Why Your "High Res" Screenshot Looks Blurry in Print
We have all been there. You find the perfect image on the web, it looks crisp on your retina screen, but when you get the prints back from the shop, it looks like a blocky Minecraft painting. Why?
The answer lies in DPI (Dots Per Inch). Screens are forgiving; they only need about 72 to 96 pixels per inch to look sharp. Printers are demanding; they need 300 pixels per inch to create a seamless, professional photo.
This Print Ready Checker takes the guesswork out of the process. Instead of needing complex software like Photoshop just to check image size, you can drag and drop your file here. We instantly calculate the maximum dimensions you can print at while maintaining professional quality.
300 DPI vs 150 DPI
Not all prints need to be perfect. Our tool calculates two tiers of quality for you:
- Photo Quality (300 DPI)Required for magazines, business cards, wedding photos, and anything held in the hand.
- Poster Quality (150 DPI)Acceptable for wall art, concert posters, and banners viewed from 2+ feet away.
Standard Paper Sizes
Don't do the math in your head. We automatically check your image against common international sizes:
Common Questions
Everything you need to know about pixels and printing.
Why does my image look good on screen but bad in print?
Screens use low density (usually 72 or 96 DPI), meaning images look large even with few pixels. Printers require high density (300 DPI) to hide the ink dots. An image that fills your monitor might only be 2 inches wide when printed professionally.
What is the difference between 300 DPI and 150 DPI?
300 DPI (Dots Per Inch) is the gold standard for handheld materials like business cards, brochures, and photo prints. At this density, the human eye cannot see individual pixels. 150 DPI is acceptable for large format items like posters, canvases, or banners that are viewed from a distance (2 feet or more).
Is my uploaded image saved to your server?
No. This tool processes your image locally in your browser. We never upload or store your personal photos. You can safely use this for client work or private family photos.
Can I print a 72 DPI image?
Yes, but the size will be much smaller than it appears on screen. Our tool calculates the 'Max Print Size' by effectively compressing that 72 DPI image into a dense 300 DPI print. If you try to print it at its original screen dimensions, it will look pixelated and blurry.
What if my image is 'Too Low' quality?
You have two options: find a higher resolution version of the original file (e.g., from the camera source), or accept a smaller print size. Upscaling tools (AI enlargers) can sometimes help, but they cannot invent detail that isn't there.
Does this tool check for CMYK color mode?
Currently, this tool focuses on resolution and dimensions. It does not analyze color profiles (RGB vs CMYK). For professional press printing, we recommend converting your final file to CMYK in Photoshop or Illustrator to ensure color accuracy.
What file formats do you support?
We support standard web image formats: JPG, PNG, and WEBP. Heavily compressed JPGs may have artifacts even if the resolution is high, so always check your file visually before ordering prints.
How do I calculate megapixels (MP)?
Multiply the width pixels by the height pixels, then divide by 1,000,000. For example, a 3000px x 4000px image is 12,000,000 pixels, or 12 Megapixels. Our tool calculates this instantly for you.
Can I use this for billboards?
Billboards often print at very low resolutions (like 10-30 DPI) because they are viewed from hundreds of feet away. Our 'Passable' (150 DPI) tier is likely overkill for a billboard, but it's a safe baseline for large banners.