Capture at Full Resolution
Your camera captures images at the highest resolution its sensor allows—often between 10 and 60 megapixels, depending on the model. Some cameras let you select quality levels like “Fine” or “Normal.” We recommend always shooting at the highest resolution your camera and storage can handle.
Resolution (measured in megapixels or "MP") refers to how much detail your camera sensor captures, but this number only becomes meaningful when you resize an image for display or printing. The goal is to maintain enough resolution to avoid visible pixelation.
Understanding PPI vs DPI
PPI (pixels per inch) is what matters for digital image sizing.
DPI (dots per inch) refers to how many droplets of ink a printer lays down on paper (usually 300–360). Your editing software (e.g., Photoshop, Lightroom, Mac Preview) and our submission specs use PPI, not DPI. You don’t need to worry about DPI—your printer driver handles that.
Resampling: What It Means
Resampling is the process of changing an image’s pixel dimensions.
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Downsampling throws away pixels to reduce file size.
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Upsampling adds pixels based on surrounding data—useful only when necessary, as it introduces guesswork.
Always work from your highest-resolution original. Never overwrite your full-res file. Make a copy and resize that.
How to Resize Your Image for Submission
We recommend submitting images that are:
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7 inches wide
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300 PPI
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Resulting in 2100 pixels on the long side
In Your Image Editor (e.g., Photoshop or Preview):
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Set the width to 7 inches.
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Set the resolution to 300 PPI.
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Check “Resample Image” and “Constrain Proportions.”
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Save the resized image with a new file name to preserve your original.
We ask for this spec so jurors can review all images at consistent size and quality. If selected, this format is ideal for printing in the exhibition catalog.
Compression & File Size Limits
After resizing, your image must be saved as a JPG file under 5MB (closed file size). That means the file size as saved to disk, not when opened in editing software.
Tips for Compression:
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Flatten layers before saving (if applicable).
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When saving as JPG, use a compression quality setting of:
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75–80% (or “8” in Photoshop/Lightroom)
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Most 2100px-wide images at 300 PPI will compress easily below 5MB at this setting.
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If your file is still too large, try slightly increasing the compression or reducing the dimensions by a small amount.
The goal is to maintain image clarity while staying under the file size limit.
Quick Reference Summary
| Requirement | Spec |
|---|---|
| Format | JPG / JPEG |
| Max File Size | 5MB (when closed) |
| Image Width | 7 inches |
| Resolution | 300 PPI |
| Pixel Dimensions | 2100 px (longest side) |
| Color Space | sRGB |
| Compression Setting | 75–80% or quality “8” |
| Resampling Enabled? | Yes |
| File Naming | Rename to preserve original |
Alternative Tools for Resizing
If you don't have access to Photoshop, consider these free tools:
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Adobe Express: An online tool for quick resizing.
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Preview (Mac): Built-in app for basic image adjustments.
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Paint (Windows): Simple tool for resizing images.
Final Tip
Always keep your full-resolution original untouched.
If you run into trouble resizing or compressing, feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help!