Question 1

How do I calculate the print size of my image?

Accepted Answer

Divide your image dimensions in pixels by the target DPI. For example, a 3000 x 4500 pixel image at 300 DPI can print at 10 x 15 inches (3000 / 300 = 10, 4500 / 300 = 15). At 150 DPI, the same image could print at 20 x 30 inches, but with lower quality.

Question 2

What DPI should I use for print-on-demand products?

Accepted Answer

300 DPI is the universal standard for professional print quality. It produces sharp, detailed output on products viewed up close like t-shirts, mugs, and stickers. For large wall art viewed from a distance (24x36 inches and above), 150 DPI can be acceptable, but 300 DPI is always preferred when your image has enough pixels.

Question 3

What is the difference between DPI and PPI?

Accepted Answer

DPI (dots per inch) technically refers to printer output density, while PPI (pixels per inch) refers to the digital image resolution. In the print-on-demand industry, the terms are used interchangeably. When a platform requires 300 DPI, they mean your file should have 300 pixels for every inch of print size.

Question 4

Can I increase my image DPI without losing quality?

Accepted Answer

Simply changing the DPI metadata tag does not add detail to your image. To truly increase resolution, you need AI upscaling, which uses machine learning to add realistic detail. Ratio Ready offers AI upscaling that can increase image resolution up to 4x while maintaining sharpness.

Question 5

How many pixels do I need for an 18x24 inch poster at 300 DPI?

Accepted Answer

Multiply each dimension by 300: 18 x 300 = 5,400 pixels wide, 24 x 300 = 7,200 pixels tall. So you need a 5,400 x 7,200 pixel image for a full-quality 18x24 inch poster at 300 DPI.

Question 6

Why does my image look fine on screen but blurry when printed?

Accepted Answer

Screens display images at 72-96 PPI, so even small images look sharp. Printers need 300 DPI for sharp output, which requires many more pixels. A 1000x1000 pixel image fills a 13-inch laptop screen nicely, but can only print clearly at about 3.3 x 3.3 inches at 300 DPI.

Print Size Calculator

I have pixel dimensions

Maximum Print Size

Common Presets

How Print Size Calculation Works

1. Image Pixels

2. DPI Setting

3. Print Size

Frequently Asked Questions

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