Understanding DPI

If you’ve ever prepared artwork for printing, you’ve likely come across the term DPI, which stands for Dots Per Inch. But what does it really mean, and why is it important when it comes to prints—especially canvas prints? Let’s break it down.

What is DPI?

DPI refers to the number of dots of ink a printer lays down per inch of printed material. The higher the DPI, the more detail your print can display. For example:

• Low DPI (e.g., 72 DPI): Suitable for digital screens but may look pixelated when printed.
• High DPI (e.g., 300 DPI): Great for high-resolution prints, such as detailed photographs or fine art.

When it comes to physical prints, DPI directly impacts how sharp and detailed the final product appears.

How DPI related to prints

In the world of printing, you’ll often hear recommendations to set artwork at 300 DPI. This ensures your design has sufficient detail for sharp prints, especially on small-format products like photos or fine paper.

However, when printing on canvas, the situation is a little different.

1. Canvas Has a Unique Texture

The textured surface of canvas naturally diffuses fine details, making ultra-high resolutions unnecessary. Even with lower DPI, the texture itself adds depth and character to the artwork.

2. Viewing Distance Matters

Canvas prints are typically viewed from a distance of several feet. At this range, the human eye cannot distinguish the fine details of resolutions above 150 DPI.

150 DPI is enough for canvas prints

Using a DPI higher than 150 for canvas prints doesn’t improve the visual quality because:

• The texture of canvas already softens fine details.
• Higher DPI results in unnecessarily large file sizes, which can slow down upload times and processing without adding any visible improvement to the final print.

For canvas prints, 150 DPI strikes the perfect balance between quality and efficiency.

How to calculate DPI

To calculate DPI, you need two key pieces of information:

1. The pixel dimensions of your image (width and height in pixels).
2. The physical dimensions of the desired print (width and height in inches or centimeters).
3. Divide the image’s pixel dimensions by the print size.

For example:

• You have an image that is 3000 x 4500 pixels.
• You want to print it as a 20 x 30 inch canvas.

For the width:

3000 pixels / 20 inches = 150 DPI

For the height:

4500 pixels / 30 inches = 150 DPI

Since both calculations result in 150 DPI, your image is perfect for a 20x30-inch canvas print.

How to find the DPI of your image

Finding the DPI of an image depends on the software or operating system you’re using. Here are some common methods:

On Windows

1. Right-click the image file and select Properties.
2. Go to the Details tab.
3. Look for the Horizontal Resolution and Vertical Resolution fields—these numbers indicate the DPI.

On a Mac

1. Right-click the image file and select Get Info.
2. Under More Info, look for the DPI listed as Resolution.

Adjusting DPI if Needed

If your image’s DPI is lower than required for your print size, you might need to:

• Resize the image (note: increasing DPI artificially can reduce quality).
• Choose a smaller print size to maintain quality.