Photo editors often challenge new users with seemingly arcane terms. While these traditional terms make sense once you understand them, they can make you scratch your head when editors use them to label features. One such case is the Develop Persona tool in Affinity Photo.

Develop Persona is the RAW image editor for the Affinity Photo graphics editor suite. It is a low-cost, open-source solution for editing unprocessed images straight from digital cameras. As such, it lets you edit RAW files through dedicated adjustments, panels, and tools.

Because the tool will not resave your images as RAW, you must make all your desired adjustments while in Develop Persona. Therefore, by reading further, you will learn how to use the tool to bring out the best features of your photographs.

What is the Affinity Photo Develop Persona Tool?

If you are new to digital photography, you will quickly run into a roadblock. All professional-quality cameras output their photos in RAW files. RAW is the industry standard for numerous reasons, but mostly because:

• RAW offers the highest possible resolution at around 21 Megapixels
• RAW images are completely unprocessed and lossless, they are as they were taken

This specialized image format requires equally specialized editing tools that can handle the high resolution and dynamic realistic colors and details. They also require high-end, professional editing features such as layers, masks, batch image processing, preset libraries, and digital asset management.

As such, you only really see them included in higher-end graphics editing solutions such as Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo.

Develop Persona is the Affinity Photo RAW Editor

In Affinity Photo, Develop Persona is the main RAW editor, serving as an open-source alternative to Adobe’s Lightroom. It provides an easy-to-use but cost-effective way to work on your photos so you can edit them without losing your source files.

There is no special procedure to use the tool either. Affiliate Photo will launch Develop Persona automatically when you open a supported RAW file. You can then work on the photo like it was any other type of image through the various dedicated panels, tools, and adjustments. You can even use features such as Clipped Highlights, Chopped Tones, and Clipped Shadows within the tool.

Notable features and panels include

• Develop Assistant that lets you toggle between tonal and exposure adjustments
• Detail sharpness, Noise, and Lens correction
• Basic, Tone, and Brush adjustments
• Crop and image orientation
• Blemish removal
• Focus and scope
• Snapshots and version comparisons

Develop Persona will even auto-save your work so you can continue from where you left it. You will never have to retrace your steps even when working on other photos.

How to Use Develop Persona in Affinity Photo

Due to its modular nature, how you use Develop Persona largely depends on what you want to accomplish.

Histogram Adjustments

You access the histogram options by clicking the histogram located above the right menu bar. From there, you can view all the RGB channels or just one of them, letting you spot any clippings and the overall brightness. You can even use the Scope tool to evaluate the exposure.

Other useful adjustments include:

• RGB Parade and Waveform
• AF regions, Meta, and Focus information

Saving Your Adjustments as Presets

You can save your photo adjustments and modification as presets so you can reuse them on other photos. While in Develop Persona, click the “Ass Preset” button on the top right corner of the menu. You can then select the preset from the Presets menu to use it.

Basic Image Adjustments and Tools

You will find all common image editing tools on the Basic Tab, including Black Point, Exposure, and Brightness.

Clipping

The shadow, highlights, and tones clipping markers and tools on the menu bar at the top right.

Comparing Before and After Snapshots

Develop Persona provides two ways to compare and evaluate the results of your adjustments.

• Split View – uses frames you can toggle on and off
• Mirror View – places the before and after snapshots in different windows

Paint and Brush Overlays

Paint and brush adjustments are the only basic tools not on the Basic Tab. Instead, you access them by selecting the Overlay buttons on the menu. You can only access the Basic Tab while these overlays are active. So, make any other adjustments before selecting them.

Apply Gradients

You can adjust gradient levels from the Gradient Overlay. This overlay does not lock out the Brush overlay. So, you can combine the two to make more complex adjustments.

Conclusion

Develop Persona is the native RAW image file editor for the Affinity Photo graphics editing suite, It provides you the tools to professionally process and modify the photos you take with your digital cameras in a simple to use interface.

Font size is an important factor to consider when printing documents. Depending on the purpose of the printout, different font sizes may be appropriate. For example, a large font size might be more suitable for a poster or sign, while a smaller font size might be better for a report or article.

Your font size should be at least 10pt for printed materials. Anything smaller than that is generally too small to be easily readable, especially for extended periods of time.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. If you’re working with a small amount of text – say, a headline or slogan on a small item- you might be able to get away with using a font size smaller than 10pt. This article will examine some of the factors you should consider when deciding on a font size for your printouts.

How to Decide the Font Size for Your Printed Materials

When choosing a font size, legibility should be your main concern. The goal is to make your text easy to read, so choose a size that will be comfortable for your audience. If you’re not sure what size to use, err on the side of a larger font. It’s always better to have text that’s too large than text that’s too small.

In addition to legibility, you should also consider the purpose of your printed material. For example, a document that will be read from a distance – like a poster or sign – will need to be printed in larger font size than a document that will be read up close – like a report or article.

Finally, remember that different fonts can appear either larger or smaller, even when they’re the same size. This is because some fonts are designed to be more compact than others. If you’re having trouble deciding on font size, try experimenting with different fonts to see which ones appear larger or smaller at the same size.

Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should have a good idea of what font size is appropriate for your printed material. A font size of 10pt or larger is best for most purposes. However, there may be some exceptions depending on the specific needs of your project.

Factors That Determine a Font’s Printability

Choosing what fonts to use for printed materials can be a difficult task. With so many fonts to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, there are a few factors you can use to narrow down your options and choose the best font for your project. Three main factors will affect a font’s printability: size, legibility, and purpose.

• Size is the most obvious factor to consider. A font that’s too small will be difficult to read, while a font that’s too large will take up too much space and be difficult to fit on a page. The best font size is one that’s large enough to be legible but small enough to fit comfortably on a page.
• Legibility is another important factor to consider. Some fonts are designed to be easy to read, while others are more ornate and difficult to decipher. When choosing a font for your printed material, opt for a legible font that will be easy for your audience to read.
• Consider the purpose of your printed material. Different purposes will require different font sizes. For example, a poster or sign will need to be printed in a larger font than a report or article.

When it comes to printing, more than just the font size should be considered. To create printed materials that are easy to read, you’ll need to take a few other factors into account, such as:

• The font’s weight
• Style, and
• Spacing

The weight of a font is its thickness. In other words, how light or bold it appears on the page. A lighter-weight font will be easier to read than a bolder font, making it a better choice for printed materials.

A font style refers to its design, which can range from simple and straightforward to more elaborate and decorative. When choosing a font for print, you should stick with a simpler style that is easy to read. Decorative fonts may look nice on the screen, but they can be difficult to read when printed out.

The spacing of a font is the amount of space between each character. A font with wide spacing will be easier to read than a font with tight spacing. This is because the extra space makes it easier for your eyes to move from one letter to the next.

Keep these three factors in mind when choosing a font size for your next print project. With a little bit of planning, you can ensure that your printed material will be both legible and visually appealing.

Can Any Font Be Used for Commercial Printing Purposes?

When it comes to using fonts for commercial purposes, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, make sure you have the rights to use the font. Some fonts are free for personal use but require a licensing fee for commercial use. Others are free for both personal and commercial use. If you’re not sure whether or not you have the right to use a particular font, check with the designer or copyright holder.

Not all fonts are free for commercial use. Licensing fees for fonts can vary depending on the designer and the specific font. To acquire a license for a font, you’ll need to purchase an applicable product, like Adobe products, for a license to their fonts.

In addition to having the right to use the font, you’ll also need to ensure the font is suitable for commercial printing. This means that the font should be of high quality and legible in all sizes. Some fonts are designed specifically for print purposes, while others are only meant for digital use. Be sure to choose a font that’s intended for the type of printing you’re doing.

Utilizing a template for your printed material can help ensure that you’re using a print-ready font. Many templates come with pre-installed fonts that are suitable for commercial printing. If you’re not sure which font to use, ask your printer or graphic designer for recommendations. Placeit is a great resource for finding high-quality templates with print-ready fonts.

Conclusion

When it comes to printed material, the font you use is important. Make sure you have the right to use the font and choose a font that is legible and of high quality. Using a template can also help ensure that your printed material is ready for commercial use.

Inkscape is a free-to-download vector graphic software. It was created to help users draw freely and improve the vector graphic design process. It has many fun features including stroke to path. But what is stroke to path and what does it do?

Stroke to path is a function that converts a brush stroke into a filled path consisting of two subpaths. The feature has been modified in software updates and will continue to improve in the future.

Many designers use stroke to path when creating graphics. So, read on to learn more about it and how it benefits designers.

What is the Purpose of the Stroke to Path Function?

Stroke to path converts a brush stroke into a filled path. The area of a vector graphic covered by the stroke is changed into a path filled with the same color as the stroke. The previous stroke is now treated as a path and the path will have no stroke associated with it. The original stroke will also be reset and you can treat it as a path by using path functions on it.

Paths are the elements in vector graphics that are a set of connected points or a closed space with a boundary, The boundary is called the fill and it can be a different color from the path.

Having both paths and strokes in a vector design makes it more functional and organized. 

How to Use the Stroke to Path Function

To convert a stroke to a path, there are two steps you need to follow:

1. Select a path that has a stroke 
2. Go to the path menu in Inkscape and select stroke to path

It is that simple. When the function is complete, there will be a group of the two paths: the original fill and the stroke that has changed into a path. Ungroup them by navigating to the object menu and selecting ungroup. Or you can leave them grouped if it better suits your design.

If you have the nodes feature enabled, you can manipulate all the nodes along the path individually to further customize your graphics. Moving the nodes around allows you to create a seemingly infinite variety of  shapes.

Other Path Functions

Besides the basic stroke to path function, there are other options you can use once the stroke you want is converted to a path. These are:

• Break apart– changes the sub-paths that result from stroke to path into two separate paths, one inside the other 
• Union– combines the paths created from stroke to path so that just the outer path is left

It is uncertain if these functions remain since updates were made to the stroke to path function. Let’s assess the changes made to the stroke to path function in the latest update.

How the Stroke to Path Function Has Changed 

Like any software, Inkscape to updated regularly to improve performance and the user experience. An update to Inkscape, version 1, was released on May 1st, 2020. As a result, the stroke to path function changed slightly from version 0.92 to version 1 of Inkscape. This is how the function has changed from the old version to the new version. 

Old Stroke to Path

If you have a circle with a green fill and a red stroke, and you activate stroke to path on it. The red stroke changes into its own path, and the green fill disappears,

Although there is not a concrete reason as to why the fill disappears, a reasonable guess would be that it was because the fill was not considered part of the path.

New Stroke to Path

When you select stroke to path on the circle with the red stroke and green fill in the newer version of Inkscape, you will not see immediate visual changes on screen. Instead, you will notice that the red stroke and the green fill become independent paths that are grouped together. 

Although this is not a big change, it is a useful one because you can manually select what happens to each path, rather than the green fill just disappearing and being difficult to acess. This means that you can better customize the vector designs you create.

Conclusion

Stroke to path is a function that converts a stroke on a vector graphic into a path and two subpaths. The paths help the vector design become more organized and customizable. Stroke to path has been streamlined between updated to the Inkscape software, but it is still the same feature you know and love.

In today’s world, more and more content is consumed through visual means on devices ranging from TVs to smartphones. Everybody, it seems, has heard of the term PPI (pixels per inch) but what does it really mean, and how much is good enough? For instance, is 240 PPI considered high resolution?

Generally speaking, 240 PPI is considered high resolution. Even when converted to
DPI, its counterpart in a printing context, 240 PPI produces documents that are considered to be high resolution.

Considering that it represents a higher pixel density than most images found on the internet, there is an argument to be made that 240 PPI can be regarded as high resolution. But because there are a variety of factors that are involved, making this determination can be complicated. Keep reading to learn what these are and how they determine whether 240 PPI is considered high resolution.

Is 240 PPI High Resolution?

The basic principle behind PPI is that because they are the building blocks of images displayed on monitors, screens, and the like, the more pixels that can be squeezed into the span of one inch, the finer the detail and the higher the so-called resolution.

One straightforward indication of display quality is whether an image appears to be pixelated (i.e., the individual pixels can be made out creating a blocky and blurry appearance). For a frame of reference, the typical image found on the internet or used on many websites is 72 PPI because at that resolution it looks decent while loading faster for a smoother web browsing experience.

Pixel density, which is the number of pixels in a one-inch by one-inch square, is, therefore, a good indication of whether a particular image is low resolution, high resolution, or somewhere in between. Generally speaking, here are some basic PPI guidelines for image quality:

• 80 PPI is adequate for most gaming scenarios
• 80 PPI is also good for watching videos (i.e., streaming)
• For enhanced viewing, 110 PPI is more than adequate, providing rich detail and proper scaling

By these standards, 240 PPI would certainly qualify as high resolution, suitable for just about any task or application, except for those demanding the highest viewing standards (i.e., photo or media editing).

Is 240 PPI High Definition?

Generally speaking, most of the images that you see on a website or on any type of screen for that matter, are likely to be 72 PPI. For ordinary tasks like surfing the web or checking emails, this level of resolution is more than adequate. For tasks that require greater detail, such as streaming videos or for gaming, higher resolution may be needed.

A good indication of what levels of PPI can be considered to be high resolution is the type of equipment on which the visual content is being viewed. The classic examples are what are known as HD (high-definition) displays. For a standard 24-inch screen:

• A Full HD display (1920 x 1080 pixels) has a pixel density of 91.79 PPI
• An Ultra HD display (3840 x 2160 pixels), also known as 4K, has a pixel density of 183.58 PPI

Thus, an image with a known resolution of 240 PPI would technically exceed the display capabilities of today’s modern screens and could therefore be considered to be high resolution.

PPI Vs. DPI – Are They the Same?

As far as acronyms relating to image resolution, the two most commonly used are PPI and DPI (dots per inch). In fact, these two terms are used so interchangeably that they have come to mean the same thing.

But to keep things on point, it is important to recognize that PPI and DPI are technically not the same things. While they both relate to resolution, they apply in different contexts:

• PPI is used to indicate the number of pixels (short for picture element) that can fit within a one-inch span on a display like a computer monitor or a device screen
• DPI refers to the number of dots of ink that can be laid down side-by-side in a one-inch line on a printing medium (e.g., some type of paper)

To put it simply, if you are viewing something on a screen or display, then you will be dealing with PPI. If, however, you are having something printed, then you are dealing with DPI. But there is a significant overlap between these two concepts.

Is 240 PPI High Resolution in Printing?

As commercial print shops would be quick to tell you, a large part of the resolution equation is the quality of the image itself. A high-quality photo taken with a good camera and at its original dimensions should yield a very high-quality print, even at 200 PPI. A 240 PPI image, therefore, would produce a crisp print job in addition to looking good on a display.

Conclusion

In an age where streaming services are increasing their offerings of high-definition content and video games feature graphics that are more vibrant and stunning than ever, people are becoming savvier when it comes to the technical aspects of their viewing devices. For most purposes, 240 PPI is not only good enough, but it is also by most definitions, high resolution.

If you are working on graphic design projects or editing images, you may have heard terms like PPI and resolution. You probably know that these can affect the quality of your design, but is one more important than the other?

As a general rule, PPI refers to how many pixels are displayed per inch of an image. This is what measures the resolution of an image. Images with fewer pixels are considered lower resolution, and vice versa.

When getting into graphic design, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what resolution is and how it is measure. Keep reading to learn more about resolution, as well as when PPI is important and when it isn’t.

Is PPI More Important Than Resolution?

Let’s say that you’ve opened up Photoshop and are ready to start creating your design. The very first step is to create your document. You set the dimensions, but now it’s asking about the resolution. However, your designer friend told you to always set your PPI to 300. Is resolution more important, and if not, how to you change the PPI?

In a sense, PPI is resolution, so one cannot be more important than the other.

When setting the resolution for a document, you are essentially telling that document what to set the PPI at as well. So, if you change the resolution to 300, that will also give your document a PPI of 300.

Resolution vs. PPI: What’s the Difference?

PPI, or pixels per inch, is the standard for digital resolution. Essentially, PPI is the measurement used to quantify the pixel density of an image.

For example, if you set your PPI to 72, you will have an image with 72 pixels per inch. The same goes with a higher PPI.

But what does that mean for resolution?

Resolution is how much information is contained within the image. When you change the resolution, you are telling the image how many pixels will be in each inch of the images. Simply put, when you change the resolution, you change the PPI.

Does Higher PPI Mean Higher Resolution?

Generally, PPI does, in fact, equate to a higher image resolution. However, this doesn’t always mean that the appearance of the image will remain consistent and high quality.

Why?

For one, the displays of many digital screens vary. If you created your design at 50 PPI, it would look fine on your phone, but it may appear fuzzy displayed on a larger screen.

Another reason image quality can be inconsistent is because the content within images can vary. For example, black text on a white background tends to appear clean and crisp most of the time. Now put that same text on a paisley pastel background, and the clarity will decline.

This is because the pixels per inch is more dispersed in a detailed image than one with a single subject.

What is Considered a High-Resolution PPI?

A high-resolution image has at least 200 PPI. With this quality, the image has enough information per inch to display details without any blur or pixelation. These images can often be printed at a good quality as well, as long as the print size matches the dimensions of the document.

However, high-resolution isn’t always necessary for images to display clearly online. Most of the time, images are displayed clearly on website with a resolution of 72 PPI.

Can PPI Be Too High?

Theoretically, the higher the PPI the better, since you can never have too much information in an image. However, there is a point when the value of PPI becomes pointless, and it has to do with what we can actually see.

The number of pixels the eye can pick up depends on how close the person is to the screen and their visual acuity. At about a foot away from the screen, a heathy adult can see roughly 720 PPI. That means that anything higher than that is essentially useless.

When Do PPI and Resolution Not Matter?

One thing to take into account when dealing with resolution and PPI is how often they will be of importance.

If you are a designer who works mostly with raster images, then learning all you can about PPI is going to be the best route for you. However, if you work with vector images, that is another story. Vector images do not have resolution; therefore, PPI does not matter.

Final Thoughts

Getting to know all the terms involved with graphic design and digital art can be somewhat overwhelming. And one isn’t more important than the other.

Your best bet is to always set your resolution to 300 PPI so you can avoid any burring or pixelation regardless of where your design is displayed.

Affinity Photo is an image editing software that allows you to retouch photos to your liking. In photo editing, a major concern that arises deals with software being destructive to the photo – that is, when changes are made to the image, they are irreversible. So, is Affinity Photo a non-destructive editor?

Affinity Photo is a non-destructive editor. Like similar software, Affinity Photo requires you to export your newly edited image as a separate file from the original image. This way, your original image remains the same, and you have access to your new image.

Continue reading to learn more about Affinity Photo’s non-destructive editing features as well as tips to ensure that you execute your editing processes smoothly. Some non-destructive editors do not require you to export your edited image as a new file, but Affinity Photo makes doing so simple and efficient.

Is Affinity Photo a Non-Destructive Editor?

As mentioned, Affinity Photo is non-destructive – to an extent. Affinity Photo is less convenient than select software because some other image editors may save your photo edits without first requiring you to export the photo as a new file. At the same time, the original image file is kept intact.

Affinity Photo uses the exportation of your newly edited image to maintain a non-destructive quality. Although it takes a few extra steps, you still reap the benefits of having access to your original image. This is useful for implementing the same image into various graphic design projects.

Since Affinity Photo requires extra steps to be non-destructive, some graphic designers may stray away from the software. If they find software that automatically saves their newly edited photo while keeping the separate file of the original image, they may be inclined to use the software. However, Affinity Photo is still a high-quality image editing software.

Aside from exporting your new edits – which is the easiest way to approach the situation – you will read shortly how you can duplicate your original photo to keep it on hand and separate from your new image.

How Is Affinity Photo Non-Destructive?

When you edit a photo and want to save it from Affinity Photo, there is not an autosave that keeps the original image. Affinity Photo is non-destructive because it allows you to export your new image as another file.

Instead of saving over the original image and overwriting the image’s information, you have to export your newly edited image. The new file is saved as a .afphoto extension. This saves the Affinity Photo image to your file library while preventing the original photo from being altered. 

Being able to save your edited image as a separate file allows you to retain access to the original file of the image. As a result, you can use the image for different projects or make new edits if you decide not to use the .afphoto extension file.

Tips For Easier Editing

It is also beneficial to learn a bit about the main ways to utilize your image files in Affinity Photo. Oftentimes, graphic designers use .SVG and .AI file formats. In Affinity Photo, you can upload vector images in both .SVG and .AI formats, but the resulting edited images can only be saved as .SVG images.

Affinity Photo is not always non-destructive. If you make changes directly in the filter menu without exporting your image into a new file, you may run into trouble. Affinity Photo’s Develop Persona is non-destructive. 

You can avoid direct changes to the filter menu being destructive by duplicating edits, filters, etc. With copies made of the original image, you can make necessary edits to your new image. Duplicating your image has several benefits:

• Keep a copy of the original image visible
• Note differences between your original photo and edited image
• Prevent your original image from being overwritten

While duplication is a few more steps than exporting your new image, it is useful for more direct visual changes while editing.

Placeit For Your Photo Editing Needs

Whether you are testing the waters of Affinity Photo for the first time or you use it exclusively, you should check out Placeit for all of your photo editing needs. Placeit’s online software allows you to upload all sorts of file formats for your images and edit them into your new projects.

Placeit is the hub for premade mockups, templates, logos, designs, and more. New and experienced graphic designers alike can benefit from Placeit’s free, online software.

Takeaway

Affinity Photo is a non-destructive editor if you take the steps to export your newly edited image. In doing so, the original image will be saved separately. This helps you avoid the problem of overwriting the original data of your photos.

Image quality is of the utmost importance when it comes to image printing and graphic design. Having a high-quality image is essential for posters, billboards, websites, and more. The sharpness of an image is determined by DPI (dots per inch). 72 DPI and 300 DPI are common image settings. Is 72 DPI the same thing as 300 DPI?

72 DPI is not the same thing as 300 DPI. 72 DPI is better for digital use, while 300 DPI is better for printing. 72 DPI looks clear at a small size, like on a computer screen, while keeping a smaller file size to load quickly on web pages. 300 DPI has more detail and can be printed in larger sizes while keeping its clarity.

Read on to learn more about how 72 DPI is not the same thing as 300 DPI. Both image settings result in high-quality graphics, but where the images are transferred plays a huge role in how they will look for marketing, advertising, and clear descriptions. Below, you will see the differences in 72 DPI and 300 DPI as well as their beneficial uses.

Is 72 DPI The Same Thing As 300 DPI?

72 DPI is not the same thing as 300 DPI. How you are planning to use your images determines what DPI setting it should have. Some DPI measurements are better for online publication, while other resolutions appear more clearly for print copies.

No DPI setting is the same. There is a reason 72 DPI and 300 DPI are represented by different numbers. The number in front of the initialism tells the resolution of the image. With certain software, you may want to adjust the resolution of an image to make it appear more clearly for your purpose.

For an electronic screen such as a laptop or smartphone, lower resolution works more efficiently. Trying to use a high-resolution image can result in you not being able to upload the image to your online template. Of course, a resolution that is too low may be blurry, but that is a quick fix.

Printed images need higher resolution to display as much detail as possible. Just because an image appears clearly on your computer does not mean it will maintain the same quality when printed in larger dimensions. Similarly, too much resolution can stretch an image and make it look awkward when printed, especially for something as large as a billboard.

What Does DPI Represent?

As you might already know, DPI stands for dots per inch. This tells how many pixels per inch are in an image, and for printing, how many dots are transferred from the pixel information. More pixels in each inch of an image result in higher quality. When there are more individual dots made, the image is made clearer, rather than fewer dots taking up more space and taking away from the detail.

If you notice that an image display appears blurry, it is likely due to its DPI measurement being too low. A resolution that is too high may stretch your image and distort its appearance. With certain software, you can alter the DPI setting of your image to make it more suitable for your graphic design purposes.

DPI goes hand-in-hand with PPI (pixels per inch), but they are not exactly the same. In most cases, however, they are used interchangeably. The bottom line is that PPI measurement applies more to the actual pixels used on-screen, while DPI measurement is more specific to print copies. Both are important for online publication and concrete printing.

Can You Use 72 DPI and 300 DPI Interchangeably?

You can use 72 DPI and 300 DPI images interchangeably, but it is not going to help your design endeavors. Perhaps you have heard that 72 DPI and 300 DPI are the same thing. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Each measurement works well for different functions.

Both 72 DPI and 300 DPI are regarded as standards for graphic design qualities, but their usefulness applies to two different graphic design purposes. 72 DPI is best for some instances, while 300 DPI works better for others. See below to learn how each should be used.

Best Uses For 72 DPI

72 DPI is the best resolution to use for online designs. Most images set at 72 DPI will appear clearly enough on your computer, while keeping a small file size to load quickly on web pages. 72 DPI means that there are 72 dots per square inch of the photo, and that should be plenty for a digital image.

Of course, 72 DPI specifically may not work the best for every image you use online, in which case you can raise or lower the resolution to fit your needs. However, 72 DPI is a general starting point and typically works well for most digital designs.

In terms of images used for marketing and digital signage on electronic billboards, you may need to raise the resolution. As an electronic billboard is much larger than a phone, tablet, or computer, it may require higher resolution to display clear digital signage.

Overall, 72 DPI should be the resolution you start at when editing an image for an electronic design. 72 DPI is almost always sufficient for online publication.

Best Uses For 300 DPI

300 DPI is the best setting for printing. As mentioned, just because an image appears clearly on a computer does not mean that it will look the same when enlarged and printed. In fact, this is probably never the case. Even when printing a standard size poster, you will likely need to go for a higher resolution than 72 DPI.

Because print designs are going to be enlarged and appear bigger in the concrete copy, you need to make sure that your image has as much sharpness as possible. Starting at the measurement of 300 DPI is ideal. You may not notice any changes on a computer between 72 DPI and 300 DPI, but you will when the image is printed.

Printing in or around 300 DPI will allow your image to come out clear with as much sharpness as possible. As with using 72 DPI for online images, your printed image may not look perfect at 300 DPI. You can alter the DPI slightly lower or higher to fit the clarity you need.

Takeaway

72 DPI is not the same thing as 300 DPI. Both measurements are useful for graphic design, but they are not interchangeable. 72 DPI is suitable for editing images for online publication, while 300 DPI is better for print copies of edited images.

When getting your designs ready for print, it’s important to make sure to use the right resolution for the right size. But if you’ve set your DPI at the recommended 300, you may be wondering how large of a print you can make.

As a general rule, a 300 DPI file can be printed at any size and maintain high-quality. However, large prints that are viewed at a distance don’t always need to be 300 DPI. For instance, billboards are typically only 30 DPI but look high-quality because they are viewed from a far distance.

If you’ve finally finished that design you’ve been working on, you may want to print it as big as you can. However, even 300 DPI has its limitation. Keep reading to find out how large you can print that 300 DPI file.

How Big Can a 300 Dpi File Be Printed?

If you’re working with prints, you know how important DPI (dots per inch) can be. You may have even been given advice to set the resolution for your image at 300 DPI. Though this is considered the optimal resolution for printing, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can print your image at any size.

Generally, the size at which you should print your image is calculated based on the image resolution and the DPI. However, there are also other factors that come into play.

For example, let’s say you have an image with a resolution of 3504 x 2336 and a 300 DPI. To find out the optimal print size, simply divide 3504 and 2336 by 300. This would leave you with a print size of 11.68 x 7.78.

That doesn’t mean that printing at a larger size can’t be done. However, you will need to be prepared to sacrifice quality if you want to print larger than the optimal size for the set resolution. And once you get past a certain size, 300 DPI may no longer be necessary for your print.

Does Image Size Matter?

Whether you’re a photographer, graphic designer, or digital artist, you’ve probably heard a lot of talk about checking your image size. While file size is important, resolution and DPI aren’t the only things that factor into how your print will appear.

Some of these factors include:

• Viewing distance
• Visual acuity
• Pixel density (PPI)
• Printer’s output resolution (LPI)

DPI is important when it comes to printing, but so is PPI (pixels per inch) and LPI (lines per inch). Make sure to check the digital resolution of your image before sending it off to print and choose a printer that has the correct output resolution.

What Is the Best DPI for Large Prints?

Let’s say you’re working on a billboard advertisement for a client. Is 300 DPI really the best resolution for the project? The short answer is no. 

The best DPI to use can vary greatly depending on the size of the print and it’s intended purpose.

The 300 DPI rule is typically applied for prints that will be viewed at arm’s length or less. This helps ensure that images will appear sharp under closer scrutiny. However, this rule doesn’t apply for every image, especially larger prints.

For example, if you stood inches away from a billboard, you would probably notice that the entire image appeared pixelated and blurry. However, it doesn’t look that way what you’re driving on the highway.

On average, billboards have a resolution of about 30 DPI. While this may seem low, each pixel is actually quite large.

Billboards are rarely viewed up close, in fact, they aren’t even viewed at arm’s length, so there is really no reason for them to appear razor sharp at that distance. Therefore, the lower resolution will provide the appropriate sharpness at the distance it is expected to be viewed at.

Final Thoughts

Many times, we can get caught up in the idea that bigger is better. However, that isn’t always the case when it comes to DPI.

Though it may seem like images with a resolution of 300 DPI are meant to be printed bigger, much of the time these large images are viewed at distance where 300 DPI become irrelevant. In the end, it’s best to do the calculations to figure out print size is best for your image’s resolution.

One of the most common measurements that graphic designers, photographers, and digital artists use for their images is pixels per inch (PPI). While this is beneficial for anything you intend to post online, Illustrator users typically print their work, which is why drips per inch (DPI) is the more commonly associated measurement. So, is there a way to change your Illustrator settings from PPI to DPI and, if so, how?

In this article, we will walk you through four easy steps on how to change PPI to DPI and understand the crucial differences between them. As you progress through the guide, you’ll be able to alter your Illustrator image settings in a way that will guarantee you print the highest quality images possible every time.

Understand the Difference Between PPI and DPI

Before we get too into this guide, we need to start by establishing the difference between PPI and DPI to best explain how the idea of changing one to the other is a bit misguided.

While these two measurements are closely linked, PPI and DPI are not the same, despite often being used interchangeably. PPI is used to determine image size, as it represents the number of pixels present per inch within a designated print size, meaning your set image width and height. DPI, on the other hand, is closely linked to resolution and measures the dots printed in a linear inch.

The most crucial point to make here is that your Illustrator settings will solely be represented in PPI no matter what. You can alter your PPI settings to match a preferred DPI outcome, but DPI is solely a measurement of a physical printer resolution whereas PPI is a raster image resolution measurement.

The ratio of PPI to DPI is 1:1, so there is no need to convert your PPI measurements to match DPI, and there’s no specific setting on Illustrator you pick to switch PPI to DPI. So, if you need a DPI of 300 and already have a PPI of 300 set in your resolution, congratulations, you’re all set!

That being said, there are some settings and tips you might want to be aware of otherwise to ensure your printed Illustrator image doesn’t come out blurry, starting with setting your preferred PPI.

Know What Dimensions and Measurements You Need

The first step of setting your preferred PPI and guaranteeing any image prints with the highest quality is to know what measurements you need your image to adhere to. By this we mean image height, width, and resolution.

Image height and width is pretty straightforward. The only note we’ll make here is that these measurements should always be in inches or centimeters if you are printing an image, not pixels, which is best suited for images posted online. So, if you need your Illustrator business card to print at 2.5” x 3” then you’ll need to know this beforehand.

If you highly prioritize having the sharpest and most vibrant Illustrator images possible, then you’ll definitely want to know what resolution is best. The most common DPI for printed images is 300, which means you’ll want to set your Illustrator’s preferred PPI to 300. The more drops or pixels you have within an inch, the more detail you’ll applying to the image and the higher it’s overall resolution will be.

Of course, resolution and dimensions like height and width are independent of one another, so you’ll also want to confirm that your preferred resolution will also work well with your dimensions and ensure you aren’t left with a blurry or stretched result.

Set Preferred Resolution in Illustrator

The fastest and, arguably, easiest way to guarantee your Illustrator has the ideal PPI and, when printed, DPI is to actually set them yourself.

To do this, you’ll first need to open the “Effect” menu located in the top menu bar. From there, you’ll select the “Document Raster Effects Settings.”

Here, you will find all the settings you require for tailoring your Illustrator work to the right dimensions and measurements. Setting options include:

• Number of artboards
• Spacing
• Size
• Width
• Height
• Bleed

First step is alter the “Units” setting to inches or centimeters rather than the default points. Next, enter the height and width dimensions your Illustrator work requires.

The last step of the process is the most crucial. Underneath the “Advanced” settings, you’ll find “Raster Effects.” This setting is where you will enter your preferred PPI. Typically, the default is 72 PPI, which is significantly low and rarely provides a high-quality image. More often than not, Illustrator users will set this to 150, 200, or 300, but this largely depends on the DPI of the printer you intend to use.

Once you’ve entered everything and checked to ensure your dimensions and resolutions are correct, press the “OK” button to save your new settings.

Save and Print Your Work

By now, all of your Illustrator work should be adhering to your preferred PPI and set dimensions. The only thing that’s left to do is to save your work and print it out.

With this, you have two options. The first is to actually export the file, which is helpful if you intend to upload it elsewhere, like Adobe Photoshop, for additional edits. The second option is to go to “File,” select “Save As,” and then choose your preferred save format in the drop-down menu, whether this is a PDF, template, *AI, etc.

Once you have a printer-friendly PDF file saved and you are certain your other printer-friendly settings are correct (such as bleed), you can go ahead and print your Illustrator work.

Final Thoughts

It is a common misconception that DPI is a setting you need to turn on in Illustrator to ensure your work prints at the highest quality possible. Thankfully, this is a measurement that only occurs once you are printing. It is really PPI you will want to focus on the for the best resolution, which can easily be set in your “Effect” menu every time you start a new Illustrator piece, along with other necessary dimensions.

When it comes to determining the resolution of a digital image on Photoshop, most people opt for pixels per inch (PPI). However, when the time comes to print these images, most professionals recommend you convert your measurement from PPI to drops per inch (DPI) for idea image quality and size.

If you’re new to Photoshop or DPI, you might struggle figuring out how to change your PPI to DPI, but it’s a simple process once you know how. In this article, we will provide an in-depth guide that will take you through the process of changing PPI to DPI in four easy steps. By the end, you’ll be able to print crips, high-quality images in DPI every time.

Open the Image and Image Size Menu

Once your Photoshop image is ready to be converted from PPI to DPI, the first thing you’ll need to do is open the “Image” menu.

You’ll find the “Image” menu located in the menu bar at the top of the screen in between the “Edit” and “Layer” menu option.

Here, you can choose from an array of image alteration options, such as:

• Tone, contrast, color
• Image size
• Canvas size
• Rotation
• Duplication

Because we are converting the measurements of your Photoshop image, the menu option you’ll want to select within the “Image” drop down menu is “Image size.” You can also do this using the shortcut of pressing “Alt”, “Ctrl”, and “I” simultaneously.

Inside the “Image Size” menu, you’ll see various settings regarding how your Photoshop image is measured. Here, you can set the ideal height, width, resolution, and preferred measurements, such as inches, pixels, percentages, and so on.

Decide if You Want the Resample Setting On or Off

Before we get into altering the measurements so you can convert PPI to DPI, there’s another setting in this menu you’ll want to be conscious of: the “Resample” setting. When enabled, this setting will change the pixel dimensions of an image by adding or subtracting pixels to ensure it is proportional when the image’s width and height are altered.

Typically, the resample setting is on by default in Photoshop, but you’ll need to determine for yourself whether it is in your image’s best interest to leave this setting on or turn it off before changing from PPI to DPI.

There’s a decent amount of debate between Photoshop users whether it is best to leave resample on for this process (or in general). In our opinion, it is best to turn it off.

We say this because turning the resample setting off now means you are actually resizing your image, and so, the existing pixels will be redistributed to alter its physical size and resolution. This is ideal for images that you intend to print, which is the overarching reason why most people switch from PPI to DPI.

Having the resample setting on is great for keeping your image proportional as you alter elements of its size and measurements. This can be extremely helpful to photographers and graphic designers who are new to understanding how size affects resolution and what the ideal dimensions are for their piece. However, keeping resample enabled can also cause your image to lose visual quality, potentially resulting in a blurry print.

While you can perform this process with the resample setting on, we recommend turning it off for ideal results.

Convert and Resize Your Image

Now that we have everything setup in terms of your Photoshop settings and are in the right place, it’s time to change your image from PPI to DPI.

The first thing you’ll want to do is ensure both your width and height measurements are in inches and not pixels, and that your resolution is in pixels/inch. Once that is done, enter your preferred resolution, width, and height measurements.

There is a 1:1 ratio between DPI and PPI, so luckily, you don’t have to do any significant math when entering these measurements. Typically, images you intend to print should have a DPI of at least 250, but a 300 DPI is ideal, so if you’re unsure what to strive for when changing from PPI, this is a good place to start.

When entering your ideal resolution and measurements, you’ll want to keep a close eye on each box because they will sometimes change automatically even with the resample setting turned off.

For example, if you originally had a resolution of 240 pixels/ inches, a width of 17.7 inches and a height of 22.125 inches and then you decide to bump up your resolution to 300 pixels/inches, your width and height measurements will change because they are at the maximum dimensions this image can be printed at for 300 DPI. The same will happen if you drop the resolution significantly to 150, so keep always check your input before getting ready to print.

Save and Check

After you’ve entered all the necessary information for your ideal DPI, you’ll want to click the “Ok” button within the “Image Size” menu and get ready to save.

To save a Photoshop image, select the “File” option on the top menu and select either the “Save” or “Save as” option.

If you are unsure what the difference is between the two, “Save” will save your image over it’s original file so you only have one save overall versus “Save as” will create a new save file, meaning you have the original from the save before these changes, and then a new one with your most recent alterations.

Once you’ve saved, we recommend opening the preset menu where you can check the various print options for this image to ensure you choose the one with the closest dimensions and DPI.

Final Thoughts

Changing your Photoshop image from PPI to DPI shouldn’t take you more than a few seconds and can guarantee the best print product possible. What often throws people off here is that they assume there is a “PPI to DPI” setting option they can just choose, when in reality, you just have to alter your measurements and maintain the 1:1 ratio. Now, you can change any future Photoshop images when necessary, with ease.