Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What is DPI (dots per inch)?
Answer
DPI, short for dots per inch, measures how much fine detail a printed piece can hold by counting the ink dots packed into each inch of paper. The higher the number, the sharper and smoother the finished print looks.
- Build images at 300 DPI at their final print size for crisp, professional results.
- Below roughly 200 DPI, edges soften and photos start to look fuzzy or blocky.
- Enlarging a low-DPI image does not add detail, it simply stretches the same pixels wider.
- Text and logos stay sharpest as vector art, which has no fixed DPI and scales cleanly.
| Resolution | Typical result |
|---|---|
| 300 DPI | Sharp and press-ready for cards, flyers, and postcards |
| 150 to 200 DPI | Acceptable for large signage viewed from a distance |
| 72 DPI | Screen only, prints soft and pixelated |
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