A Guide To Understand DPI

What is DPI?

DPI, or Dots Per Inch, is the number of dots that can be placed in a line across one inch. It is used to measure the resolution of an image both on screen and in printing.

How DPI affects print file quality?

The higher the DPI, the sharper the image, the better the print file quality:

A higher resolution image provides the printer/printing services more information and produces better designs.

In contrast, a lower DPI will produce an image with fewer dots in printing. No matter how innovative the printer is, a low-resolution image doesn’t provide enough raw data to produce high-quality images. The ink will spread on the page, making the edges look fuzzy.

How to convert Print Size to pixels with DPI?

Usually, in the print file guide, the providers will list the print size in inch/cm/mm. So the purpose of converting these dimensions into pixels is to help you set the exact print-area size in teeinblue app. This print-area size is necessary for the provider to fulfill your orders.

Formula: Dimension in inch x DPI= Pixel (of the print file)

Or you can use this website: pixelcalculator.com to convert in/mm/cm to pixel with different DPI.

For example: The print-area instructed by Printful is 12" x 16", and requires 300 DPI print file quality ➡ The print-area size to fill in teeinblue will be 3600 x 4800px (width = 12" x 300 dpi = 3600px; height= 16" x 300 dpi = 4800px).

You need to find the correct DPI for each product or else the incorrect DPI will convert to the incorrect size.

For example: If you convert a dimension of 12"x16" with 72dpi, the printarea size will be only 864x1152px. This is smaller than the required size of Printful

The required DPI by some providers (Updated on Mar 11th, 2021):

Product and correspondent info will be written following this format: ++ Products - DPI - Original size - Converted size ++

Dreamship

Standard T-shirt - 300 DPI - 13.50 x 15.50in - 4050 x 4650px
11oz White Mug - 300 DPI - 8in x 3.25in - 2400 x 975px

CustomCat

G240 LS Ultra Cotton T-shirt - 300 DPI - 9.5in x 10.9in - 2850 x 3270px
XP8434 11oz White Mug - 300 DPI - 230 x 97mm - 2717 x 1146

Printful

2001 Unisex Fine Jersey Short Sleeve T-shirt - 300 DPI - 12 x 16in - 3600 x 4800px
11 oz White Glossy Mug - 300 DPI - 9 x 3.5in - 2700 x 1050px

Picanova

Magic Mug - at least 75 DPI - 4.7 x 3.6in - 350 x 250 px

300 DPI is considered as a high resolution and is used by almost all providers

Updated on: 23/05/2022

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