Print DPI calculator
Pixels ÷ printed size = the resolution a press actually renders. Check it before the press does.
300 effective DPI
✓ 300+ DPI — meets the common offset/commercial print threshold
printed size at this width: 10in × 6.67in (aspect preserved)
Thresholds are common industry guidance — your printer’s spec wins. Scaling an image up in layout lowers its effective DPI; this is the number a press actually renders.
FAQ
What DPI do I need for printing?
300 DPI effective is the common threshold for offset/commercial print viewed at reading distance. Large-format work viewed from farther away tolerates less — 150–200 DPI is routine for banners. Your printer’s spec always wins.
What is “effective” DPI?
Pixels divided by the PRINTED size, not the resolution stamped in the file’s metadata. A 300 DPI image scaled to double width in layout prints at 150 DPI — the press renders the placed size.
My file says 300 DPI — am I safe?
Not necessarily. The metadata DPI is just a tag; what matters is pixel dimensions against the size it’s placed at. That’s why preflight tools compute effective resolution per placement.
Can Preflight check this inside a PDF automatically?
Yes — the Print module computes each placed image’s effective resolution from its pixel dimensions and placement transform, and flags images below threshold with page references.
Check effective DPI inside a PDF automatically →Print module →