Is my photo high enough resolution for printing?

2 min. readlast update: 04.13.2023

To ensure that your photos are high resolution for printing, follow these steps:

  1. Check the image size: Open your photo in an image editing software, and check its pixel dimensions. The image should be at least 3000 pixels on the long side for high-quality printing.
  2. Check the resolution: Check the resolution of the image to ensure that it meets the printing requirements. The resolution should be at least 240 DPI (dots per inch) for high-quality printing.
  3. Use a high-quality camera: Use a high-quality camera with a high megapixel count to capture your photos. This will ensure that you have enough pixels to work with when preparing your photos for printing.
  4. Use appropriate compression settings: When saving your photos, use appropriate compression settings to avoid losing quality. For example, when saving JPEG files, choose the highest quality setting or save as a TIFF file which does not compress your image.

Below shows common image sizes and the recommended resolutions for printing:

Image Size (inches)Resolution (pixels/inch) at 240PPI

4x6 - 960 x 1440

5x7 - 1200 x 1680

8x10 - 1920 x 2400

11x14 - 2640 x 3360

16x20 - 3840 x 4800

20x24 - 4800 x 5760

24x36 - 5760 x 8640

Keep in mind that these are just general recommendations, and the required resolution may vary depending on the image content and paper selection. It's always a good idea to check with us if you are unsure prior to printing. Additionally, some image editing software may automatically adjust the resolution based on the image size, so make sure to check the settings before saving your image.

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