arms race” to make the high-resolution image possible for high-resolution sake.
I may be a geek at heart, however, it is the artist in me that takes over when I chase these high-resolution images.
| Article posted in: Quantum of Light || Tagged as: Large Format |