25.08.12
Why Web Images Aren't Suitable for Print: Understanding the Right Resolution
Haru 
Mikeneko Haru Mikeneko Haru First, the right resolution depends on the purpose
Related article: What Is Resolution?
Images have an appropriate resolution depending on their use.
Let’s keep it simple and look at two key examples.
Standard full-color printing: 350 ppi (300–400 ppi)
This resolution is ideal for crisp, clear printing.
Higher resolution accurately reproduces gradients and fine lines, delivering sufficient quality.
However, 150–200 ppi may be sufficient for large posters.
Small printed materials require high resolution because details matter, but large posters are viewed from a distance, so high resolution isn’t necessary.
Web images: 72 ppi
That’s quite low compared to print.
Images viewed on the web depend on the resolution of your computer or smartphone display,
so they simply can’t be displayed at a resolution higher than what the display supports.
*Note: In recent years, displays have become higher resolution, so it’s common to prepare higher-resolution images to accommodate them. We’ll skip that topic here.
Making images unnecessarily high-resolution leads to heavy files that slow down printing efficiency or website loading speed. To maintain a balance between efficiency and quality, it’s important to prepare images at the appropriate resolution for the intended purpose.
The cause: image quality suffers when the appropriate resolution isn’t met
Creators all use images according to these resolution standards.
In other words, most images on websites are set to 72 ppi.
But the appropriate resolution for print is usually 350 ppi.
Even if you reuse them, they won’t meet the required resolution.
If you force-print an image that doesn’t have enough resolution, it will come out blurry and unclear.
To put it simply, it’s like enlarging a passport photo on a copier — it ends up blurry.
Haru Summary
Most web images are set to 72 ppi. But the appropriate resolution for print is usually 350 ppi.
Stretching the resolution results in a blurry, unclear image — so that’s a no-go.
Strictly speaking, size and pixel count are what really matter
That’s why web images aren’t suitable for print.
However, that doesn’t mean web images are absolutely never usable for print.
For example, say you’re printing an A4 flyer and the only version of a photo you need is on a website.
If you’re placing this photo to fill the entire A4 page, it will likely look rough,
but if you’re placing it at about postage stamp size, it should be fine.
You can figure out exactly where this threshold lies by doing some simple math.
If you’re interested, check out the article below.
Related
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Does This Image Have Enough Resolution for Printing? A Simple Calculation Gives You the Answer.
What Is Resolution? The Basics Explained Simply