[ExonGep]

Alright, so i'm making the art for a CD cover. I started drawing it and i made a really good progress, but now i found out that i made it with 72 dpi. I looked around the web and people said that 300 dpi is the best for a clear printed CD cover.

I want to change the dpi to from 72 to 300. But as soon as i change it to 300, the image size increases from 1540 x 1540 to around 6540 x 6540, and very very big size. I wish i could work in 1540 x 1540 but still have a 300 dpi.

Can i do that?
_________________
___________________________
Keep Walking

[Jabo]

No. The dpi value is, basically speaking, the amount of pixels put on one inch by the printer. So the higher the dpi, the clearer your printed product. 300dpi means 300 printed dots per inch. When you increase the dpi value, you do nothing but add more pixels to the same picture. That's why the file jumped from 1540 to 6540 pixels. The printer needs the added pixels to print it's dots.

That's the reason why you need so much RAM in print design professions. Huge file sizes.

But wait, I think you made a mistake when you upsized the picture. Because when I make a new document with cover dimensions (12x12 cm) and 300dpi, the image is 1417 x 1417 pixels. Of course this is without bleed or anything, but I guess you know what I'm talking about. So, check your image size dialog again and make sure you have the right stuff typed in.
_________________
CA SB|Flickr

[ExonGep]

well, that's true when you make a new document an assign the resolution and image size at first. But when you already have a drawing with 1540 x 1540 pixels and 72 dpi, and you wanna change the resolution to 300 dpi, you'll see the huge jump in image size.

But anyway, i'll just change it to 300 and reduce the image size to 12x12 cm, that way the image size in pixels would be around 3340 x 3340, not that of a huge size. And start modifing so it doesn't look that blurry.

Thanks anyway!
_________________
___________________________
Keep Walking

[B0b]

when you resize, make sure that you uncheck the Resample Image radio button... this way you will change your current file to 300dpi without effecting files size..

[Jabo]

[ExonGep]

I understand now what you are saying and is true. You are giving me hopes and that nice, yeah!

Here is:

Pixel Dimension: 6.79M
Width: 1540 pixels
Height: 1540 pixels

Document Size:
Width: 21.389 inches
Height: 21.389 inches
Resolution: 72 pixel/inch

Tell me what should i do in order to lose as less qualitry as i can?
_________________
___________________________
Keep Walking

[Jabo]

Alright.

First you gotta uncheck "Resample Image" so that the image isn't changed when you type in new values.

Then change 72 pixels/inch to 300 pixels/inch.

You'll notice that you will now not be able to print the thing at 21.389 inches, but only 5.133 inches. That's enough for the 12x12cm file. Hit OK.

Then, go to the dialog again, check "Resample Image", change the units from inches to centimeters.

You should now have 13.04 written as width and height. Change it to 12.6, which means 12 cm plus 6 mm bleed, 3 on each side. This way, everything should be ready for printing.

Hope this works for you. The file should now be 1488 pixels wide and high. Painting at such a resolution should be no problem, saving and loading should be fast.
_________________
CA SB|Flickr

[ExonGep]

Jabo! You own! i'm really grateful, thanks alot for your help.
_________________
___________________________
Keep Walking

[B0b]

unless you're printing the CD cover yourself, i wouldn't do the last resize

[ExonGep]

why not bob?
_________________
___________________________
Keep Walking

[B0b]

the more information in a picture when you shrink it, the cleaner it looks..

[Jabo]

Yeah, well. The last line kinda resizes the image to exact proportions. So if you want to have the extra cm, leave it as is. I don't think it matters though. Just keep in mind not to place important parts of the image on the sides, because they will be cut off after printing.
_________________
CA SB|Flickr