Just read the excellent article "The Right Resolution" by Jeff Schewe in DigitalPhotoPro. But it has left me with a question:
I have a (new) Epson R3000, so I want to print my images at 360ppi.
0. Using Photoshop CS5, I can use Image Resize to set the resolution to 360ppi and natively, with no resampling, this makes the 12.3mp image, say 6inx4in. I guess if I print this (either in PS after applying some output sharpening, or in LR using output sharpening), this is the best print I can achieve.
However, If I wanted to print an enlarged version, I have 4 options, but which will give me the best printed image quality?
1. In PS, resize the image but maintain resolution at 360ppi using Resampling. I can then just sharpen/print from PS as the image is at 360ppi
2. In PS, resize the image but don't constrain the resolution, i.e. let it reduce to whatever it takes for that size - no resampling. Then print it in LR, by setting the output resolution to 360ppi and let LR do the resampling and the sharpening (LR is uprezzing the image)
3. Open the original from step 0 above in LR - it is already at 360ppi - then resize/zoom to fit paper in LR without changing the resolution (LR is increasing the image size at the same ppi)
4. Use Perfect Resize 7 plugin to do the resizing
I would very much appreciate your views on why which approach is best