Render Size

[Boofredlay]

About 14 months ago I did some renderings for a regional airport. The images worked great for small print media and web presentations. We got a call today saying they want to print them on 9' x 12' boards for the construction site. The question was posed to me as " how long do you think it will take to re-shoot those so they will look good?" 300 DPI was thrown into the conversation as well. There were 7 or 8 final images with some post production work done by me in Photoshop, a couple of them were heavy PP work. Some of the images have stainless steel columns which I know add to the render times.

So I guess my question (as well as sharing my fear at the moment) is what size images should I expect to render so they will look decent and what kind of time frame should I be considering?

Thanks for any insight.

Here is one posted online not by me so I am safe to share.

[d12dozr]

Have you seen this tip by Miguel? http://twilightrender.com/phpBB3/viewto ... =12&t=2723

[Boofredlay]

I had not seen that, thanks.

[Fletch]

300 dpi = glossy hi-res magazine
200 dpi = great 11"x17" presentation paper size
150 dpi = good 11x17 presentation paper size
72 dpi = web display or large format
18-50 dpi = very large format

see also miguel's tip for large format presentation.

300 dpi for large presentation is laughably ridiculous.

If the sign is 144" wide (12') 72x144= 10368 pixels wide. I think that will be quite a challenge for you.

4000 pixels I'm guessing is about what your RAM will handle (if that) with 32 bit rendering out of SketchUp. And the render could take a while.
I would suggest rendering at 3400px, blow just a small portion of it to the site sign actual size so that you can see a preview. Try the same also for 4000px.

Another great tutorial about presentation resolution.

[Boofredlay]

Thanks Fletch. I knew I could count on you for some good ammo. I did the originals at 3000 wide so I am going to suggest they use what they have.

[Fletch]

3000 px at 144" wide = 20 dpi
In other searches of pro photographers I have seen this:

Talk to your billboard printer. The ones I've done ranged from 18 - 30 dpi at final print size, depending on the vendor.

Also:

As I said, an image that is sharp and detailed at 8x10 or 9x12 at 300 ppi will be sharp and detailed on a billboard.
That's what photographers did before digital--the rest of the process hasn't changed.

Scientific experiment?
sure: Breaking the Megapixel myth.
Sign Industry and Viewing Distance

[Gaieus]

If you have access to a 64 bit computer with relatively much RAM, you can always export to Kerkythea from Twilight and render there. Yet true that it does not need to be too much bigger than what you already have.

[Boofredlay]

Turns out I only had to re-do one of them. At 3000px wide it is going to look just fine. The other 3 I had already done that size.