Welcome to the first in our new series of A SIMPLE GUIDE TO IMAGES.
Over the coming weeks we aim to demystify the science behind the graphic design industry and explain what we do in easy to understand terms. Our first post is about RESOLUTION – PRINT VS WEB.
PRINT Vs WEB
When designing a brochure or website, we are often sent a tiny JPG image or asked to ‘grab it off the web’. Such Images don’t work because the resolution is to small (there’s also a chance that they’re infringing copyright, but more about that later).
What does ‘IMAGE RESOLUTION’ MEAN?
The resolution of an image refers to the density of pixels (or printed dots).
The higher the resolution, the denser or sharper the image. If the resolution is lowered, the image can appear blurred or pixelated, especially when ‘blown up’.
What is THE BEST RESOLUTION?
PRINT
For print, the standard is 300DPI (dots per inch). This gives the sharpest version of the image, so that when its printed, its as clear as the moment it was taken.
WEB
For web, the standard is 72PPI (pixels per inch). This gives an acceptable version of the image. Any bigger and it would affect the loading speed of a website.
What Should you Do?
When you have a choice of image sizes at your disposal, it’s best to go for the largest image you can get. Any image can be made smaller as needed, but it can’t be made bigger without losing quality.
Feel free to share Passion’s Easy Genius Guide with a friend or colleague, or print out the downloadable PDF for your work space Download Resolution Infographic
