Print Size Poll Results

Here are the results of the print size poll from the other day:

(As you can see, respondents were allowed to create their own answers in the poll widget. After that ellipsis [the "dot-dot-dot"] it says "...about 7x10.5"," which is about the same as "8x10 or a little larger," and A4 is about the same if you grant some space for a border.)

Somewhat inconclusive, as the two top responses nearly split. The smaller (5x7) and larger (16x20) partisans also offset each other more or less.

I'm working with a custom printer in Colorado (I'll profile him eventually), who has already proof-printed the image, and he feels that a size of 11x14 works better than "8x10 or a little larger" because the detail in the file needs a little room to breathe. He was surprised by how much more detail there is in the file than in the Flickr presentation. (We're using a different frame, too, but the two are very close.)

Having seen the initial print attempt, he'd prefer to float an 11x14" image on a 17x22" sheet, but that much border makes it more difficult to ship.

He's going to be making guide prints on four different kinds of paper, which will be really interesting for me. "Each paper has its own personality," as he put it. And each paper interacts with specific images differently. Or can, anyway. I'll share my reactions with you. And I'll keep you apprised of our progress toward the "first print."

Mike

Original contents copyright 2023 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)

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Comments

[Richard Tugwell]

Don't take this the wrong way, but for infographics like this, ditch pie-charts unless there are only 2 or 3 metrics. Use bar charts instead.

[Bob G.]

Nice. It’s interesting to see what happens to one’s idea of what to see an image as. Maybe you should do this all the time, but include your preference as a baseline? And yes, use bars…

[David Dyer-Bennet]

Yeah, the fine points of paper are one place where a professional printer will do better than nearly all artists printing for themselves. The professional prints more prints in a year, and also sees a bigger variety of images, both of which contribute to getting to know the papers better.

[Richard Parkin]

I can see why commenters are advocating bar charts but I suspect the pie chart + legend works is better in this blog format and in this case it shows the 3 or 4 main choices clearly enough.

[Dierk]

Finally I had to try it out: http://www.dierkhesse.de/download/doinyourownfinemike.jpg (iPhone-Snap) printed from your flickr-file on Hahnemuehle Fine Art Baryta 315 (dimension around 7,25 by 11 inches) via Epson SC-P 800 - now please don´t nail me on the cross for this: just did it for proof purposes... I will be happy exchanging on of my prints if you appreciate it - of course done via RAW... ;-) How about my personal kind of Green Pepper #30 from the Stones on the Beach Series? http://www.dierkhesse.de/portfolio.html?id=15

[Matt O'Brien]

A table with the question and no of votes is better than a diagram.

If using a bar chart... include the count of the votes. This is especially useful for the smaller answers, which disappear on a pie chart.

[John Abee]

Re pie charts vs bar charts vs ????, for no more data than we have here, I would always prefer a simple table. When presented with a bar chart, I immediately extract the data to a mental table for analysis so why not just start there. If you decide to use a bar chart, I'd recommend a horizontal bar with data labels on the axis but then what you have is a table with a little visual window dressing.

[Dave]

Amen to David Dyer-Bennet's comment. After I read the last paragraph, I thought you had found a "keeper" (for a printer).

[c.d.embrey]

The life of C-prints is 75 to 100 years. How long do your prints last?

[No it isn't. I have plenty of C-prints which have deteriorated quite markedly, the oldest of which might be 40 years old, but some of which are younger. --Mike]

[Benjamin Marks]

As luck would have it, today was my son's court hearing to have his name changed: he added my wife's last name as his middle name. A short and happy court hearing. So: this post was timely. :)

[c.d.embrey]

Mike, yes it is. WhiteWall photo lab rates Fuji Crystal Archive at a minimum of seventy-five years.

Like everything in life you get what you pay for. Pay less get less is a truism.

[Richard Tugwell]

More on bar charts, since I started it :-). Yes, horizontal barchart (John Abee), especially when labels can be long. Tables are also good, but I would say bar chart has better visual clues if only one value is being plotted. Tables good when there are multiple values and you can then implment column sorting. (NB this is easily achieved in embeeded widgets on blogs)