File Preparation

Resolution

Resolution must be at least 300 dpi. Lower resolutions may result in poor printing quality. Images with 72 dpi are designed for screen display only and in most cases unsuitable for good offset print results.

Our server automatically checks the resolution of your files; it will reject files with resolution below 150 dpi and give a warning for files with resolution between 150 and 300 dpi. 

Please understand that we cannot take any liability for misprints resulting from incorrect data.

How can I check the resolution of my files?

A regular computer monitor only displays 72 dpi. If you didn't create the files yourself or have no software available to check the resolution, a simple trick will help you get an idea about the resolution of your data: To simulate what your print file will look like with 300 dpi, please open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader and zoom in to 400%.

Ideally in a pixel based image, all lines are clearly recognizable and no heavy pixels/artefacts are visible. Slight blur or jagged edges are normal at high zoom levels. If your file uses vector data, the zoom will be without any loss in quality.

 

Please remember, a high resolution image can always be sized down, but it is not possible to regain resolution in a 72 dpi image. For that reason, we recommend to work with high resolution files whenever there is the slightest chance that a design might go to print.

When evaluating the resolution of pixel based images for print, you want to focus checking for artifacts, discolorations and pixelation. When comparing the images below, you will see a significant difference between the picture at 300 dpi and the web resolution image of only 72 dpi.

PrintSafari.com