Can you find the smallest and largest digital files with no doubt at all?

If you look at the three images above, can you see any big differences between the three files?

One of the images would be used by me to make high definition prints, one would be sold to a client to share online and to make prints up to 8x10 and one file is the smallest in size and would be a free digital file to accompany its purchased print to archive/ share online.

There really isn't much difference, is there?

To look great online, a digital file doesn't have to be large. That's just the way digital display devices, like your phone screen and my Samsung desk top monitor, work. The files above range from 1100px (pixels) to 4500 px on their longest edges, and they basically look the same. When would we start to see the differences? That would happen when cropping or zooming in. The detail would become a lot less and the images would look pixelated.

The smallest file, at 1100px looks great here, but it would not make a good print as there is not enough information in the file to print nice image, especially beyond a 3x4 inch size. These are the digital files that I provide without charge when a print is purchased, just so you have a file to show others or to tuck away in your phone or PC.

The largest file above, called a full resolution file, is designed to be printed. With 4500px on the longest edge and 300dpi or dots per inch, it contains the most digital information and is the most valuable file due to its size and the fact that small to larger sizes prints may be made along with as many duplicates as needed. (300 DPI is requested by pro print labs to get the most detail and digital information.)

The other file is sized at 2800 px on the longest edge/72 dpi and is fine to make smaller prints of 5x7 and OK for 8x10s. (Detail will be lost the larger the print made.) These files are often priced to allow me to recoup some of my time taking and processing the image while allowing the client to purchase a file that can be used to make small/medium prints and duplicates.

Why do files cost more than some prints?

That's a great question.

1. As a business, a profit must be made. If a file was sold for a low price and could be used t o make multiple prints or large prints, that wouldn't make good business sense as a photographer at all. Retouching a portrait file rarely takes less than an hour, and all the programs and equipment that go into the making and editing of that file have to be fiscally accounted for.
2. As a photographer, I want to have control over the type of prints that are made from my files. (And all digital files do remain the property of the photographer under Canadian law. Unless the rights are purchased (very expensive) Clients purchase the right to make personal prints and share non-commercially.) If someone purchases a full resolution file and then has a big print made at a low cost print lab (no names mentioned here), it will almost always look... not great... as the print quality will not be good. At all. Anyone looking at that print will then think that is the type of work I produce. That is NOT good for my reputation at all. To me, this reason is more important than #1.
3. When I sell the small print, the client can see what the print really should look like AND they get a small digital file that looks great online. If the client purchases a large print or canvas, I go over that file with a fine tooth comb (another hour +), make corrections, extend the edges if needed, crop appropriately, order, pick up and package that print. Also, when a print is purchased from me, I can guarantee the quality and "fix" it my ordering a new print if something goes amiss at the lab. I want some prints to cost less than a full size file so you will choose the print option, I can print FOR you and make sure you get the best product!

Do you want to see which file is which?