What is the best print size for resolution?
A Full-Resolution Print
Choosing the Right DPI for You
Most images that are to be printed on a 8.5x11in should have a DPI of at least 150-300 DPI. Most images on the internet are only 72 DPI. 300 DPI is the standard for printing, but sometimes 150 is acceptable but never lower.
The traditional standard for smaller print jobs is around 300 dpi. However, larger files don't need a resolution this high because of the large file sizes. At 100 dpi, most large photo prints and other images will appear crisp and clear.
For a 16" x 20" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum. For a 20" x 30" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum. For a Wallet-size print, the image resolution should be 320 x 240 pixels minimum.
Anything 300 PPI or over is usually considered to be high resolution.
PRINT SIZE | 100 DPI | 300 DPI |
---|---|---|
16 x 24 | 1600 x 2400 | 4800 x 7200 |
20 x 30 | 2000 x 3000 | 6000 x 9000 |
24 x 32 | 2400 x 3200 | 7200 x 9600 |
24 x 36 | 2400 x 3600 | 7200 x 10800 |
A high resolution image is one that's at least 300 DPI, or "dots per inch." As in – the printer spits out 300 little dots of ink for every inch of your photograph.
24x36" (60.96x91. 4 cm): 2400x3600 pixels. 30x40" (76.2x101. 6 cm): 3000x4000 pixels.
Inches | Cm | Ideal. Resolution |
---|---|---|
12x16" | 30x40cm | 3600 x 4800px |
12x18" | 30x45cm | 3600 x 5400px |
12x24" | 30x60cm | 3600 x 7200px |
14x24" | 35x60cm | 4200 x 7200px |
The 16x20 is a 4 to 5 ratio and the painting could be sized up to a 24x30 and still have the boy and the waves in the same placement on the canvas. In the case of a commissioned portrait I am often given the final size by the client and then use the aspect ratio to figure out what size the study should be.
What is the most common image resolution?
The standard resolution for web images is 72 PPI (often called “screen resolution”). At that size, the pixels you see on the screen are all the pixels there are; an image that's 4” long at 72 PPI will take up about 4” of your monitor.
In general, it's best to aim for about 300 dots per inch (DPI) for quality prints. With most photo editing software, this is as easy as manually editing the image resolution. If you don't have the software, you can figure out the best size to print your picture by doing a little math.
Pixel Dimensions | Full-Resolution Print | Largest Print Possible |
---|---|---|
@ 300 ppi | @100 ppi | |
400x600 | 1.3” x 2” | 4" x 6" |
1000x1500 | 3.5" x 5" | 10" x 15" |
1200x1800 | 4" x 6" | 12" x 18" |
Yes, you can use a DPI guide to determine if your photo is the right size. DPI stands for “dots per inch” and is a way of measuring an image's original intended size and resolution. A higher DPI means better quality but also larger file sizes. Most printing services recommend using 300 DPI for optimal print quality.
Open your image in Preview. Go to Tools > Adjust size... In the Resolution box you'll see the DPI of your image. If it's different than 300, uncheck the "Resample image" box and enter your desired DPI (300).
Generally 100 dpi is a good standard for images with the document size set at full size of the large format printed product. For example, if you want to order a 40"×60" print, the image size should be 4000 pixels (40 x 100) by 6000 pixels (60 x 100) at 100 dpi.
Size | Borderline: 150 res | Best: 300 res |
---|---|---|
20 x 24 | 1800 x 2160 | 5000 x 6000* |
20 x 30 | 1800 x 2700 | 4000 x 6000* |
24 x 36 | 2160 x 3240 | 4000 x 6000* |
30 x 40 | 2700 x 3600 | 4500 x 6000* |
2:3 is the most popular aspect ratio for printing. Print sizes that are a 2:3 aspect ratio and are popular with poster, canvas, and decal printing are 24 x 36 inches and 40 x 60 inches. Some popular print sizes for the 3:4 ratio includes 30 x 40 inches and 18 x 24 inches.
SIZE:Our 16x20 frame matted to 11x14 ,you can put in 16x20" (40.7x50. 8cm) picture, or display frame 11x14" (27x34cm) with a white Mat.
For regular photos, then 3:2 or 4:3 would suffice. When choosing a format, think about the type of camera you have. To maintain quality, the ratio of your image size should never exceed your camera sensor's. For instance, if you're using a micro four-thirds camera, stick to 4:3 or 1:1.
What format prints best?
- .PDF (Preferred for most files)
- .EPS (Preferred for large signs and banners)
- .JPG (Preferred for images)
- .TIFF (Preferred for high resolution images)
Remember, you should never print your images at the same resolution as your screen. These are typically 72 DPI (dots per inch). So you want to aim for anything between 300 and 1,800 DPI when printing.
Standard resolution for a printed image is 300 ppi. This means that when you're printing a 4×6, you should have 1200×1800 pixels. Resolution has great bearing on whether or not your print turns out looking professional. Again, this is something to be cognizant of when starting a new project.
Change resolution by adjusting pixel dimensions.
If you have specific needs for the dimensions or size of your image — like a poster at a certain print size — check the Resample box. This allows you to adjust the print size and resolution independently, which changes the number of pixels in the image.
For normal quality output, your original file should have 300 dpi resolution at 25% of the final output size. (this means for a 24 x 36 poster, your original file should be at 300 dpi and 6 x 9).
References
- https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2018/04/09/printers-cheat-sheet-print-art
- https://www.picmonkey.com/blog/creating-a-high-resolution-image-for-printing-and-displaying-online
- https://canon.ca/en/Articles/2020/Guide-To-Printing-The-Perfect-Picture
- https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/increase-resolution.html
- https://www.posterburner.com/Blog/BlogPost/Image-Aspect-Ratio-For-Printing/
- https://expertphotography.com/megapixel-image-resolution/
- https://dcopy.net/support/file-formats/print-file-formats.php
- https://mixedmediacreations.com/dpi-guide-photo-big-enough-2/
- https://posterprintshop.com/file-preparation/
- https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/Image_resolutions.pdf
- https://help.socialprintstudio.com/article/114-large-format-prints-1
- https://www.canva.com/learn/beginners-guide-aspect-ratio/
- https://www.viannaszabo.com/blog/118176/a-list-of-aspect-ratios-of-common-canvas-sizes
- https://carleton.ca/theprintshop/story/resolution-and-clarity/
- https://largeformat.hp.com/in/blog/what-is-the-best-image-resolution-for-large-format-printing
- https://prophotosupply.com/blogs/resources/how-large-can-i-print-my-digital-image
- https://posterjack.ca/blogs/inspiration/how-big-can-i-print-my-photo
- https://happymoose.nz/pages/how-big-can-i-print-my-photos.html
- https://urbansignandprint.com/blogs/tutorials/file-resolution-for-large-format-printing
- https://dotphoto.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/91319-what-is-the-best-resolution-for-my-photos-wall-art-and-posters-
- https://www.amazon.com/ENJOYBASICS-Picture-Display-Pictures-Without/dp/B08HGQFBWT
- https://www.picmonkey.com/help/importing-and-exporting-files/printing-resolution/how-do-i-make-a-high-resolution-photo-for-printing
- https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/photography/discover/high-resolution.html
- https://www.j2b.com/filesize-dpi