When 150 DPI is enough
Posters on a wall, window displays, banners and sports prints are looked at from an arm's length or more. At that distance, the eye cannot see the difference between 150 and 300 DPI. Using 150 lets you print a bigger size from the same file.
A 3000 by 2000 pixel image prints at 20 by 13.3 inches at 150 DPI, against 10 by 6.7 inches at 300 DPI.
When it is not
Small prints that are held in the hand, such as photo prints, business cards, flyers and book pages, look better at 300 DPI. Text and thin lines also need a higher value.
Check with your print shop. Many shops state the minimum they accept, and some reject files under 200 DPI.
Sizes at 150 DPI
- 16 x 20 in: 2400 x 3000 px
- 24 x 36 in: 3600 x 5400 px
- A2 (16.5 x 23.4 in): 2480 x 3508 px
- A1 (23.4 x 33.1 in): 3508 x 4961 px
Questions
- Is 150 DPI good enough for printing?
- For large pieces seen from a distance, yes. For small prints and text, use 300 DPI.
- Does 150 DPI make the file smaller?
- No. The file size stays the same because the pixels stay the same.
- Can I change a 300 DPI file to 150?
- Yes. The print size doubles in width and height, and the pixels are unchanged.