Blurry or blocky printing is almost always due to too low an image resolution. On your screen a photo looks sharp, but in print much more detail is needed. In this article we explain how resolution and dpi work.
What is dpi?
Dpi stands for dots per inch: the number of print dots per inch. For sharp printing you need at least 300 dpi at the size the image is printed. On a screen 72 dpi is enough, and that’s exactly why a web image often disappoints in print.
Calculating at actual size
Important: 300 dpi applies at the final size. A 300 dpi photo that you print twice as large effectively becomes 150 dpi and thus less sharp. So don’t enlarge an image substantially after placing it.
Practical tips
- Use original high-resolution photos, not downloaded web images.
- Check the effective resolution after placing and scaling.
- Avoid enlarging small images; detail that isn’t there won’t come back.
- Supply your file as a PDF with images at at least 300 dpi.
Not sure whether your image is sharp enough? We check your file before production and warn you if the resolution is too low.
