Image Resolution and DPI (Pixels vs Print)

Resolution is how many pixels an image contains (like 1920×1080), while DPI (dots per inch) describes how densely those pixels are printed on paper. For screens, pixels are all that matter; DPI is a print concept.

Screen vs print

• On screen — an image is measured in pixels. A 1920×1080 image fills a Full HD display regardless of any DPI value stored in the file.
• In print — DPI decides physical size and sharpness. 300 DPI is the usual standard for crisp printing; 72 DPI is fine only for screens.

Working out print size

Divide pixels by DPI to get inches. A 3000-pixel-wide photo at 300 DPI prints 10 inches wide; at 150 DPI it would print 20 inches but look softer.

The common mistake

Changing only the DPI number does not add detail. To print larger and sharper you need more pixels — and upscaling invents them, so start from a high-resolution original.

Resize for your target

Set the exact pixel dimensions you need with the image resizer. To keep the file small, see How to compress images for the web.