What is DPI?
Understanding Dots Per Inch for Printing and Design
What Does DPI Mean?
DPI (Dots Per Inch) is a measure of printing resolution. It indicates how many individual dots of ink or toner are placed within a one-inch space on a printed page.
The higher the DPI, the more detail and sharpness in the printed image. Lower DPI results in less detail and visible pixelation.
Common DPI Values and Their Uses
| DPI | Use Case | Quality Level |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Web images, screen display | Low quality |
| 150 | Draft prints, internal documents | Medium quality |
| 300 | Standard printing, magazines | High quality |
| 600 | Professional printing, photos | Very high quality |
| 1200 | Archival quality, fine art | Ultra high quality |
DPI vs PPI
DPI (Dots Per Inch) refers to the printing resolution - how many dots of ink the printer places on paper.
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) refers to the digital image resolution - how many pixels are in each inch of the digital image.
For best print quality, your image should have a PPI of at least 300 when printed at the desired size.