What Is DPI?
DPI stands for dots per inch. It measures how many individual dots of ink or pixels of light fit into one inch of space. Higher DPI means more detail but larger file sizes. Lower DPI means smaller files but less detail. Understanding DPI is essential for creating PDFs that look good and are practical to share.
DPI Guidelines for Different Uses
Screen viewing: 72 to 150 DPI is sufficient. Computer monitors display around 96 to 150 DPI, so anything above that is wasted for screen use. Standard printing: 300 DPI provides excellent quality for most printed documents. Professional printing: 300 to 600 DPI may be required for high-quality publications and fine art prints.
How DPI Affects File Size
DPI affects file size quadratically. Doubling the DPI quadruples the pixel count and file size. A 300 DPI image has four times the data of a 150 DPI image at the same physical size. This is why reducing DPI from 300 to 150 can reduce file size by 75 percent.
Choosing the Right DPI
For documents viewed only on screens, 150 DPI is excellent. For documents that may be printed, 300 DPI is safe. For documents that will be professionally printed at large sizes, consult your printer for their recommended DPI.
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