Print resolution guide
DPI vs PPI: the practical printing difference
DPI and PPI are often used interchangeably, but they describe different stages of the printing process.
What PPI controls
PPI connects a digital image's pixel dimensions to a physical print size. A 2,400-pixel edge printed at 300 PPI becomes 8 inches wide.
- More pixels allow a larger print at the same PPI.
- A higher PPI makes the same file print smaller.
- Changing a metadata number alone does not add detail.
What DPI controls
DPI is an output-device specification. Inkjet and laser printers may place several ink or toner dots to represent one image pixel, so printer DPI is not a one-to-one substitute for image PPI.
Which number should you use?
Use the print provider's requested image resolution—commonly 300 PPI for close-viewed work—and calculate physical size from the real pixel dimensions. Let the printer driver handle its own dot pattern.