DPI vs PPI: Which Resolution Matters for Printing?

PPI (pixels per inch) measures the pixel density of a digital image. DPI (dots per inch) measures the density of ink dots a press or printer lays on paper. The number that matters when you prepare a file for printing is PPI: supply images at 300 PPI at final printed size and the press takes care of the dots.

The two get mixed up because software and spec sheets use them interchangeably. The distinction is simple: pixels live in your file, dots live on the paper.

Why 300 PPI is the print standard

At normal reading distance the eye stops resolving extra detail around 300 pixels per inch, so 300 PPI at final size prints crisp text and photos. Less shows as softness or visible pixels: a 1000-pixel-wide photo prints sharp at about 3.3 inches wide, not at poster width. Large format is the exception, a banner read from metres away stays sharp at 100 to 150 PPI.

How to check your file

Divide the image's pixel dimensions by the printed size in inches. A 3600 x 2400 px photo printed at 12 x 8 in is exactly 300 PPI. Resizing a small image up in software does not add detail, it only spreads the same pixels thinner, so start from the largest original you have.

Which one for your job?

Rule of thumb: 300 PPI at final size for anything read up close (cards, flyers, brochures), 150 PPI for posters viewed at arm's length or more, 100 PPI for large banners. If your file falls short, we flag it at proof stage rather than print a soft job.

Common questions

Is 72 DPI good enough for printing?

No. 72 PPI is a screen convention, printed at reading distance it looks visibly soft. Aim for 300 PPI at the final printed size for small pieces.

Can you fix a low-resolution image?

Upscaling cannot recreate detail that was never captured. Minor shortfalls are workable, especially on large format viewed from a distance; a genuinely small image destined for close-up print needs a better original.

What resolution do vector files need?

None, that is their advantage. Logos and text built as vectors (AI, EPS, vector PDF) scale to any size with perfectly crisp edges, so supply logos as vectors whenever you have them.

Products where this term matters

See also in the dictionary: Bleed, Paper weight and finishes · full dictionary