Image Size and Resolution
Good quality framed banners depend on two key factors: Resolution and Size. As a general rule, images used in framed banners should be supplied at 300ppi resolution and as close as possible to the final size that they will be printed.
If the resolution is too low or the image is too small, it will appear pixelated and of poor quality in the final framed banner print. The optimal resolution for printing framed banners is 300ppi, and for best results, the physical size of the image should be no larger than 13cm x 9cm.
Images from the internet
Images obtained from the internet, such as those searched through a search engine like Google and then saved to your desktop, will most often have a resolution of 72ppi, which is not sufficient for high-quality framed banner printing unless they are significantly reduced in size. The example below illustrates the difference between a 72ppi image on the left and a 300ppi image on the right, which is the optimal resolution for framed banner printing.
Low res image next to high res image
Ideal set up for images
Digital Photos
Nowadays, most digital cameras save images at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch (ppi). Although the physical size of these images can be quite large, such as a photo taken on an iPhone which measures just over 1.42 meters wide by 1.06 meters high, they may not be suitable for printing due to their low resolution. However, if you reduce the size of the image, the pixel density will increase proportionately, making it suitable for printing in a smaller size.
But how small?…
If you’re looking to determine the maximum size at which a digital image can be printed, you can use a photo editing tool like Adobe Photoshop. To do this, open the image in Photoshop and go to the “Image” menu at the top of the screen. Select “Image Size” to access the image’s current size information.
By unchecking the “Resample Image” option and changing the “Resolution” to 300 pixels per inch (ppi), you can determine the maximum physical size at which the image can be printed without pixels becoming visible. In the example described, the maximum size for an iPhone image would be 34.14 cm wide by 25.6 cm high.
Comparisons of the same size image at different resolutions, the one on the right gives you the size at a ‘print ready’ resolution.
PPi stands for Pixels per Inch and is relative to screen size.
DPi stands for dots per inch and refers to the number of printed dots contained within one inch of an image printed by a printer.
Lower resolution for Large Format
Large Format products even though much bigger do not generally need to have quite so high quality images, the reason for this is that they are normally viewed from a distance.
With artwork being produced for Large Format you can usually get away with using images at half or even quarter size as long as the image is not being viewed close-up.
Understanding resolution can be tricky, if have any more questions then call us on 023 8087 8037 or email us.