Is JPEG the best way to save a picture for print?

I have some pictures I wanted to frame but I want to make sure it looks just as good framed as it is on my computer screen , Is JPEG the best way to save a picture for print?

Anonymous2011-08-10T12:57:25Z

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You can use the TlFF format, though your pics will take more space.

If you print using Picasa, it can tell you if your pic has enough resolution for printing in full page or A4 size.

joedlh2011-08-10T14:49:02Z

Lots of folks on here are recommending tiff format. I don't. I've had jpegs blown up to 3x5 feet and they look fine. Tiff files are very large, which can sometimes be an obstacle to uploading a file for printing. The on-line printer that I use, which is used by many experienced photographers, accepts jpegs. Although most people believe that jpegs are lossy, if you save at the highest resolution and lowest compression, you are not going to degrade the image. I know because I experimented by saving an image 20 times without any noticeable loss of quality.

Michael T2011-08-10T13:02:17Z

depends on the original format

if originally a JPEG you won't get much benefit from changing it to anything else

JPEG uses a standard lossy compression format that chucks a lot of Data

If the original was a TIFF use that

for RAW images like Nikon NEF files either leave it in that format or save it in a High Resolution format after any edits like TIFF or a photoshop PSD

they will preserve any data that the JPEG compression will destroy

more important for a good print is Resolution you should start with the number of pixels either vertical or horizontalequal to the print dimension X 300

ie an 8 X 10 print requires about 2400 X 3000 pixels for best quality print

mister-damus2011-08-10T17:23:55Z

Question: "Is JPEG the best way to save a picture for print?"
Answer: Yes (for now).

The reason is not because of the quality, but because it is currently the most widely accepted format. Not all places accept .tiff pictures (only jpegs).

I make prints from jpegs all the time and they look just fine (especially at 4x6 I doubt anyone could tell the difference)

Anonymous2011-08-10T13:03:13Z

If they are raw, you can save them better in tiff. Jpeg is ok for a moderate print size if you keep it in a good resolution

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