Tips for scaling your photos for print and assuring quality.

First, determine the size the photo will be reproduced in your print job.

As an example 4″ x 6″ is a common size photo. Reproduction for print is usually ideal at 300 Pixels Per Inch (PPI). This is a universal standard. Some will work with anywhere from 240 to 360 but 300 is a solid consistent number that yields good photo quality. So an easy way to determine the Pixel Resolution is to multiply each dimension by 300.

300 PPI x 4″ and 300 PPI x 6″ = 1,200 x 1,800 pixels

So a photo that is 2″ by 3″ will be

300 PPI x 2″ and 300 PPI x 3″ = 600 x 900 pixels

So next time you are reviewing photos for a print job, check the size of the original photo and the size you would like to reproduce it as in your print job. If the resolution is below 300 you know it will not be as sharp as it could be.  As always if you have any questions do not hesitate to give us a call.

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