Depends on the quality of the file. All things being equal, RAW will give you more information to work with, which can translate to larger prints. But good photography techniques will go a lot further in determining image quality than the RAW vs. JPEG choices. Proper exposure, low ISO and using a tripod will enable you to print higher quality images which can translate to a larger size.

You might have noticed that I didn't give you a print size. That's because there are too many variables that determine how large a print can be made that will satisfy you. You need to experiment to see how critical you are with the images you capture.

Very well put Larry. Last year I saw a 30+40 print made from a 6 meg camera. It was at a photoshop where I was looking at some cameras. The man that showed me was real impressed with what 6 meg would print. I think he was convinced this was his selling point. The color was poor the resolution was real bad. Any closer than ten feet from it it was hard to tell what it is. Now I know digital cameras produce some nice smooth detailed prints, but you are right it is all in the eye of the beholder. I feel a 6 meg camera can produce real nice 11+14 and if tripod low iso setting and proper exposure is used 16+20 is still very good. Anything above that would be a personal chioce as to the quality. I know many will not agree here, so I will add that it is possible to get large prints of quality from a 6 to 8 meg camera, but a lot depends on the digital darkoom talent. Monte Johnson.

I use a 6MP Nikon D70 dSLR and when I am careful in how I make my images (tripod if needed, lowest ISO of 200, observe depth of field, etc.) and how I use Photoshop, my 13x19" prints look great. I haven't yet printed my panoramas because I am still learning how to correct artifacts when using Panorama Factory, but I expect to be able to print 13x44" panoramas of the same or higher quality than the 13x19" single images. My 13x19" images are 2000x3008 pixels where as my 13x44" panoramas are about 2800x9500 pixels (you loose some of the 3008 pixels because of bending of the individual panorama images).

Frans Waterlander
frans2001@netzero.net

I have know many people who get very nice 13+19 prints with a 6 meg camera so I have to believe stitching the images together you should be able to do 13+44 prints. Monte Johnson.