How to Check Your Image’s DPI/PPI in Illustrator and Photoshop: A Step-by-Step Guide
When preparing your design for print, understanding the resolution of your images is crucial. Whether you're working on a grand format banner, a flyer, or business cards, the quality of your image plays a significant role in how it will appear when printed. Two key terms often come up in this process: DPI (Dots Per Inch) and PPI (Pixels Per Inch). While they’re often used interchangeably, they refer to different things. DPI is typically used in print to measure how many dots of ink are printed per inch, while PPI refers to the resolution of digital images on screens. In either case, knowing your image's resolution ensures you avoid pixelation and blurry prints.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to check your image’s DPI/PPI in both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, so you can ensure your design is ready for high-quality print results.
Why Does DPI/PPI Matter?
The DPI (or PPI in digital media) tells you how much detail an image holds. Higher values typically mean more detail, which is essential for print projects.
- For Print: A DPI of 300 is generally the standard for high-quality prints, especially for items like brochures, flyers, and medium banners. For Grand Format, we typically request 120-150 DPI.
- For Digital Displays: PPI comes into play when preparing images for digital screens, such as websites, apps, or social media posts. A higher PPI means a clearer image on screens.
How to Check Your Image’s DPI/PPI in Illustrator
Illustrator is a vector-based design tool, so it doesn’t rely on DPI/PPI the way raster images do. However, if you are working with raster images (like photos or logos with raster elements) in Illustrator, it’s important to make sure the resolution is high enough for print.
Here’s how you can check the DPI/PPI of your raster images in Illustrator:
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Open Your Document
Open your design file in Illustrator where you’ve placed the raster image. -
Select the Image
Use the Selection Tool (V) to click on the raster image within your design. -
Check the Image Size and Resolution
- Go to Window > Links to open the Links panel.
- In the Links panel, find the image file you’re working with and click on it. You’ll see details about the image, including its dimensions and resolution.
- Check the image’s resolution under the "Effective PPI" column. This will show the PPI for your image based on its current size in the Illustrator document.
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Check Image Size for Print
If the image is too low in resolution (below 300 PPI), you might want to replace it with a higher resolution version for print, or adjust its size so that it prints at a higher PPI.
How to Check Your Image’s DPI/PPI in Photoshop
Photoshop is a raster-based design program, so it’s more straightforward to check an image’s DPI/PPI. Here’s how you can do it:
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Open Your Image in Photoshop
Open the image file you want to check in Photoshop. -
Open the Image Size Dialog Box
- Navigate to Image > Image Size in the top menu.
- This will open a window that displays important image data, including dimensions and resolution.
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Check the Resolution
In the Image Size window, look at the "Resolution" field. This value is your image’s PPI (for digital displays) or DPI (for printing), depending on the context.- Resolution: This tells you how many pixels per inch your image contains.
- Ensure that the resolution is set to 300 PPI (for print). If it's lower, you may want to resample the image to a higher resolution (if possible) or replace it with a higher-res image.
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Adjust the Resolution (Optional)
If you need to change the resolution:- Make sure the "Resample" box is checked if you want Photoshop to adjust the image size to match your new resolution.
- If you uncheck "Resample," Photoshop will keep the image’s pixel dimensions the same but adjust the PPI accordingly, which may affect the image quality if you’re resizing it.
What If Your Image’s DPI/PPI Is Too Low?
If your image’s resolution is too low (below 300 DPI/PPI for print), you might encounter issues with blurry or pixelated prints. Here’s what you can do:
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Replace the Image with a Higher-Resolution Version
If you can, try to source a higher-resolution version of the image. -
Resample the Image
In Photoshop, you can increase the resolution by resampling the image, though keep in mind that resampling will not add new details, so it might make the image appear softer. -
Reduce the Image Size
Another solution is to reduce the size of the image in your document (both in Photoshop and Illustrator) to improve its PPI/DPI. Just remember that reducing too much may affect its appearance when printed. -
Vectorize the Image
If you’re working with a raster image that you need to enlarge, consider converting it to a vector format (if possible). In Illustrator, you can use the Image Trace feature to create a vector version of your image, which can be scaled infinitely without quality loss.
Conclusion
Knowing your image’s DPI/PPI is essential when preparing a design for print or digital use. By following the simple steps in Illustrator and Photoshop, you can ensure that your images are high enough resolution to print clearly and without distortion. Whether you're designing for banners, business cards, or web graphics, checking your image’s resolution will help you achieve the best quality results for your projects.
If you ever need help with preparing your images for print, feel free to reach out—we’re always here to help!