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Remember: while you can always decrease resolution using editing software, you can
never increase it.
A rough rule of thumb is that the memory required per picture is one half of the
megapixel rating of the camera. Thus a 4 megapixel camera will require 2 Mbytes of
storage per picture.
Professionals put the resolution required for parity with film at about 250-300 pixels per
inch. Thus for an 8x10” print, a 6 megapixel camera would be required.
This rule is somewhat subjective. Most find that 8x10s are satisfactorily produced with 4,
3 or even 2 megapixel cameras, although most notice some degradation and tiling at 2
megapixels and below.
In the following example, I have reproduced several images on the page in resolutions
that represent the resolution produced by cameras printing an 8x10” print in 6, 4, 2 and 1
megapixel resolution.
300 pixels per inch, same as a 6 megapixel camera printing
an 8x10
225 pixels per inch, same as a 4 megapixel camera
printing an 8x10
160 pixels per inch, same as a 2 megapixel camera printing
an 8x10
100 pixels per inch, same as a 1 megapixel camera
printing an 8x10