What resolution do large format prints need?
Superchrome ·
The usual advice for print is 300dpi. For a business card, that is sensible. For a banner several metres wide, it would produce an enormous file with no visible benefit.
Viewing distance matters
The further away people stand, the less detail their eyes can pick out. A billboard viewed from across a road can look sharp at a very low resolution, while a fine art print on a gallery wall will be examined from arm's length. So the right question is not just how big the print is, but how close people will get.
Check the effective resolution
A photo's resolution depends on the size it is placed at. Enlarge an image to twice the size and its effective resolution halves. Design software will normally show this figure when you select a placed image, so check it at the final size or the final scale.
Enlarging images
Increasing the dpi setting of a small image does not add real detail. If an image is too small, try to find the original. Logos are best supplied as vector files, which stay sharp at any size.
If you are not sure
Send the original file rather than a copy taken from a website or a messaging app, which will usually have been compressed. Our artwork guide covers file preparation, and for older film originals our drum scanning service may help.