When creating a print product like a 4x8 card or poster, add 1/8 of an inch to each side. The 18x24 and 30x40 also have the same 1.33 ratio and require no cropping for most digital cameras.Īdd an eighth of an inch to each side for a perfect print

Note that the 4xD (Digital) size is the same ratio as most digital cameras - 1.333 (1200 x 1600 dots) - so no cropping is required when printing these photos. Use the following chart as a guide for determining the best resolution for various print sizes.

The subject matter can also be important: for instance, if you are printing a picture of a crowd of faces or a group shot, and you want to recognize faces in the crowd, you will need a higher pixel count to ensure that each tiny face has a enough visual information. For instance, you are likely to stand back from a poster, and your eye will blend the pixels together, so 90 pixels per inch is the minimum recommended resolution for posters. Not all photos require high pixels per inch. Higher-priced cameras offer a pixel range, which enables you to select the best resolution for the size image you want. Some low-cost cameras give a set number of pixels and shoot only one resolution. The greater the number of pixels (up to 300 per inch), the higher the quality of the digital image. The digital camera is the most important factor in determining quality of digital images. When there are many pixels, your mind blends the tiny blocks together to form an image. Imagine only 4 dots per inch: you would see four colored squares instead of a picture. The best printable resolution is 300 dots per inch.Įxtremely low resolution will look 'blocky' or pixelated.

Higher resolution photos are clearer and contain more detail.ĭigital image resolution is expressed as pixels (or dots) across by pixels down, such as 640 x 480, meaning 640 pixels across by 480 pixels down. (See below for Aspect Ratios of each print and poster.) What is the best resolution for my photos, wall art and posters?

Poster sizes on wall