Is 72 dpi Good For Printing?

Making the leap from your phone or computer screen to a printed banner requires a little bit of planning – you can’t just download an image from your Instagram and get it printed.

But what dpi do you need? Is 72 dpi enough to get the job done?

Let’s look at best practices for printing.

Can You Print With 72 dpi Images?

Most images will not retain clarity in print at 72 dpi. You will need 150 dpi, at full print size, for your images to print clearly and in high detail.

For example, a 5 ft x 5 ft banner should be saved as a 60″ x 60″ image at 150 dpi. This level of resolution will ensure your images look sharp and clear in print.

So, if you want to get great-looking prints for a trade show or an event banner, 72 dpi is not enough – make sure you have for 150 dpi instead.

Can You Increase The dpi If It Is Too Low?

If you don’t have access to the original image files, you can’t just size up the image in Photoshop and manually increase the dpi. All that will do is stretch out the 72 dpi pixels, resulting in a blurry or pixelated image.

One way to get higher quality prints from existing images is to use vector graphics – for example, PDFs and EPS files. These formats are resolution-independent and can be scaled up or down without any loss of quality.

The other way to increase quality is through graphic vectorization. This process involves taking a raster image and recreating it as a vector graphic using software like Adobe Illustrator. Our graphic designer is capable of this technique, so drop us a line if you assistance with this.

Another method is fractalization. This involves breaking down the image into smaller, more manageable pieces and then recreating a larger version of the same image. This helps to retain some of the clarity and detail lost in resizing. It’s not perfect, but it can actually produce a very sharp looking design and no-one will notice any blurriness in your real-life, printed banner.

What Is The Best Size For A Vinyl Banner?

When it comes to printing banners, the best size is always the size you need for your space. Generally speaking though, most vinyl banners range from 2ft x 4ft up to 15ft x 20ft – and any size in between.

For indoor spaces, like a table banner at trade show, a 4′ x 6′ will be fine. For large outdoor events, such as music festivals, go as big your stage will allow. That way, your banner will POP and make a statement for your brand or your sponsors.

Contact us with any further questions, we’ll be happy to assist.