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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.
