[Leica] Digital enlargement & enlightenment, please.

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Lew asked:
Subject: [Leica] Digital enlargement & enlightenment, please.


>I think I know that there's a more or less fixed relationship between the 
>number of pixels on a cod and the maximum size of a print made from the 
>resulting raw capture without interpolation. So I have 2 questions:

>>1. What can we look forward to vis-avis the upcoming M8 and maximum 
>>non-interpolated print size?<<<

Hi Lew,
I'm probably the worse person on the list to answer this because I don't do 
numbers! :-)  But quite simply "How good does the print look!" :-)

Man if it looks cool and I'm happy with what I'm looking at and the client 
wet their pants when looking at it? That quite simply is.... "all that 
matters and to hell with the numbers and interpolation, whatever that 
means!" ;-)

>>2. Are interpolations now good enough for me to stop worrying about the 
>>limits of digital enlargement?<<<<

Quite frankly it depends on how big a print you are going to make? Which is 
no different in making an 8X10 wet tray print or a 4'X6' print off the same 
neg!

Right here is the question..... "how big do you intend on making it?"

I work with a Leicanon 20D and make 13X19 prints that take your breath away. 
Of course some folks figure that's not possible. ;-) However, I don't look 
at the number things!  I only look at... "How good is this photograph and 
will the client be happy with it?" And I as a professional pleased with what 
I see?

And quite frankly in the reality of the world in earning your keep or 
"impressing friends and family" with your prints that's all that matters. 
Other than the obvious.... "how satisfied are you and does it meet a quality 
standard you accept?" And or, are happy with it?

But for heaven sake forget the damn numbers and look at... "how good does it 
look to you?" That's all that matters!

ted