Recommended pixel size image on Apple Cinema

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3 points

Recommended pixel size image on Apple Cinema

Hi,
I want to buy some photography photos online. Companies like Dreamstime sell credit packages to buy their photos, and it costs more credits for larger image size photos. I am not buying photos to print them - just to view them.

I got a reply from Dreamtime which said
"I would recommend checking the owners information that comes with your Apple
Cinema. They should provide a recommended pixel size of the image (not
necessarily related to the monitor resolution) for your particular usage.
Higher resolution images are typically for printed applications, so check
Apple's owner manual info for recommended sizes if you are only on-screen
viewing and not printing."

So my question is what is the recommended pixel size for displaying images on the Apple Cinema since it is not related to actual monitor resolution.
I don't have an owner's manual for my cinema.
Thank you

macbook mini, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 17, 2010 8:27 AM

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Answer 1

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Aug 17, 2010 9:49 PM in response to blurij

Do you know what size diagonal your Cinema Display is? Because that will change the answer to your question. If you don't know, put a tape measure to in and measure the active screen area from one corner to the other diagonally. Then post the results here to get your final answer.

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Answer 2

blurij Author

Level 1

3 points

Aug 22, 2010 12:55 PM in response to BSteely

Hi Bsteely
Thanks for your response

I have an Apple Cinema 30 I should have mentioned that.

again thanks

The cinema has a resolution of 2560 by 1600.
Do photos (online or from a camera ) have to have that resolution or greater to maximize the resolution of the Cinema monitor ?

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Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Aug 22, 2010 9:48 PM in response to blurij

So that monitor is approximately 100 dpi (dots per inch). Is that the number you are looking for?

I would think you want images that are sized at least as big as the monitor if you want the best picture quality. So 1600 vertical resolution at least.

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Answer 4

blurij Author

Level 1

3 points

Aug 23, 2010 6:31 PM in response to BSteely

Ok thanks again and really dumb question time -
When you say "1600 vertical resolution at least"

The Apple Cinema has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 -
does the 2560 refer to vertical or horizontal resolution ?

The photos I can download from www.terragalleria give me an option of
1600 x 1200 or what they call widescreen ( 1680 x 1050 ).
Which would you recommend or is there really not much difference ?

Also would you know ( if one is about to purchase a new camera ) how many
megapixels I need in a camera to get pictures with 2560 x 1600 resolution to
fit the Apple Cinema ?
I really thank you for your answers

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Answer 5

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Aug 23, 2010 9:50 PM in response to blurij

So neither one of those formats is up to snuff with respect to viewing on the 30" ACD. Both of them will have to scale up. You will probably be best off with the 1680 x 1050 format because at least they are the correct aspect, meaning you won't have any black borders around the images.

A 5 Mpix camera would be the minimum to cover the ACD's native resolution. Basically that means any modern camera will cover it because there are no more 5 Mpix cameras sold. Everything is higher resolution than that now.

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Answer 6

blurij Author

Level 1

3 points

Aug 24, 2010 2:12 PM in response to BSteely

Hello BSteely,
Much thanks again for the dialogue and informing me that I'd be best off with 1680x1050 res. I've also been doing some web reading on this resolution issue.
I understand that when a photo is exported to iPhoto that it scales it to the monitor's dimensions - as I understand it by enhancing or decreasing pixel size - so that it fits on the screen.

Is it logical to assume then that a picture or photo with 2560 x 1600 res. would be ideal for the Apple 30" Cinema Monitor because that is its maximum resolution - and pic and monitor would have a perfect fit ? Or does it just not make that much of a difference in viewing clarity because iPhoto calibrates the resolution to fit the monitor ?

And finally does the quality/clarity of the picture suffer more when a pixel size is increased or decreased. The way I am picturing it - picture clarity would suffer more if a pixel is increased ( stretched to fit the screen ) than if a pixel is compacted from an image larger than the maximum resolution of the monitor.

If you wouldn't mind clarifying that for me that should put the end of my inconveniencing you. You've been really helpful.

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Answer 7

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Aug 24, 2010 8:51 PM in response to blurij

The way I am picturing it - picture clarity would suffer more if a pixel is increased ( stretched to fit the screen ) than if a pixel is compacted from an image larger than the maximum resolution of the monitor.

You got it right. If there isn't real information there in the first place, e.g. the image is at a lower resolution, you can try to do something called interpolation, but it's like fake data. You're are always better off to start with real data, even if there is a surplus and you need to throw some away, rather than trying to go the opposite way, meaning starting from a lower resolution.

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Answer 8

blurij Author

Level 1

3 points

Sep 6, 2010 5:23 PM in response to BSteely

Hi,

Would you happen to know the picture resolution of the pictures that come bundled with a new mac for its desktop/screensaver images?
I've looked all over my system and cannot find where these photos are stored.

thank you - just curious since they really look sharp and clear .

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Answer 9

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Sep 7, 2010 7:16 AM in response to blurij

Those images are at the full resolution of a 30", namely 2560 x 1600. You can find them in Macintosh HD/Library/Desktop Pictures

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Answer 10

Sep 7, 2010 8:10 PM in response to blurij

If you have the time, take a minute to open some of the images you are considering, or like, in Apple's free Preview program on your Mac. Under the Tools menu, select Adjust Size. This will show you the resolution, in pixels per inch, usually ranging anywhere from 60 to 300, depending upon the quality, which also affects the size in Mb of each file, that they were shot at by the photographer, and which is independent of the Mac's screen resolution, but impacts overall clarity to a large extent. Picture clarity and quality are usually better the higher you go in machine screen resolution, as well as the higher you go in the resolution, as detailed in the Preview example outlined above. It takes some research to find really good photos for screen background or desktop images high in quality. The same holds true for screensaver images. Most photos shot at 180 to 300 PPI will provide outstanding examples.

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Answer 11

blurij Author

Level 1

3 points

Sep 12, 2010 3:07 PM in response to CA-Tim94595

Thank you Tim for that explanation. Do you know of a website that offers photos with the clarity that comes with the Mac desktop photos ?

I know how to find where iPhoto stores the pictures by right clicking on iPhoto library and selecting show package contents, but how does one find an iPhoto picture to open when in the Mac Preview application ? The iPhoto library is not highlighted when branching to it.
The only way to play with a photo in Preview is to duplicate it first onto the desktop and then having Preview open it. Is there another way?

I notice that my camera ( Canon EOS rebel) photos are in 3072x2048 dimensions, but all are 72 ppi in iPhoto. Does iPhoto convert all the imported photos to 72 ppi? Or does my digital camera shoot the photos in 72ppi ?
I've been playing with Mac Preview and changing the ppi size, but all I seem to do is enlarge the picture without enhancing the clarity when increasing ppi size. If I sound like a novice; it's because I am - lol.

Thank you also BJ for directing me to where the Mac desktop photos are stored.

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