Creating stunning photo prints at Costco is easier than you might think, especially when you understand image resolution. If you’ve ever been unsure about how to prepare your photos for printing at Costco, this guide will simplify the process and ensure your prints look their best.
Many people wonder about the best way to resize their digital photos before sending them to print services like Costco. A common starting point when troubleshooting print quality is to examine the original photo file’s resolution. Opening your image in a photo editor like Lightroom or Photoshop and checking the metadata will reveal its pixel dimensions. If the width is smaller than expected (e.g., under 2400 pixels wide for a standard print size), it indicates a potential resizing issue during export.
When it comes to exporting photos for printing at Costco or any photo lab, the simplest approach is often the best: don’t resize. In most standard workflows for Costco Prints, leaving the “resize” option unchecked during export allows the photo lab to handle any necessary scaling. Costco’s printing equipment is designed to automatically optimize image sizes for their printers, whether it requires upscaling or downscaling. This hands-off method is generally the safest and easiest way to get good quality Costco prints for routine orders.
However, if you prefer to manage resizing yourself, or for specific creative needs, there are two main methods to consider:
1. Pixel-Based Resizing: If you know the exact pixel dimensions you need – perhaps for online use or a very specific output requirement outside of standard Costco print sizes – you can directly input the desired pixel width or height. Select “pixels” as your unit and enter the value. This method is less relevant for standard Costco photo prints but useful for web images or digital displays.
2. Inch/DPI-Based Resizing: For precise print sizes, switch the unit to “inches” and specify the desired print dimensions (e.g., 8×10 inches). Then, input the desired DPI (dots per inch) resolution. A standard DPI for good quality prints is often 240 or 300 DPI. The software will then calculate the necessary pixel dimensions by multiplying inches by DPI. For instance, a 10-inch wide print at 240 DPI equates to 2400 pixels in width, which is suitable for an 8×10 print. You can also decide whether to prevent upscaling by checking “Don’t enlarge,” ensuring the software doesn’t artificially increase image size if the original resolution is lower.
It’s worth noting a reported issue, particularly in some versions of Lightroom on Windows, where DPI settings above 217 may not be correctly recognized. If you encounter this, a workaround is to bypass inch-based resizing and directly use pixel dimensions. For example, instead of setting 10 inches at 240 DPI, calculate the pixel equivalent (2400 pixels for 10 inches at 240 DPI) and directly input “2400 pixels” for the long edge.
Remember, when you choose “Pixels” for resizing, the DPI setting becomes irrelevant and is effectively ignored by the software.
For consistently good Costco photo prints with minimal hassle, the recommendation is to avoid resizing altogether during export. Let Costco’s professional printing systems handle the scaling. If you require critical resizing control, especially for large format prints or very specific needs beyond typical Costco prints, consider using Photoshop for more refined adjustments rather than Lightroom. Lightroom’s resizing capabilities are often more geared towards preparing images for faster online sharing by reducing file size, rather than for the most demanding print quality scenarios.
In conclusion, for most standard Costco photo printing needs, simplicity is key. By understanding resolution and choosing to let Costco manage the resizing process, you can ensure beautiful prints without unnecessary complexity.
