Printing Signs

[Bob]

HI all -
I am making (using Powerpoint) some signs for the layout.  My desktop inkjet printer is OK for this, but not great - I print using glossy photo paper, but the resolution for smaller signs is not great.  Does anyone know if the photo printers at drug stores and the like have a greater resolution that 300dpi?  Thanks - Bob

[thomasjmdavis]

Bob, yes, most copy centers and photo printers will give better resolution.

(following is to the best of my knowledge/recollection, I will cede the floor to the pro graphic artists out there)

That said, are you aware that the resolution set as default in PowerPoint may be as low as 96dpi- because PowerPoint is optimized for screen resolution, not print resolution?  The max is about 300 which you can achieve by adjusting settings.
https://www.presentationpoint.com/blog/best-powerpoint-screen-resolution/

If you already have PP set for max resolution (unless the later versions of Power Point have higher res than the last one I was working with), to get better than 300 dpi resolution, you will need to use a program capable of outputting greater than 300 dpi resolution.

Most graphics folks I know, especially when trying to do something very small (like N scale) will opt for a program that is tailored for print media and high resolution.  There are plenty of open source or otherwise free graphics apps out there that will give better results than PowerPoint (and if you have PowerPoint in your computer's office suite, you may also have a graphics app in there somewhere).

[DKS]

That said, are you aware that the resolution set as default in PowerPoint may be as low as 96dpi- because PowerPoint is optimized for screen resolution, not print resolution?

This. You may need to invest in/learn how to use decent photo editing software (PowerPoint is not a good starting point, sorry) and export the signs at a minimum of 600 dpi, depending on the final output size vs. the printer being used.

[C855B]

Definitely the software! I suspect your inkjet, unless it is 20 years old or more, can support at least 1200 x 1200. Taking your files someplace else will gain nothing.

Tom has it right, PP is not designed for print output other than handouts. Use MS Word; I suspect you have it since you have PP.

BTW, you won't be happy at 300 dpi, either. You want at least 600. [Oh. David just said that.]

[Bob]

Thanks everyone - this is incredibly helpful.  I was clearly focused on the wrong issue.  I'll see about getting a different software package to print signs. Bob

[DKS]

Thanks everyone - this is incredibly helpful.  I was clearly focused on the wrong issue.  I'll see about getting a different software package to print signs. Bob

Gimp is a good start.

https://www.gimp.org/

[peteski]

Thanks everyone - this is incredibly helpful.  I was clearly focused on the wrong issue.  I'll see about getting a different software package to print signs. Bob

As others said, printer is not the problem. My last ink jet which maxed out at 300 dpi was the HP 500C (about 30 years ago).

As far as the software goes, I highly recommend Corel Draw.  I have been using it for about 30 years (since version 3) and you can't beat its capabilities.  It is designed for exactly the type of task you have (unlike PowerPoint which is designed to create presentation slides).  I use couple of older versions (10 and 12 where current one is 19).  Even those older version have lots more capabilities than I need for my hobbies, and the older versions can be purchased for short money on eBay or maybe even on Amazon.

There is also a freeware software available called Inkscape, which is similar to Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator.  Of course there is a learning curve involved in getting up to speed on any of these, but once you are comfortable with this type of software you will never look back to PowerPoint.

There are several other members here who use Corel and/or Inkscape. There are also online forums for those apps. If you have questions I'm sure you'll get help.

[NtheBasement]

There is an alternative if you can find the sign you want on the internet.  It has to be a head-on shot.

I copy the photo and paste it in Paint, which lets me resize it.  My cheapo Canon printer gets more detail than I can see. This one, magnified with a macro, is less than 1/4" long.

[Bob]

Wow!  That is less than 1/4"?  Clearly my issue is indeed software and not the printer!

[DKS]

Believe it or not, this N Scale street sign is legible. I printed it on a 6-year-old HP inkjet.



And I used the same printer to make these decals:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=36515.0

 

[glakedylan]

proof of concept



https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=782219708878235&set=pcb.782219942211545&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARDNXFZw597lzmrFzk2vhEQia-DP6Mhoshv0tXqlVIQUi9GNL_f3iFT8IUStd9Wb9HK91pdCc2fcpz5b

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=782219845544888&set=pcb.782219942211545&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARCKR5au9lYZivfpB4HDTY8eeDH0v2uyERFHdE1v7kq5QEpyXWbgp2ilviFBi_x2exR3us_Nw00NW3_l

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=782219902211549&set=pcb.782219942211545&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARA3F2TKJncUmbeFI0mzTHx2ldXaYdSWt413Fm1DeVWDL02wQP681DCYZrwN8vi_qmpIdv41_jAGQ8HO


image one: image @ 100% on 15" HP Laptop showing the PNG file @ 100%, the print out on paper, and a rule for size verification (.75" high X .13")


image two: the screen capture


image three: the actual .png file


i think it speaks for itself


sincerely
Gary

[wazzou]

There is an alternative if you can find the sign you want on the internet.  It has to be a head-on shot.

I copy the photo and paste it in Paint, which lets me resize it.  My cheapo Canon printer gets more detail than I can see. This one, magnified with a macro, is less than 1/4" long.

So...no one's going to mention the sign says "NO SMOKNIG"?

[peteski]

So...no one's going to mention the sign says "NO SMOKNIG"?

Huh? What's wrogn with that? 
 

[DKS]

So...no one's going to mention the sign says "NO SMOKNIG"?

That's only the way it appears. I'm quite certain it's spelled correctly, and that a minor rendering issue due to the tiny spacing of tiny letters creates the illusion it's spelled wrong. (Look at the N in NO, and then look at the N in ING: the minor distortion of its shape is the same.)

 

[wazzou]

That's only the way it appears. I'm quite certain it's spelled correctly, and that a minor rendering issue due to the tiny spacing of tiny letters creates the illusion it's spelled wrong. (Look at the N in NO, and then look at the N in ING: the minor distortion of its shape is the same.)

You're likely right, and that's something I considered but it still looks like its misspelled, though it probably isn't.