🖨️ 1. Print Quality
-
300 DPI provides enough pixel density to produce sharp, detailed, professional-quality prints.
-
At 72 DPI, the image looks pixelated or blurry when printed because it doesn’t have enough information (pixels) per inch.
🧠 2. Screen vs. Print
-
72 DPI was historically used for screens (old monitors), where lower resolution was acceptable and screen sizes were smaller.
-
Monitors display pixels per inch (PPI), not physical dots like a printer does.
-
Print is a physical medium, so it needs much higher resolution to look as good as it does on a screen.
📏 3. Real-World Example
Imagine a 1000 × 1000 pixel image:
-
At 72 DPI, it would print at ~13.9 × 13.9 inches — but look fuzzy.
-
At 300 DPI, it would print at ~3.3 × 3.3 inches — but look sharp.
✅ In Summary:
| DPI | Use Case | Print Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | On-screen viewing | Not suitable for print |
| 300 | Professional printing | Crisp, clear output |
If you’re creating something for print (like a brochure, book, or poster), always start with 300 DPI to ensure your final product looks professional.
