"DPI" stands for "dots per inch" and refers to the resolution of digital images and print products. It indicates how many ink droplets (dots) per inch can be placed on a print medium or screen.
The DPI setting has various effects in the field of graphic and web design. Here are two important areas of application:
- Print design: When it comes to the design of print products such as flyers, brochures or posters, the DPI setting is of great importance. A higher DPI number leads to a finer resolution and a more detailed representation on the print medium. For high-quality print results, a DPI of 300 or higher is often recommended. It is important to consider the DPI setting to ensure that the printed graphics and images look sharp and detailed.
- Web design: In the field of web design, the DPI setting plays a less important role, as it is mainly relevant for output on screens. Here, the resolution is measured in pixels. Nevertheless, the DPI setting can play a role in some cases, for example when optimising images for high-resolution (retina) displays. In such cases, it may make sense to use images with a higher resolution and correspondingly higher DPI number to ensure that they are displayed razor-sharp on high-resolution screens.
It is important to note that the DPI setting in most image editing programmes does not change the actual image quality, but only influences the output size on printed products or the display quality on screens. A higher DPI number does not automatically mean a higher image quality, but merely a higher resolution for printing or display.