Printing a photo or illustration seems like it should be as piece of cake as printing anything else, but information technology isn't. Set the DPI incorrectly, and y'all'll end upward with sleeky photos that are blurry and depression quality, or a poster that prints no larger than a stamp.

If you're a designer or photographer, or just want to make sure your vacation shots impress without problems, you need to understand what DPI is, and how to alter your print resolution. In this article, we explain everything you lot need to know virtually DPI and how to change the DPI of an image.

What Is DPI and What Does 300 DPI Mean?

DPI stands for "dots-per-inch," and is a specification for printing and for setting the print resolution of an prototype.

A print is fabricated from millions of tiny dots of ink. The DPI setting determines how many dots the printer drops onto every square inch of the image—300 dpi ways 300 dots of ink, while 150 dpi is half as much.

You need to understand how DPI works because information technology controls the two almost important things in printing:

  1. The quality of your print. In simple terms, a higher DPI ways a higher quality print. Almost expert home printers can output at 300 dpi, which is the recommended minimum for high-quality printing, and professional printers much higher.
  2. The size of your print. A pixel in a digital image is equivalent to a dot in a print. Then, if y'all print an 1800 pixel broad image at 300 dots-per-inch, the printed prototype will be 6 inches wide. Print the same image at 180 dpi and information technology will be 10 inches wide. Information technology's basic math—just divide the number of pixels by the DPI.

How DPI Affects Your Prints

Here'due south an image to illustrate. Below are ii lines that consist of the aforementioned forty blocks—the same size and same colour. The blocks are less tightly packed on the top line, equating to a lower DPI; and more tightly packed on the bottom line for a higher DPI.

what is dpi

The effect is clear. On the Lower DPI line, the gradient is a lot less smoothen. You tin can run across clear edges against each of the blocks. The line is likewise a lot longer.

On the Higher DPI line, the slope is much smoother. Information technology's nearly seamless. The line is also a lot shorter.

This demonstrates the balancing act you often demand to make when setting the impress resolution: size versus quality. A lower DPI image prints larger, merely at a lower quality. If y'all're working with depression res images, then you'll have to make a trade-off between the two.

Where possible, y'all should always save your piece of work in as high a resolution equally you lot can. Because resizing your image to make it larger won't improve the impress quality.

What DPI Should You Use?

All this begs the question: What is the best DPI to print at?

The standard rule is that you lot should aim for a 300 dpi epitome. This is slap-up quality for photographs, and it's questionable how much extra item the human center can even discern beyond that level.

But if your image is besides small to impress at 300 dpi, don't worry. The intended viewing altitude of the print plays a big role in what resolution you demand.

For images you'll hold in your hands, like photos, leaflets, or magazines, 300 dpi or college is the target, but 250 will practice at a push.

With posters or pictures that you're going to frame, you lot can become away with a lower resolution because you'll generally be looking at them from a few feet away. 200 dpi should be okay, or even a little lower. This also applies when you're press on different materials, like canvas.

And this continues. The further away you intend to wait at your epitome, the lower you tin can fix the resolution. A billboard poster designed to be seen from beyond the street might be printed at as depression as twenty dots per inch.

It's likewise important to annotation that these rules only apply to photos and raster images. If you're doing graphic design work with vector images, and so you can resize them as much as you like without whatsoever loss of quality.

How to Check the DPI of an Image

To find out an prototype's DPI in Windows, correct-click on the file name and select Backdrop > Details. You'll see the DPI in the Image section, labeled Horizontal Resolution and Vertical Resolution.

how to check dpi

On a Mac, yous need to open the image in Preview and select Tools > Adjust Size. It'south labeled Resolution.

How to Change the DPI of an Image: 3 Ways

You can change an prototype's DPI in about graphics packages, including the all-time upkeep design apps. You can even do it in Preview on a Mac, just we'll take a look at 3 solutions that will have you covered on any platform.

Remember that DPI is merely a measurement of print resolution. Changing the DPI does not change the size of your digital image or the size of the file.

If you're working with an paradigm you recall y'all'll need to print, it'southward a good idea to set your target print resolution before you resize it. That will help to ensure you don't brand information technology likewise small to impress safely at your preferred size.

How to Change the DPI in Photoshop

To alter an image'south DPI in Photoshop, go to Prototype > Image Size. Uncheck Resample Prototype, considering this setting volition upscale your image, which will make information technology lower quality.

change dpi photoshop

Now, next to Resolution, blazon in your preferred resolution, set equally Pixels/Inch. Detect how the Width and Summit figures change, also. This shows you the size your paradigm volition print.

You lot can, of class, specify the width and height instead, in inches or centimeters. If you exercise this, but make sure your DPI doesn't driblet besides low to dethrone the quality. That can happen if your image is small.

How to Change the DPI In GIMP

To change the DPI of an image in GIMP, get to Paradigm > Print Size. Enter your preferred DPI side by side to X Resolution, set in pixels/in. The Y Resolution should update automatically, likewise.

change dpi gimp

Similar in Photoshop, you can set the concrete width and height instead. Again, make sure the DPI doesn't drop too low when you do this.

How to Alter the DPI Online for Free

If y'all're in a pinch and y'all don't have your graphics program of choice to paw, yous can e'er change the DPI of an prototype with Catechumen Boondocks's DPI-irresolute web app for free online.

convert town change dpi online

All you have to exercise is input the DPI you need the image inverse to (common resolutions like 300 dpi are available as handy presets), drag-and-drop the file to upload information technology, and wait. When information technology'due south washed converting, it should automatically download your updated prototype to your default download folder.

Go Improve Photograph Prints

Understanding the significant of DPI is so of import when you're printing. Information technology's so easy to ruin unabridged projects because you're working at too low a resolution or to get bad prints because you're press them larger than they tin can handle.

Merely this is just the first pace in printing—there'due south a lot more you demand to know to become the perfect print.

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