How to raise picture resolution for printing

However, it’s possible that you’ll need to significantly alter the original image’s size or add a certain amount of additional pixels. The best option in that situation is classic resampling. Whatever image sizes and resolutions you require can be produced using this method, whether you choose to start by using Super Resolution or resampling.

How to raise picture resolution for printing

Published Wed Jan 18 2023

How to Increase Photo Resolution in Useful And Simple Ways

For printing and enlarging photos, you need the greatest resolution or denser image quality.

Editing

Have you ever tried to insert a photo in a design only to be frustrated because it is too small, blurry, or otherwise unusable? Cohesive design work will be considerably simpler to produce if you discover how to improve image resolution.

The resolution is about a photo detail and is determined by focus accuracy, camera sensor pixel count, and the quality of the lens. If you are willing to print your photo, you should also take other factors, such as the display medium, size, and quality of the print, into consideration as well. The term ‘resolution’ frequently refers to the pixels per inch in a print, lens resolving power, and the overall pixel count of a digital image. It is frequently used to refer to the overall number of pixels in a digital image and the pixels per inch in print.

What is Image Resolution?

Image resolution is the sum of pixels across all dimensions. Depending on the size of its sensor and pixel density, your camera creates images of a specific size.

You remove pixels from an image when you crop it. Consequently, an image will have a lower resolution than what your camera is capable of. So, if there are not enough pixels or a resolution that is high enough, your image will have low quality or look grainy. In other words, the more pixels there are, the higher your image resolution will be. Even though it is not easy to improve the resolution of an original image, it does not mean it is impossible.

Terminology

The fineness of the pixels inside the designated area is referred to as image resolution. PPI, or pixels per inch, is the unit of measurement for this figure. Your image resolution increases with increasing PPI. In general, a printed image with a greater PPI will be sharper and of higher quality.

Pixel Dimensions refer to the number of pixels as well as the width and height of your image.

PPI (pixels per inch) is a term that describes the number of digital pixels that make up a square inch of a digital image (digital resolution on a screen).

DPI (dots per inch) is a term that describes the number of dots that can be arranged in a line within an inch.

What is ‘Resolution’ in an Image

Have you seen how in movies, a detective or police ask someone to enlarge and enhance a blurry image until it gets clear enough to extract a piece of evidence? Well, it doesn’t work like that.

The resolution of an image is its details, which are found by focus precision, quality of the lens, and pixel count of the camera sensor. If you want to print the photo, you will also have to consider certain other factors like the size of the photo, print quality, and display medium.

The resolution of an image often also refers to the resolving power of the lens, PPI, or pixels per inch for printing and the comprehensive count of pixels of a digital image.

If you are a designer, concern yourself with the complete count of pixels of the digital picture. Increasing image resolution means you will have to turn an image of 200X200 pixels into a 1000X1000 pixel image. Now, if pixels are insufficient, in other words, high enough resolution, the picture will look grainy and of low quality.

Terminology

Here are a few terms you will come across often when you are trying to increase image resolution.

• Pixel Dimensions are the size or measurement of an image, both vertically and horizontally in pixels.
• Image resolution refers to the excellence of pixels in the given space, usually calculated in PPI or pixels per inch. The higher the PPI, the higher the resolution your image will have. In simple words, a higher PPI means a better quality image.
• DPI or Dots Per Inch is a term commonly used in image printing. It refers to the physical ink dots printed in one square inch of a printed photo.
• PPI or Pixel Per Inch is the term used for digital images for digital pixels in one square inch of a digital image.

DPI and PPI often create confusion. Cameras generate images in pixels while the printers convert these pixels into ink dots.

Screen resolution means pixel counts that appear on the whole computer screen and it varies with monitor size and display resolution settings.

The diagonal dimension of your screen is the screen size of your system, although the area you can use is typically lesser than that due to the bezel. If you display an image on a high-resolution screen at full size, it will look smaller as compared to the very same image on a low-resolution screen.

The resolution of a camera is the maximum any digital sensor can have and is often referred to as Megapixels. More megapixels mean increased light sensors on image sensors, resulting in better image definition and enhanced image.

Standard Image Resolution

It is commonly believed that 72ppi is the common image resolution on the web. However, the density of pixels you go for online is trivial. PPI only matters when you are creating an image for printing.

On the screen, what matters is the height by the width of the image resolution. This means that an image of 200X200 pixels will look the same at 72ppi, as at 150ppi and 300ppi and an i 3000 x 2000 image of 72ppi will look better in print as compared to a 300 x 200 image of 72ppi.

Also, today nearly all computer and laptop screens come with more than 100ppi. So, your 17” monitor will be calibrated at 800 x 600 pixels and your 19” screen at 1024×768. These are the optimum screen settings, but you can change them if you want.

If you have a professional sophisticated printer, you will need 600ppi images. On the other hand, regular printers like Inkjet and Laser can print pictures at 200 to 300ppi and above.

Photographic images should be at a minimum of 300ppi while those for the larger format like posters can be approximately 150-300ppi, based on how closely people will see the posters.

Highest Possible Resolution for Images

The resolution of an image decides whether your design will look fuzzy or crystal clear. To enlarge or print an image, you will need denser image quality or the highest possible resolution. The low-resolution images look great at 100% but when zoomed in, they get pixelated or blurry.

The high-resolution images are at least 300ppi. That’s why they deliver good print quality and are necessary for any image you need as a hard copy. The resolution of an image also tells you how much you can enlarge an image and comes in handy for deciding what print size you can get out of that image at the best.

Rule of thumb: To get the maximum print size, divide the pixel size (dimension) by the resolution (at least 300ppi). For example, a 2000-pixel image at 300ppi can be printed up to (2000/300) inches, which comes to a little more than 6 inches.

Recommended Image Resolution for Various Projects

Before you learn how to make a picture higher resolution, you should know what is the recommended image resolution for the design project you are working on.

Posters

Posters are the most commonly used mode of advertisement. Here are the recommended sizes for the various posters:

#1) Small Posters

Small posters are great for bulletin boards, school events, general announcements, etc. The recommended size for them is 11 × 17 inches and 3300 × 5100 pixels.

Pro Tip: Try to use fewer images and more bold letters to get your message across clearly.

#2) Medium Posters

These are perfect for outdoor advertising. Their size allows you to include more details and images. The recommended size for them is 18 × 24 inches and 2400 × 7200 pixels.

#3) Large Posters

These are the posters you see for movies, trade shows, decorations, etc. The recommended size for these posters is 24 × 36 inches and 7200 × 10800 pixels.

Flyers

Flyers are yet another extremely effective mode of advertising and getting your message across. Here are the recommended sizes for the various flyers:

#1) Small Flyers

These are generally used for information about discounts and offers at stores. The recommended size for them is 4.25 × 5.5 inches and 1275 × 1650 pixels.

#2) Half Sheet Flyers

Half sheet flyers are half the size of a letter sheet and are great for promoting events or offering little information. The recommended size for half-sheet flyers is 5.5 × 8.5 inches and 1650 × 2550 pixels.

Pro Tip: Prioritize essential information, use a combination of fonts and carefully choose your graphics or images.

#3) Letter Flyers

The advantage of using letter flyers is that you can include a lot of information without crowding the look. You can use them for menu options, merchandise information, event information, etc. The recommended size for letter flyers is 8.5 × 11 inches and 2550 × 3300 pixels.

Brochures

Brochures allow you to include a lot of information and images neatly and effectively. Here are the common sizes for various brochures:

#1) Letter Brochure

This is the most used brochure style by home printers since it offers a lot of space for vital information and relevant images. The recommended size for this is 8.5 × 11 inches and 2550 × 3300 pixels.

#2) Legal Brochure

These are the tri-fold brochures you often see for details on products and services. You can pack it with information and beautiful pictures related to the content. The recommended size for a legal brochure is 8.5 × 14 inches and 2550 × 4200 pixels.

#3) Tabloid Brochure

Tabloid brochures are perfect for printing restaurant menus or programs for plays and concerts. The recommended size for this is 11 × 17 inches and 3300 × 5100 pixels. Pro tip: use full-size pictures and avoid using a big chunk of text.

How to Improve the Resolution of a Photo

Here are a few effective ways to increase the resolution of the image.

#1) Adobe Photoshop

By Altering Image Dimensions

Here’s how to increase photo resolution with Photoshop step-by-step:

1. Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the image you want to change the resolution of.
2. Click on the Image in the header of the app.
3. Select Image Size.

1. This will open a new window.
2. Go to Dimensions and select Pixels from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down to find Width, Height, and Resolution options.
4. Type the pixels you want in either Width or Height boxes.

Engaging the chain lock button to the left side of the width and height boxes will constrain the aspect ratio. So, if you change the number in a box, the numbers in other boxes will be adjusted accordingly to keep the aspect ratio the same as the original image. You can alter the resolution box to fix it.

By Using Neural Filters

1. Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the image you want to edit.
2. Go to Filters.
3. Select Neural Filters.

1. Click on Super Zoom.
2. Use the slider to adjust the image to your liking.
3. Click OK.

#2) GIMP

GIMP is an open-source image editing tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Here’s how to make an image with higher resolution using GIMP:

1. Download GIMP and install it.
2. Open GIMP.
3. Click on Files.
4. Select Open.

1. Select the image you want to edit and click Open.
2. Press CTRL+A for Windows or Command+A Mac.
3. Press CTRL+C for Windows and Command+C for mac to copy the image.
4. Now, click on File.
5. Select New.
6. Go to Advanced Options.
7. Adjust the X and Y values to 300 if they are not already set at that value.
8. Click OK.

1. Select Windows for a new image.
2. Go to Image.
3. Select Canvas Size.

1. In the dialogue box, adjust the canvas size after making sure the chain icon is locked.
2. Enter the image width and press the Tab button to automatically adjust the height.
3. Select Resize.
4. Press CTRL+V or Command+V to paste the image.
5. Drag the corners of the image window or zoom out if necessary to view all corners of the resized canvas.
6. Go to the Resize Layers dialogue.
7. Select Floating Selection (Pasted Layer).

1. Go to Toolbox dialogue.
2. Select the Scale option.

1. Select the pasted image.
2. Now in the scale dialogue box and enter the same width as above after making sure the chain icon is locked.
3. If the image looks good, select Scale.

1. Now, go to view and then select zoom to see how the image will look when zoomed.

1. If you are happy with the look, go to Layers dialogue.
2. Select Floating Selection (Pasted Layer).
3. Click on the Anchor icon at the bottom to lock it in the background.

1. Click on File and select Export.
2. Select where you want to save it and click on Export.
3. In the Export Image As dialogue box, move the compression level slider to zero.
4. Select Export.

Using macOS Preview to Increase Image Resolution Without Photoshop on Mac

macOS Preview is a handy tool for editing images on Mac. Here’s how to make a photo higher resolution photo using macOS Preview.

1. Right-click on the image file you want to edit.
2. Select Open with.
3. Click on Preview.

1. Select Tools.
2. Click on the Adjust Size option.

1. Adjust Width as per your need.
2. Click OK.
3. Select File.
4. Click on Save to over-right the new file or export to save it as a new file.

Using Image Size on iPhone

Image Size is an iOS editing tool for resizing images on the iPhone. It is free to use, but you can opt for a premium account for an ad-free experience.

Here’s to increasing the resolution of images using the Image Size app:

1. Download the Image Size and install it.
2. Open the app and tap on the main white window.
3. Tap OK to grant the app access to your gallery.
4. Tap on the main window again to launch the image picker.
5. Select the image.
6. Tap on choose to open the image.
7. Make sure the chain icon is locked.
8. Set Width according to your requirements.
9. Tap Done.
10. Pinch and zoom to check the image quality.
11. Tap on the gear icon.

1. Move the Output Quality slider to 100%.
2. For printing, increase the Print size correction factor.

1. Tap on the back arrow to return to the main page.
2. Tap on the save arrow to save the image.

With Picverse Photo Editor

Picverse photo editor is a simple tool for enhancing an image. Here’s how to increase image resolution using this app.

1. Download and install Picverse Photo Editor.
2. Launch the software.
3. Upload the image you want to enhance.

1. Click on More.
2. Select Resize on the right-hand side panel.

1. From the dropdown menu, select Pixel.
2. Insert a number in the width.

You can also use one of the 9 preset sizes for easy and quick editing and use the AI Enlargement tick box to enhance the picture quality while resizing.

Comparison of Various Tools

App	Ease of Use	Processing Speed	Quality
Adobe Photoshop	Easy	Fast	Great
GIMP	Medium	Fast	Great
mcOS Preview	Easy	Fast	Great
Image Size	Easy	Medium	Good
Picverse	Easy	Fast	Great

How to Increase Image Resolution Online

There are sites like letsenhance or upscalepics that you can use to increase image resolution without using an app.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the upscalepics website.
2. Click on Select Image.
3. Pick the resolution you want to change it to.
4. Choose the output format and compression level.
5. Click on Start Processing.
6. Download the image.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) How do you make an image that has a higher resolution?

Answer: Increase the size of the image and make sure it has optimal pixel density. However, your image might not look as sharp as the original one. The bigger you make the image, the less sharpness it will have.

Q #2) How do I convert low-resolution photos to high-resolution?

Answer: The easiest way to convert a low-resolution image to a high-resolution photo is by using Adobe Photoshop. However, it is a premium app. If you want to do it for free, you can use GIMP.

Recommended Reading =>> Best Alternatives to Photoshop

Q #3) How many KB is high resolution?

Answer: There isn’t a set number of KB in a high-resolution image. The higher the resolution of your image, the bigger the file size will be.

Q #4) How many pixels is high resolution?

Answer: A high-resolution image is at least 300 pixels per inch.

Q #5) How can I increase the resolution of an image without Photoshop?

Answer: You can use GIMP or other similar image editing tools to increase the resolution of an image without Photoshop.

Q #6) How to increase a picture resolution on your phone?

Answer: You can use websites like Upscalespics or Let’s Enhance to increase the picture resolution on your phone.

Conclusion

So, now you know how to increase the resolution of an image by different methods. Unfortunately, sometimes, you might not get the size and quality you want even with them.

In that case, the best way forward is to select a better image, something you can work with. For resolution enhancement, Photoshop is always the best option. However, if you don’t want to pay for the service, you can also go for GIMP or other online image-enhancing tools.

Using s tock p hotography in printing

If you’re going to be creating printing products using stock photography, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Image size in your design layout
2. Royalty specifications
3. Color values of the image

• Before purchasing a stock image for printing, make sure you know what size the image will be in your design layout so you can purchase appropriately. If in doubt, overestimate the size you will need.
• Read all the “fine print” prior to purchase as it will determine price, color, file size, copyrights, resolution and quality. Images should have a resolution of 300 DPI (400 DPI if the image includes text) at their final layout size.
• Royalty-free: Purchased images can be used as many times as you want and for almost any purpose. Royalty-free images cost less than rights-protected images, however you have no control over who else uses that image.
• Rights-protected: Images are purchased for a specific use. Cost varies depending on how image will be used (circulation size, production medium, etc.) and cannot be used in any way other without permission. A certain level of exclusivity is usually guaranteed.
• Get the image in CMYK if possible. To print on a four-color printing press, all RGB images need to be converted to CMYK.
• When we receive RGB images, we do a standard-value conversion to CMYK, which may not be perfectly to your liking. You have more control if you do the color conversion yourself-see our RGB – CMYK information page for important instructions on getting the results you want.

What are l ossless i mage f ile f ormats ?

Photographic and scanned images can be saved in different file formats. We recommend saving in a “lossless file format,” one that does not lose color quality, contrast or file size.

• GOOD: TIF or EPS files are examples of lossless file formats. They are designed to maintain identical color and image data throughout multiple uses.
• BAD: JPEG/JPG or GIF files are examples of lossy file formats. They are designed for easy file transmission and Internet use, not for printing. When a lossy file format is saved over and over again, the process exaggerates blurry, jagged edges and creates extra pixel garbage that you do not want printed.
  • If you start with a JPEG or GIF file that needs to be edited, save it as an EPS or TIF file before you make any edits. Then edit the EPS or TIF file to maintain image quality.

  

  GOOD: Resaved TIF & EPS files maintain original quality
  BAD: Resaved JPEG & GIF files create blurry, jagged, ugly images

  Recap: Image resolution + standard DPI = High quality image printing

  Don’t let yourself be disappointed by low quality printed images. Remember these key pieces of information to get the best printed images, every time:

  • Standard image resolution needs to be 300 DPI for images, and 400 DPI for images containing text
  • Save images in lossless file formats (TIF or EPS), not as low resolution GIF or JPEG files
  • Make sure your image uses CMYK color, not RBG

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