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Getting the best quality prints from CC3 files

KenGKenG Traveler
in Mapping with ProFantasy's Software
I'm looking for suggesting and best practices for how to get the best quality prints from CC3.
I find that I'm drawn to a darker pallet which looks great on my screen but doesn't always print out the best, and I'd like to improve on that.
My normal procedure is to generate the map out of CC3 at 3300 max image dimensions in a JPG file.
I then open that file in Gimp, scale the pixel from 72 to 300 and export in JPG.
From there I print.

So suggestions, ideas, How do you do it?

Thanks,

KenG
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Comments

  • MonsenMonsen Administrator 🖼️ 81 images Cartographer
    May I ask what that procedure really gives you? First, jpeg is a lossy format, so saving it in jpeg, rescale, then save again is a nice way of losing quality. Secondly, upscaling a file from 72 to 300 dpi doesn't really do anything, gimp cannot add any additional quality to the file.

    If you find that you are using the wrong colors on the screen compared to your printout however, I recommend that you calibrate your screen so that the colors on the screen will match the printout, this makes it far easier when the visuals on the screen will match the result.
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  • KenGKenG Traveler
    So what is the recommended process, to get the best quality prints?
    Thanks,
    Keng
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  • RalfRalf Administrator, ProFantasy 🖼️ 18 images Mapmaker
    For the highest quality prints when not printing from my home printer, I export from CC3 as a PNG at a very high resolution, something like 8000x8000 pixel if possible. I then open the file in Photoshop (or any other bitmap editor), and scale the map down to my desired size and dpi - that's because Photoshop does a slightly better job at smoothing stuff when scaling down. If size of the file is a factor (like then uploading to a poster print service) I might now save this file as a jpg, but I don't go below quality 10 (max) in Photoshop's setting.

    If I'm printing from my home printer, I print straight from CC3.
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  • MiritholMirithol
    Off hand, do you know if Photoshop Elements would work with this?

    Thanks,
    Miri
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  • 12 days later
  • blatherblather
    You should be able to use any variety of Photoshop or GIMP to do this, for that matter any raster image editor program will work. Printing is something I have had to try and wrap my head around for quite some time.
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