Please read if you know much about photography!?

Question

How do you take a picture of an object and when you print the picture out, its the same size as the actual object?

Example...
You take a picture of a bug.
The picture of the bug is in your camera, and then you print it out.

How do you take the picture, to make the size of the bug on the print, the same size as the actual object?

PLEASE help!! This question's been whirling around me for a long time!! It's just so hard to explain sometimes!! =)

And what if my camera doesnt have a built in ruler?

Answer 1

If you are using a digital camera and are also using a photo- editing program that permits you to show inch-scales on the screen then it is easy. It is the program not the camera that needs to show an inch scale.

When you take the original picture have an actual physical ruler (like a 12" desk ruler) showing in a corner of the photo so that you can see what one inch looks like.

When you look at the photo on the computer screen see how many inches the one inch portion of the physical ruler takes up as seen by the inch-scales on the screen. If it is one inch you are good. If not adjust the image size so that the ruler is life size.

Make a trial print and if the ruler near the bug is one inch on the print then the bug is life size. If not tweak the image sizing to get it right. In the final image you can crop off the ruler if you want to.

Answer 2

well...there isn't really a best way to do this u have to set the image size / print area size yourself

u can set up high resolution on your camera if u want nice details on the bug

then import the image into ur system, use something like photoshop to crop the bug and set the print area to the live size of the bug...

there are so many different way to do this but none of the ways i know will automatically do this for u , u have to do some manual work on your end

Answer 3

when I was printing for a plastic surgeon he would put a 3mm rule on the subjects face since having a lifesize image was critical to his work . All I had to do was make the rule the right size everything else fell into place. you might use the same trick. Having a known object in the photo removes all doubt just dont use a fisherman's ruler. Put an18% greyscale in the photo to ensure the colors are correct.

Answer 4

And you're asking why people pay other people to use Photoshop for them?

It depends on your camera, your monitor and your printer, so you have to run some standardization tests for your particular set-up. I have a small chart for regular routines posted right on the side of my computer, but the ones I use often enough, I have memorized anyway.