DPI (dots per inch) says how many of an image’s pixels are printed in each inch of your product. Too few, and the image looks soft or blocky.
- 300 DPI or more at print size — sharp.
- Below 200 DPI — a warning: it may look soft.
- Below 150 DPI — the check fails: it will print blurry.
Work it out
DPI depends on the size the image is printed at. A photo 1000 pixels wide printed 85 mm (3.35 in) wide is about 300 DPI; the same photo stretched across a wider area has fewer pixels per inch.
How to fix low DPI
- Use the original, larger image — not one saved from a website or a screenshot.
- Use a vector logo (SVG, PDF or AI). Vector artwork, and text drawn by Card2Tap, stays sharp at any size.
- Make the image smaller on the design.
Making a small image bigger in an editing app doesn’t add detail. Start from a larger original.