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You want your images to have a high resolution, is it possible for the DPI of a file to be too high? It’s crucial to take what you have on-screen and have it look excellent in the printed form, whether on paper or another object. Let’s learn about DPI and its importance.
It is possible for a file’s DPI to be too high, but the limitation is with the printer itself not being able to print that high DPI. In most cases, if the DPI is too high for the specific printer, the DPI will be automatically changed to the maximum DPI of the printer itself, which is typically 300 DPI.
If the DPI is too high it will not print appropriately because there are limitations to what the printer is capable of printing. So, how do you know if the file’s DPI is too high? Is it possible to adjust the DPI so it is printable? We will explore these questions and more in this post.
Does the Size of the Print Affect the DPI?
The DPI of a printed file is affected by the size of the print. Smaller images can have a higher DPI while larger images can have a smaller DPI. This is due to where the viewer is in relation to the printed image.
If you are looking at a printed photograph the DPI will be much higher than it will be if you are looking at a billboard. When looking at an image at a distance the dots of color per inch do not need to be so close together.
It’s similar to viewing Monet’s paintings. These famous artworks are meant to be viewed from a distance. Up close the paintings do not look defined, they look fuzzy and pixelated.
How Do You Know if DPI is Too High?
Most printers are capable of printing 300 DPI maximum. If the DPI of the file is too high for the printer, the printer will automatically convert the file to match the printers maximum capabilities. It is best to produce and save the file with a maximum 300 DPI to get an idea of the quality of the printed version.
How Do I Find The DPI of The Image I Want to Print?
The DPI of an image can be found by looking at the image information. This can be done on both Apple and Windows computers with slight variations in the instructions.
For Apple computers:
- Double-Click the image
- Select “Tools”
- Select “Adjust Size”
- Find “Resolution”
For Windows computers:
- Right-Click the image
- Select “Properties”
- Find “Summary”
How Do I Adjust the DPI of an Image?
The DPI of an image can be adjusted from your computer. You could also choose a website with dots per inch or a DPI converter. By uploading the image and selecting the information in the options the correct sizing can be obtained.
Because there are limitations to the DPI a printer is capable of, many professional services require you to resize the image you wish to print.
For Apple computers:
- Double-Click the image
- Select “Tools”
- Select “Adjust Size”
- Change “Resolution” to desired DPI
- Select “Save”
For Windows computers:
- Right-Click your image
- Under preview, choose “Edit”
- Then choose “Resize”
A box titled “resize and skew” will appear. Then all you need to do is fill in the prompt boxes accordingly to adjust the size of your image.
The DPI of a File Can Be Too High
DPI is simply the dots per square inch of a file, typically an image. DPI is the same as PPI or pixels per inch of an image file. The larger the printing will be of an image, the smaller the DPI can be since it is to be viewed from a greater distance. DPI can be changed on both Apple and Windows computers without the need for any additional software.
