What’s the Difference Between DPI and PPI?

Do you find yourself confused when people refer to DPI and PPI? Are you unsure of what they mean or what they are used for in the world of digital graphics and print design?

Discover what DPI and PPI are, the differences between them, and how to choose the right resolution for your project. After you gain an understanding of what they mean, you can ensure your images look their best in a variety of content formats.

DPI Explained

Dots per inch (DPI) refers to the number of ink dots that a printer outputs per inch on a page. The more dots per inch, the higher the resolution of the image and the sharper it appears. DPI is commonly used in printing documents, photographs, blueprints, marketing media, and other print materials.

The standard resolution for printed materials is 300 DPI, which creates a high-quality print that is crisp and detailed. A lower DPI, such as 150, may appear blurry or pixelated when printed.

PPI Defined

Pixels per inch (PPI) is the number of pixels per inch on a digital display, such as a computer screen or smartphone. The higher the PPI, the more detailed the image appears.

PPI measures the resolution of digital images, including photographs, videos, and other graphics. PPI does not apply to printed materials, as the pixels are not directly printed on paper.

Understanding the Differences

The main difference between DPI and PPI is that DPI is used to measure the resolution of printed materials, while PPI measures the resolution of a digital display. It’s important to note that they are not interchangeable.

If you try to convert DPI to PPI or vice versa, the resulting image may appear distorted or blurry. This is because each image type is designed to be viewed in its respective medium.

Additionally, if an image with a high PPI is printed on a device with a low DPI, the printed image may not retain all the details in the digital image. Conversely, a low PPI image printed with a high DPI printer might appear pixelated or blurry because there are not enough pixels in the source image to take advantage of the printer’s capabilities.

How To Choose the Right Resolution

When choosing the right resolution for your project, it’s important to consider the medium that it will be displayed on. Print resolution is incredibly important in large-format printing, but it works a little differently than you might expect. If you’re printing larger media, such as a billboard or poster, you’ll actually need to lower the DPI to keep the file size manageable. The image may look blurry close up, but from far away it will still look vibrant and clear.

For your average printed materials, 300 DPI is the standard for high-quality prints. In terms of digital displays, the standard PPI differs depending on the device. For example, modern smartphones and tablets have a PPI of 300–400, while high-end computer monitors can have a PPI of 500 or more.

All in all, understanding the difference between DPI and PPI is essential for anyone working with digital images. The resolution of a digital image depends heavily on DPI and PPI, so it’s important to know how these two metrics interact. Now that you know the primary difference between them, you can apply your newfound knowledge to guarantee quality images every time you print.