Is there an easy way

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

to determine the DPI of my photos? I'm thinking of submitting to a magazine and one stipulation is 300DPI. When I click properties, DPI isn't listed.Do any of you know of a formula or conversion table?
Thanks,
John

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. what OS

on my Vista machine, it is under properties--details

[HappyCynic]

2. If you have GIMP, Photoshop, or Irfanview...

Monitors display the image in pixels so DPI isn't really important for display on computer screens - a 50 pixel wide image will be 50 pixels wide on your monitor regardless of the DPI. As a result, it isn't usually displayed in the properties. The easiest way to check the DPI is in an image editor. Here are the steps to check/change the DPI.


If you're using Irfanview, take the following steps:

1. Load up the image in Irfanview
2. Click on Image in the menu bar
3. Select "Resize/Resample"
4. Change the dpi setting (near the bottom). If it's 300 already, you're done.
5. Save your file.

To change the DPI in GIMP, do the following:

1. Load up the image in GIMP
2. Click on Image in the menu bar
3. Select "Scale Image..."
4. Make sure the box beside "X Resolution" says "pixels/in".
5. Change the "X Resolution" setting to 300. If you have the X and Y locked, the Y resolution should update to 300 as well. If not, change it to 300.
6. Save the file.

For Photoshop (I have Photoshop Elements 8) do the following:

1. Load up the image in Photoshop
2. Click on Image in the menu bar
3. Move your mouse over "Resize". This should open up a submenu.
4. Select "Image Size"
4. Make sure the box beside "Resolution" says "pixels/inch".
5. If the setting beside "Resolution" is 300, you're done. Otherwise, change it to 300.
6. Save your file.

It should be something similar for other image programs. Hope this helps.

[ManiacJoe]

3. Digital pictures do not have a DPI.

Nor a pixels per inch (PPI). They just have pixels. DPI/PPI is just a way of measuring the size when it gets printed or displayed.

For the magazine's DPI requirement to make sense, they need to tell you what their minimum size requirement is so that you can convert it into pixels. For example, 6x4 inches at 300 DPI which translates to 1800x1200 pixels.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. Thanks everyone!

I will use Photoshop to determine the DPI and send feedback to the magazine about the fact DPI is their number, not the photographers.........:bounce:

[CC]

5. DPI is a printing term and would

equal PPI in a digital file. What is missing from them (or your question) is at what size. Does it need to be an 8x10 with a 300 PPI/DPI. DPI is dots per inch while PPI is pixels per inch. If it needs to be an 8x10 at 300 dpi it would have to be 2400 pixels x 3000 pixels. If you are using Photoshop if you go to Image then Image size a window will open with the size in it. You'll have to look at both the size in inches/Document Size (6x4,5x7,8x10, etc.) and the resolution/Pixel Dimensions.

Adding captures so you can see it.







You really do need to know what the minimum size in inches is along with the DPI. Usually it is a way to weed out camera photos and small compact camera photos with very low resolution photos.
Hope it helps. Good luck.