Finding Images Online
Finding pictures online is easy right? Search, click images, find what you want, and save it. Done!
Not so fast! When using images for design purposes, you have to make sure they're the correct resolution.Â
The standard size for images on the internet is 72 ppi (pixels per inch).
The standard size for images that will printed is 300 ppi.
And if you're creating something with black and white lines (like a comic book) then the resolution may even go up to 600 ppi.
So how do you not just download any old picture from the internet?
You check the size of the pixels before you save or copy it!
However, before you do this you need to know how many pixels are in your image. In photoshop you can check your image size, but you can also figure it out by just using some basic math.
Let's try it. Remember the standard number of pixels per inch (ppi) in a printed image? Well you just multiply the number of inches by that number. Let's try a few:
An image measures 10" wide x 10" high. How many pixels wide and how many high is it?
2.75"h x 3.75"w = ______________ ppi x ________________ ppi
8.5"h x 11"w = _______________ ppi x _________________ ppi
Once you know how many pixels your image needs to be you can easily find what you need using the options on google.
Tools opens the menu so you can the Size options.
The size menu has various options to help you choose the correct size.
When you hover over a thumbnail you can see the image size.
Select & download images
Follow the 2 steps on the left to download images the size you need. NOTE: you can always download images that are bigger than what you need, but never smaller!
assignment
Your assignment is to search for and download images the same size or larger for each item below. Save your images in your folder you created on the computer.
Print Resolution
Bananas - 2"w x 3"h
Monkeys - 8"w x 10"h
Octopus - 3.75"w x 2.5"h
Web Resolution
Beach sunset - 1280 x 1024 pixels
Truck - 800 x 600 pixels