DPI vs PPI – What's the Difference?
Published on November 24, 2024
People use DPI and PPI interchangeably. They should not. One measures screens. One measures printers. Knowing the difference helps you avoid blurry prints and oversized files.
PPI: Pixels Per Inch
PPI is for screens and digital images. Your phone might have 400 PPI. This means 400 pixels fit in one inch of screen. More PPI means sharper images. When you resize a photo or create graphics, you work in PPI.
DPI: Dots Per Inch
DPI is for printers. Printers spray tiny dots of ink to create images. A 300 DPI printer puts 300 dots in one inch. Home printers often use 600 DPI. Photo printers go higher. DPI only matters when you print.
Why It Matters
Save a photo at 72 PPI and it looks perfect on screen. Print that same photo and it looks grainy. For quality prints, you need 300 PPI. This is why print shops ask for high-resolution images.
What About File Size?
Higher PPI means bigger files. A 72 PPI image might be 500KB. The same image at 300 PPI could be 3MB. For web use, stick with 72-96 PPI. For print, go 300 PPI.
Converting Images Smart
When you convert PNG to JPG or resize images, the tool maintains your PPI settings. Web images work at 72 PPI. Print images need 300 PPI minimum.
Quick rule: Screen viewing = 72-96 PPI. Printing = 300 PPI minimum.