photography help needed please

[kfeusse]

if you make photo books (like shutterfly) what is the lowest MP you would even consider using for a decent looking picture?  thanks.

[Mama Geek]

If you only want to make prints up to 8x10 inches, you only need enough pixels to make a sharp print at that size. The general rule for high quality sharp prints is 300 pixels per inch. So an 8x10 inch print needs 8x300x10x300 = 7.2 megapixels.  

 

​This is just a basic rule of thumb.  I didn't remember the numbers and just looked it up on line.  

[kfeusse]

so if I want to print only a 4 x 6 picture...or use one that size in a book...300x4x300x6= 2160000 (so does that mean 2.1 MP?) ...so if my camera used 5MP it would nicely enough for making photo books?  

[Mama Geek]

If you aren't going to put in anything larger than that it would be fine.  I have often included full page pictures in my photobooks.

[PeterPan]

The book software will usually stop you if the image is too low res.  I wouldn't be too afraid on it.  I recently made a book using a variety of older images, including prints from film (just simple point and shoot cameras) that I cropped so much you'd be like NO WAY that cannot possibly work!  And the books came and they look fine.  At one point some of my pics weren't fine and it flagged.  I just think if the software lets it through, don't sweat it.