Image resolution and quality settings
Digital images are made up of a grid of pixels, each representing a tonal value (ranging from black to
white and a range of hues, saturation, and brightness in between). e larger the number of pixels
used to represent an image, the larger the print you can make of the image before the individual
pixels become visible. For more details about the nature of digital images, see “e Building Blocks
of a Digital Image” handout and the “Digital Photography Presentation,” both available for
download from the “Handouts and Support Resources for Visual Language” page on the Studio
Foundation web site.
With the 4GB SD memory card that comes installed in the camera, the image resolution set to
“L” (large, the highest resolution setting), and the image quality set to “F” (ne, the highest quality
setting with the least amount of digital compression artifacts), you can to take about 1,058 images
before you’ll ll the card. So unless storage space is at a premium or you have a specic requirement
to produce low-resolution images, shoot the highest resolution, highest-quality images possible. You
can later resize as needed in Photoshop. While the “Large” resolution and “Fine” quality are the
camera’s default settings, however, another student may have changed the settings, so go into the
camera menu and verify these settings prior to shooting with the camera. e chart below shows
some of the camera’s resolution settings and roughly how large a clear print would be possible for
pixel dimensions at 72dpi (typical computer screen resolution) and 300dpi (typical hard-copy printer
resolution). e camera stores images in the JPEG image compression format.
In practice you can make pretty good prints up to 16 x 20 inches with this 14 MP camera when you
choose the Large resolution and Fine quality settings (our Canon ink jet printers print on 17-in wide
paper rolls). Unlike higher-end cameras, a RAW mode is not available. RAW les must be processed
with software such as Photoshop and offer increased exibility to change exposure, white balance,
and other settings on the computer after the photo has been taken. If you are using your own higher-
end camera and the best image quality is what you’re after, shoot in RAW mode if possible. When
given a choice of compression options with any camera, choose the highest quality setting if RAW is
not option (like the SX150 IS cameras we have available in the Studio Foundation cage).
Shutter Delay
e camera has a slight delay from the time the shutter button is pressed to the actual moment the
picture is taken. is is because the camera needs time to gure out the exposure and focus, however,
if you hold the button half-way down before you shoot, the camera can “pre-focus” and prepare the
camera for the exact moment you want to shoot the photo. en when you depress the shutter
button all the way, there will be less delay in terms of when the picture is actually made.
Setting
Pixel dimensions
(megapixels)
Rough image size
@ 300dpi
Rough image size
@ 72dpi
Image capacity
(Fine quality, 4GB card)
S
640 x 480 (0.3 MP)
2” x 1.5”
9” x 6.5”
19,998
M2
1,600 x 1,200 (2 MP)
5” x 4”
22” x 16.5”
6,430
M1
3,072 x 2,304 (7 MP)
10” x 8”
42.5” x 32”
2,002
L
4,320 x 3,240 (14 MP)
14” x 11”
60” x 45”
1,070
MassArt Studio Foundation: Digital Media Workshops: Canon PowerShot SX150 IS 7 of 9