What is DPI? A Beginner’s Guide to Resolution and Design

DPI, or dots per inch, indicates how much color is in each inch of an image. As a measure of resolution, DPI is one way to indicate how detailed the image will be when finished. In the design world, DPI is an important factor in the creation of graphic imagery.

While DPI is referenced in both digital and print projects, it’s generally used for printed graphics, such as photographs, banners and billboards, as those use actual dots of ink within an image of fixed size.

If you’re new to graphic design, it may be helpful to check out a few articles before getting started with DPI:

This article will explain DPI and why it matters. You’ll learn about selecting the best DPI for your image and using it within popular design programs for personal and professional projects.

What is DPI?

DPI stands for “dots per inch” and is a measure of resolution (how detailed an image is). The higher the resolution, the clearer and more colorful the final image will be, as each inch contains more dots of color. The edges between colors will also be crisper.

Although you may see “DPI” in digital environments, it’s primarily a factor in printed images. That’s because it measures the literal drops of ink on a photo or magazine page, for example. Depending on what you’re printing and your budget, you can adjust DPI to suit your needs and goals.

The standard DPI for work documents and everyday images is 300, although many printers default to 600 DPI or higher. If you need a very sharp image, especially if it’s going to be viewed up close, aim for over 600 DPI to ensure the details are clear.

The size of your printed project matters as well, though perhaps less than how close viewers will get to it. A page of inexpensive ads in a magazine might need a higher resolution than a billboard. The ads’ details must be clear, while people see the billboard from a distance and so briefly that less ink is needed per inch.

If your image has a lot of detail, opt for a higher DPI so that viewers will see those tiny, important elements and not just little splotches of color.

Repeating surface pattern of vibrant mushrooms of various sizes in every color of the rainbow — DPI measures how much ink is used in printed images, and is an important factor to consider during the digital design process. Still from Skillshare Class Watercolor a Seamless Pattern: Surface Design in Adobe Photoshop for Print-on-Demand by Cat Coquilette

Differences Between DPI, PPI and Resolution

DPI, PPI and resolution all relate to image clarity and the number of units of ink or color in a section of a printed image. Yet, they are three distinct things.

Resolution is sort of an umbrella term for the level of detail in an image, whether it’s print, digital, film or video. You can measure resolution in two main ways: DPI and PPI
DPI, dots per inch, is the number of ink droplets a printer will apply to each inch of the item it’s printing.
PPI, on the other hand, is pixels per inch and indicates how many pixels are in an inch of a digital image. As pixels only exist on screens, PPI doesn’t indicate how much ink is in a printed image. However, depending on the project, the PPI of a digital image could relate to the DPI of the final printed image.

Why Does DPI Matter?

Ultimately, DPI tells you how clear your printed image will be. If you know the size of the print (photo, poster, billboard, etc), how closely viewers will be to it and how your equipment handles DPI, you can control the quality of the viewing experience.

It’s vital to understand that, while DPI is a measure of ink and print materials, it’s an important part of the design process, even if you’re starting with digital graphics.

DPI in print design: Typically, the creation of printed projects begins in the digital space. Often, if you know your digital resolution in PPI, you can assume the DPI will be the same. At the same time, printed images typically look better with a higher DPI, while the digital image can get away with a lower DPI.

DPI in digital design: If your project is intended for a website or other digital space, DPI won’t be an immediate concern. However, if any of your digital products will be printed by users (reports, PDFs, etc), know that an image can look clear and sharp on screen but grainy or fuzzy when printed.

Because DPI impacts image sharpness, clarity, and usability, you should test graphics in both digital and print to ensure they can be used effectively in both environments.

How to Choose the Right DPI for Your Project

When setting the DPI for your image, know that it will typically correspond to your PPI during digital design. So, while you may not actually be printing yet, you can know what the DPI will be.

Start with the standard DPI for average print materials, which is 300 DPI. Then, consider the size and purpose of the final product.

As a rule of thumb, the larger the image, the higher the DPI. So, a printed 4x6-inch photo will likely be fine at 200 DPI, but an 8x11-inch print will likely need something closer to 600 DPI.

However, large items you’ll view from a distance, like a banner, will probably look good at 300 DPI, while a 2x3-inch piece may require 1200 DPI to keep all the details clear.

When and How to Adjust DPI During Work

During the initial design, you don’t have to worry much about DPI. Using a lower DPI will save ink (and money!), especially if you’re printing out test images.

However, once everything is finished, you’ll want to be certain your DPI is ready to print sharp images. Remember that your DPI is the same as your PPI (digital resolution), so adjusting your pixels can impact the final print.

For example, if the final image will be a 10 inch square and you’re using 300 DPI, resize your image to 3,000 by 3,000 pixels.

Using DPI in Design Tools

If you’re using one of the common design tools, try the following settings and recommendations for adjusting DPI.

Adobe Photoshop: With your image open, go to Image > Image Size, and adjust the resolution.
Adobe Illustrator: Open Raster Effects Settings, and select a resolution from the drop-down menu.
Adobe Fresco: When setting up your document, select the format and PPI you want; you can adjust the PPI as you set up the new document.
Procreate: With your image open, go to Actions > Canvas > Crop and Resize, then simply enter your desired DPI.
Canva: Click Position in the toolbar and go into the Advanced menu, where you can enter the exact pixel values you want.

Common DPI Mistakes (& How to Avoid Them)

The most important thing DPI does is to help you create and print attractive and effective images. One of the quickest ways to sabotage that is to use a DPI that’s too low, or to confuse image size with resolution.

Remember, even if the image looks good on a phone or computer screen, that doesn’t mean it will print as clearly. If the PPI is less than 300, you run the risk of grainy images. Further, if you increase the file size without also increasing the resolution, you’ll have a blurry, oversized file.

Depending on the software you’re using, you can set the PPI and DPI right away in the document setup. Keeping in mind that 300 DPI is the general standard, consider if your work will need something higher. Elements needing a higher resolution include:

Text within the image
A great amount of detail
Need for high-contrast
Close viewing

A best practice is to “work backward” when it comes to DPI. Think about how the image will be used, how users might alter it (printing off a digital image, for example) and balancing your creative goals with your budget.

Learn Design & Creative Skills with Skillshare

DPI is among the most important factors in creating high-quality print graphics and should be considered throughout the digital design process. Observing DPI best practices can help you avoid grainy, blurry and oversized images.

If you’re looking to learn more about improving your design skills, practice is your greatest friend. When you couple that practice with Skillshare’s expert-led classes, you’ll enjoy guidance and camaraderie as well!

Classes that may support your design + DPI journey include:

The benefits of learning from industry professionals are invaluable, and they bring a wealth of fun project options for you to try. Spend some time exploring Skillshare courses on graphic design, printmaking and more, and find out just how amazing you can become.

Written By

Katie Mitchell

Katie lives in Michigan with her husband, kids and pets. She enjoys cooking, travel and live music.