A photo can look great on your phone and still look blurry when printed much larger. Before ordering a card, sign or banner, it helps to check whether your image has enough detail for the size you want.
You don’t need to be a designer to understand the basics. Start with your original file, your planned print size and how close people will be when they look at it.
What does DPI mean?
DPI stands for dots per inch. People commonly use it to describe how much detail an image has when printed. For digital photos, you may also see the term PPI, meaning pixels per inch.
Think of a photo as a picture made from tiny colored squares called pixels. Stretch that photo across a larger print, and those same squares have to cover more space. Eventually, the image can look soft or blocky.
Why the size you’re printing matters
Imagine a photo that measures 1,800 × 1,200 pixels. Printed at 6 × 4 inches, it has 300 pixels per inch. Enlarge that same photo to 18 × 12 inches, and it has only 100 pixels per inch.
The picture hasn’t gained any detail. It’s simply become larger. That’s why an image that works well on a small card may look softer when it fills a large sign.
Do all prints need 300 DPI?
For cards and other items people read up close, aim for 300 DPI at the size the image will appear in your design.
Large vinyl banners are often viewed from farther away, so a lower resolution can still look good. A banner beside a walkway may need more detail than one viewed across a parking lot.
There isn’t one number that guarantees a good result for every image and every product. The size, viewing distance and quality of the original all matter.
Start with your best file
Whenever possible, upload the original photo or export directly from the program where you created the design.
Avoid using a screenshot when you have the original. Pictures downloaded from social media or sent through some messaging apps may have been made smaller or compressed.
Check the picture itself, too. If the original photo is out of focus, a high DPI number won’t make it sharp.
Can I just change the DPI to 300?
Changing the number alone won’t add missing detail. It’s like stretching a small picture and expecting new details to appear.
Some enlargement tools can improve how an image looks, but they can’t guarantee a clear print from a blurry or very small original. Starting with a better file is usually the better option.
Will saving it as a PDF make it sharper?
A PDF can keep text and properly created logos sharp. Some logos are made from shapes and lines, called vector artwork, which can be enlarged without becoming blocky.
But a photo inside a PDF is still a photo. Its quality depends on the original image and how large you print it. Saving a blurry image as a PDF won’t automatically improve it.
Before you place your order
Use your original, highest-quality file.
Check the image’s pixel dimensions and the size you want to print.
Think about how close people will view it.
Follow the file requirements on the product page.
Review the preview for spelling, placement and visible image problems. Remember that a small on-screen preview can’t guarantee sharpness at full print size.
Visit our FAQ for more information about preparing artwork and reviewing your order. A quick file check before printing can help prevent an unexpected blurry result.
