If you are designing a print such as a poster that is going to be displayed at the same size both on paper and on screen, then it doesn't matter how many pixels per inch (PPI) are used to make the print. However, if you want the design to be shown at different sizes, or you intend to crop an image before printing it, then knowing what PPI setting is best will help ensure the clarity of your print.
A pixel is a unit of measurement on an electronic screen. Screen resolution is the number of pixels that can be displayed per inch. DPI is an analogous measure for print quality. DPI (Dots per inch), better known as PPI (Pixel per inch), and that's the number of dots of ink in each inch of your printed piece.
The higher the PPI, the higher quality it will be. The higher the DPI/PPI, the more pixels there are in an inch, and the sharper the image will be. Knowing the pixel density of your monitor is one thing, but how do you know how many pixels per inch (PPI) you need to produce a high-quality print?
This article will help you understand, how to convert pixels and mm, and cm to DPI/PPI and conversely.
DPI (dots per inch) and PPI (pixels per inch) are used to describe the number of individual dots or pixels that can be displayed within a given area. Higher numbers usually mean higher quality, but they can also mean smaller file sizes.
The DPI/PPI of an image is important for two main reasons:
To convert pixels, mm and cm to DPI / PPI, you need to know the size of the image in pixels. For example, if you have an image that is 1000x2000 pixels, and you want to convert it to 300 DPI, you would divide 1000 by 300 to get 3.33, and 2000 by 300 to get 6.66. This means that each pixel in your image is 3.33mm wide and 6.66mm tall. To convert from DPI / PPI to cm, you would multiply these numbers by 10 to get 33.3mm wide and 66.6mm tall.
As we all know, printing is the process of transferring images or text from one surface to another. The quality of the print largely depends on the resolution, which is the number of dots per inch (DPI) or pixels per inch (PPI). The higher the resolution, the sharper and more defined the image will be.
Nowadays, most printers have a resolution of at least 300 DPI or 300 PPI. That means for every square inch of paper, there will be 300 tiny dots of ink. This is more than enough for most printing needs, such as for text or simple graphics.
However, if you want to print photos or other complex images, you'll need a printer with a higher resolution. For example, Inkjet printers typically have a native resolution of 300 DPI or higher.
Printers with a resolution of 600 dpi or higher are considered photo printers and can produce high-quality prints. However, even with these printers, the quality of the print will still depend on the quality of the image file you're printing from.
If you're printing from a low-resolution image, it won't matter how high your printer's resolution is—the print will still come out looking blurry and pixelated. So when it comes to printing photos, it's always best to have good quality input material. Laser printers typically have a native resolution of 600 DPI or higher.
Higher resolutions will result in better print quality, but may also increase printing time and cost.
The number of pixels needed for a good quality picture depends on the resolution of the image, which is measured in dots per inch (DPI) or pixels per inch (PPI). The higher the resolution, the more pixels are needed.
For example, an image with a resolution of 300 dpi would require 9,000 pixels to create a 3-inch by 3-inch print. For a 7-inch by 10-inch print, you'd need 36,000 pixels.
If the resolution remains constant, increasing the physical size of the image will increase the pixel count. For example, if you double the width of your image to 6 inches without changing its resolution, you'll need 18,000 pixels to produce a 3-inch by 3-inch print.
That's because each inch will now contain 4 pixels instead of 2. Ditto for a 16-inch by 20-inch print: It would require 72,000 pixels.
A handy guide for the most popular formats:
If you're looking for high print quality, you need to make sure your images have a high DPI or PPI. DPI stands for dots per inch, and PPI stands for pixels per inch.
The higher the DPI or PPI, the more detail will be visible in your printed image. To get the highest possible print quality, you should use an image with at least 300 DPI or PPI.
Whether you are printing family vacation photos or a business proposal to win over a new client, high quality print results leave a lasting impression.
To help you put your best print forward, we put together a few simple tips so you can get high quality prints every time.
Every printer comes with a few print quality settings that can easily be adjusted in the “Printer Settings” or “Printer Properties” menu. We show you where to find “Printer Properties” on a Word document below:
Inside the printer settings menu you will find a “Print Quality” drop down menu that lets you choose the quality setting of your document. The names of the settings vary depending on what printer you own but they are all categorized in the same way, with similar quality options:
A business proposal printed on presentation paper with crisp, black text will have a much bigger impact on a client than one printed on flimsy copy paper with ink that’s running on fumes. If you want the best print quality, you need to choose the right type of paper for the job. Inkjet printers and laser printers don’t always need a specific type of paper, multi-purpose copy paper is fine for basic print jobs, but if you want better print results, you can buy paper that’s designed for your printer. Inkjet paper absorbs the liquid ink that’s dispensed on a page and is slightly thicker than standard copy paper, so prints end up with an enhanced image quality that looks crisp. Laser printer paper is able to take on heat by fusing the toner powder onto a page, which provides denser blacks and sharper results. Inkjet paper and laser printer aren’t the only kinds of paper available to you. You can also use specialty papers like photo paper, presentation paper, fine art paper, cardstock, and other paper types for specific projects. Check your printer’s user manual to see which paper types are compatible with your printer and choose accordingly.
The right printer cartridges are just as important as the right paper. Standard inkjet printers print with ink cartridges, which are designed for everyday document printing, including text, photos, and basic color images. Laser printers use toner cartridges, which are better for printing text. These printers are faster than inkjets but due to the powdery nature of the toner cartridge, can’t reproduce the same tonal distinctions, so some color prints may appear dull. Photo inkjet printers are best for printer owners that require higher quality color prints. These printers usually use a few extra cartridges to create a print compared to an inkjet or laser printer, which provide a wider-color gamut and improved color reproduction on projects where color accuracy is critical, like professional photography and art prints.
Dots per inch, or DPI, is the measure of printed dots placed within one square inch of a printed page. When you look at a printout, you are seeing a combination of all these little dots coming together to form an image. The higher the dpi, the better the print quality or resolution because more ink droplets are filling up that one-inch space. Inkjet printers typically have a range between 300-720 DPI, while laser printers range from 600-2,400 DPI.
When you decide on the print quality in the printer settings menu, you are selecting a different DPI range for your printout:
Draft mode: This is the lowest dpi and is used when ink levels are low or when you don’t need high quality prints
Normal: Suitable for most print jobs
Best: Better dpi than normal
Max DPI enabled: Highest dpi setting available for print quality
If you are printing text or business graphics, don’t worry about DPI. Most printers are designed to handle this type of printing with ease, and you will get high quality prints no matter what printer you own. However, if print quality is essential to your work, like professional photo prints, DPI is worth keeping in mind. If you decide to set your printer to print at max DPI, it will use a lot of ink so don’t be surprised if your cartridges deplete quickly.
Windows 10 users can follow these steps to set your printer to the maximum DPI setting:
1. Search for the printer settings menu in the Windows search bar and click “Manage” to manage your printer.
2. Then click “Printing Preferences” and open the “Advanced” tab
3. Select “Print in Max DPI” and click “OK”
For best results, make sure you are printing the original file from whatever application that file was created in. It can be easy to use a smaller file size or a screenshot of the file if you trying to save time or making edits on the fly. However doing this means you aren’t printing the image at it’s highest quality, which will translate to an inferior print out.
Now that you know how to get better quality prints, you can choose the best option for your next project with ease. Looking to lower your printing costs? Shop LDProducts.com to pick up compatible ink for your printer today and get quality prints at a great price. Be sure to check out our other great blog content for even more helpful printing tips!
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