The Resolution You Need

The type of printing, paper and size of your document will dictate the resolution you need to get your photos and images looking their best. So what is the resolution you need? Well first you need to realise that the major differences in resolution are between screen and print.

An image which appears to be clear on your monitor will not necessarily print out as crisply. To reproduce the clarity from your screen you will need a resolution four times higher to get the same quality of image on paper. So now you know not to believe your eyes until you have seen (the) proof from your printer.

On screen an image is measured in pixels which you can see if you zoom in close enough. When printed, your image will be made of dots which you can see if you put your image under a magnifying glass. Dots per inch, dpi and pixels per inch, ppi, both refer to the same thing – the quality or resolution of the image. The higher the dpi and ppi, the better the quality.

However, the dpi and the ppi are not interchangeable, for example a high ppi count will not necessarily transfer to a high dpi count, nor a good quality image as your screen pixels give off a much better image than your printer dots.

The dpi you need for a good quality print project also depends on the type of printer you are using, as most office machines do not have a high enough dpi to print at the same quality as a professional printer. However, it is also not always possible to increase the dpi or the resolution of your project or image, and if this is the case, you will have to make the best of the ppi that you have and reduce the image for the best quality.

For more information about printing your project or document to the right quality, contact Print Compare now.