Images for a tractor trailer

I need to shoot some images of people to be printed on and attached to the side

of a tractor trailer. The largest dimension would be 8 feet in height and maybe

4 feet in width. A group of the images will be spread over the surface along

with some type etc.

 

I'm not well versed on shooting digital yet so I will probably use my film based

equipment, the question is what sort of format will be sufficient and would it

be safer to send the film to a good lab for scanning or send it directly to the

printing firm for them to handle it?

 

I have the option of using 35mm, 6x6, 6x7, or 4x5 formats.

Thanks for the help.

MT

let the people doing the output handle it or tell you what they need.

4x5 would be best, but find out what the printing firm can handle. Probably the biggest file you can send them, so you'll want to have a high quality scan done of the image.

8' x 4' is an aspect ratio of 2. The closest of the formats mentioned is 35mm with an

aspect of 1.5. Though 1.5 is still not 2.0, it's closer than the other formats which will

require you to throttle more data just to crop it away. Also, a hi-res 35mm scan should be

easy and inexpensive to obtain, and produce enough data to make a picture look good

enough at 80mph.

 

I would ask the printing firm if they want TIFF images on CD, or if they want the actual

35mm frames. The CD's would be better for you since you don't lose control of your

original product. Also, if they want film, do they want negatives or positives?

 

Just some thoughts...

I don't think aspect ratio has anything to do with it -- you can always crop. You want as much detail as possible, and given the equipment available 4x5 is the best option. You can always put some tape on the ground glass to give you an idea of what 8'x4' will look like. But the larger the negative, the more clarity in the enlargement, obviously.

I agree with John - 4x5.

<I don't think aspect ratio has anything to do with it -- you can always crop.>

 

That's what I said, the other formats will require you to flow more data just to crop it away.

In addition, the resolution of the final print may be no more than 40 ppi. Typical highway

billboards are done at 10ppi. A 35mm x 4000ppi scan would be good enough for a 45-

foot tall image at that printing resolution.

 

If the (maybe not so) well known formula: Res = 2 / (D x 0.000291) is used, where

D=viewing distance in inches, a print resolution for 15' (180 inches) = 40 dpi. What

consumer is going to be closer than 15' to these things? At 40dpi, a 35mm scan can

easily do 11-feet tall.

 

At 15' 40ppi would satisfy the eye's 60 l/mm maximum discernment. And besides, these

things are typically going to be ~bouncing~up~and~down~ the interstate at 80mph. In

the end, though, it will be up to the client/printer as to what the maximum resolution will

be. They can print at 300 dpi if they so desire. In which case even a 4000 dpi scan of a

4x5 will not be enough.

BTW, I just happen to have a U-Haul trailer in my driveway (my son is moving across town)

that has a 3' tall image of people on the rear door. It appears the image was screened at

about 20 lpi. Obvious screen lines up close, but a good image at about 20' feet away.

Start at the end, ask the output company what size they need, that will determine (along with your comfort level) what format to use, I always go up a size if I know I'll be cropping, just to be sure

 

erie

I do believe that this forum will never fail me. Thank you everyone for contributing to the discussion of this problem. Since submitting my estimate for the job I have not heard anything back from the potential client. If I do go ahead with it I'll be sure to post some results.

Thanks again for all your help.