25.08.12
Why Web Images Aren't Made for Print: Finding the Right Resolution
Haru 
Mikeneko Haru Mikeneko Haru First off: the right resolution depends on what it’s for
Related article: What is resolution?
Every image has a resolution that’s appropriate for how it’ll be used.
Let’s keep it simple and look at two of the most common cases.
Standard full-color printing: 350 ppi (300–400 ppi)
This range is what gives you a crisp, clean print.
A higher resolution reproduces gradients and fine lines accurately, so the overall quality holds up.
For large posters, though, 150–200 ppi is often enough.
Small printed pieces are viewed up close, so the fine details really matter. Large posters, on the other hand, are made to be seen from a distance, so going extra high-res isn’t really necessary.
Web images: 72 ppi
Quite a bit lower than print, right?
That’s because images you see on the web are limited by the resolution of the screen they’re displayed on,
and the screen itself can’t show anything sharper than its own native resolution.
*One note: displays have been getting sharper in recent years, so it’s becoming pretty common to prepare higher-resolution images to match. We’ll skip that side of things here.
If you go way higher than you need to, the file gets heavy. That slows down print jobs and drags down site loading times. Picking the right resolution for the job is how you keep the balance between quality and efficiency.
Why the quality drops when the resolution isn’t enough
Designers and creators generally follow these guidelines when preparing images.
Which means most of the images you find on websites are set to 72 ppi.
But for print, the standard is usually 350 ppi.
So if you take a web image straight to print, the resolution just isn’t there.
If you force a print with an image that doesn’t have enough resolution, the result comes out blurry and soft.
Think of it like blowing up a passport photo on a copier — everything goes fuzzy.
Haru Summary
Most web images are set to 72 ppi, but the standard for print is usually 350 ppi.
Stretching the resolution to fit just makes things blurry, so it’s a no-go.
What really matters is the combination of size and pixel count
So that’s why web images don’t translate well to print.
That said, it’s not like a web image can never be used in print.
Say you want to print an A4 flyer and the photo you want is only available on a website.
If you blow it up to fill the whole A4, it’ll probably look pretty rough,
but if you’re using it at about the size of a postage stamp, you’ll likely be fine.
You can actually figure out where that line is by doing a quick calculation.
If you’re curious, the article below walks through it too.
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