Digital-to-Print Help!!!

I am trying to make a general form for my magazine for photographers and need some help on digital-to-print conversion. I need to know what some standards are for high-res image requirments up to 8.5x11" in a high-glossy magazine. I am terrible at dpi and ppi and would like to know what i should set the bar at for this when i write up the general contract for all photoshoots.

Please help! and also, if you are someone who would like to get some freelance paid work in the San Diego area let me know as well!

Thank you!

Adam C Walter
303 Media Corp.
858-587-8800
awalter@303mediacorp.com

The general standard for photo printing is 300 dpi. If you're still using film to print (i.e., separations) then you might ask your printer what linescreen they're using. I think 133 is the most common for offset printing. And the rule for that is digital files set up at twice the linescreen. So if I deliver an image file to someone who's printing with a 133 linescreen, I set it up at a resolution of 266 dpi.

Does that help?

At 266dpi and dimensions of 8.5" x 11", you would need an image with pixel dimensions of 2,261 x 2,926 (just multiplying the numbers together). Digital SLR cameras usually are a 3:2 proportions and a six megapixel camera would give you an image about 3000 x 2000 pixels so this would be just under what you would need. However, file size can usually be increased in programs like Photoshop with great results. I've made really high quality 16x24 prints with my 6mp DSLR, sized up to 240dpi.