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Help / Glossary

Dmax

Dmax is a measure of the deepest black tone a printer/ink/paper combination can reproduce.

Gamut

Gamut defines the color space amplitude that a process reproduces.

Custom size

This symbol means that with this service, your prints and your finishing options are custom made in the format you freely define.

Max width

The width corresponds to the paper roll width. This value can therefore correspond to the smallest side of your print.

Permanence

The permanence of a process is its ability to resist to dyes or pigments deletion, on a selected media, under exposure conditions determined: quality and quantity of light and moisture.

Rendering of details

Definition

The definition corresponds to the number of pixels in an image file, in width and height. It is the numerical size in pixels of your file, it has no fixed dimension, nor size.

Size

The size is the size of the printed image. It is expressed in units of measurement, generally in cm.

Resolution

Resolution is the relationship between definition and size: it expresses the pixel density of a digital image file, i.e. the number of pixels per unit length. There are several units to describe resolution: point par pouce (ppp), pixels per inch (ppi), or dots per inch (dpi), but it is customary to indicate resolution in dpi (dot per inch).

Normal print size

The normal print size is the value in centimetres, length and width that can be obtained when printing an image file, without modifying these characteristics (without interpolation, for example), it is the optimal correspondence between the number of pixels contained in the file and its physical rendition.

Writing resolution (or printing resolution)

The writing resolution (also called printing resolution) corresponds to the density of ink dots (drops) per unit length, deposited by the printing system on the support (e.g. paper).

Resampling

Computer modification of the values with interpolation of it to increase or decrease its size, definition or resolution characteristics.

Viewing distance

The distance at which the print will be perceived in its final form (hanging or not).

Nominal resolution

Nominal resolution is a choice of resolution for small prints, which are to be viewed closely. A file should in this case be prepared at a resolution of 300 dpi, which corresponds to the average visual acuity at 25cm distance.

Necessary and sufficient resolution

Necessary and sufficient (or 'optimal') resolution is a choice of resolution for prints that are viewed from a distance. The further away an image* is viewed, the lower the resolution can be. It will be divided by two each time the viewing distance is doubled.
*This only applies to images that do not contain small text and details that need to be readable from a distance.

Useful resolution

The "useful" resolution is the value recommended by PICTO, allowing to obtain a print of photo quality or "large format" for prints on rigid and flexible media.