DPI vs PPI: How to Prepare Images for Printing vs Web

Why do images look great on your phone but blurry when printed? The secret lies in DPI (Dots Per Inch) and resolution. This guide explains exactly how to prepare files so they look sharp everywhere.

Web (72 PPI) vs Print (300 DPI)

Screens use PPI (Pixels Per Inch). Standard web resolution is 72 PPI. Printers use DPI. Standard print resolution is 300 DPI. If you download a 72 PPI image from Facebook and try to print it, it will look pixelated.

Which Format to Use?

• **For Web:** JPG or WebP. Small file size is priority. 72 PPI.
• **For Print:** TIFF or High-Quality JPG. Data retention is priority. 300 DPI.
• **For Logos:** SVG or EPS (Vector). Scales infinitely.

How to Fix Low Resolution

You cannot simply increase the DPI of a small image; it will just become blurry. You must start with a high-resolution source. However, if you have a massive TIFF file for print that you want to put on a website, use our **TIFF to JPG converter** to instantly make it web-ready.

CMYK vs RGB

Computer screens use RGB (Red Green Blue) light. Printers use CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black) ink. Always convert your images to RGB before uploading to the web to ensure colors look correct to your visitors.