Resolutions for laserprinting, graphic prepress films
and photographic copying:

In case the total size/resolution of a digital photo is known it will be easy to calculate the size of the photo in question for a specific reproduction method.

A digital photo having a total size of e.g. 3.000 x 2.400 pixels can be reproduced in the format 30 x 24 inches (76 x 61 cm) if the print method needs 100 DPI. The same photo can only be reproduced in the format 10 x 8 inches ((25 x 20 cm) if the print method needs 300 DPI.

NOTE: There are of course many differences in the various production methods so all data shown in the below scheme will only be guidelines.

DPI LPI LPC

Use
dots per inch / pixels per inch screen lines per inch screen lines per centimeter
72 36 14,5   Screen
80 40 16  
90 45 18  
100 50 20   PostScript laser- & poster printers
110 55 22  
125 62 25  
150 75 30   Screen print
170 85 34  
200 100 40   QuickDraw inkjet printers
220 110 44  
240 120 48   News paper printing
270 135 54   Magazines, advertisements and print-on-demand
280 140 56  
300 150 60   Common offset & magazines - photographic copying [1]
325 162 65  
350 175 70   Exclusive offset & photogravure
375 187 75  
400 200 80   Offset with stochastic screen

[1] NOTE: Photographical copying is a sublimation of halftones without the use of screen. The following 4 examples show the resolutions needed for photographic printing.

photographic print format A resolution of 150 dpi
gives an acceptable quality		 A resolution of 150 dpi
gives an optimal quality
 4 x 6 inch / 10 x 15 cm  593 x 872 pixels  1186 x 1744 pixels
 5 x 7 inch / 13 x 18 cm  738 x 1047 pixels  1477 x 2093 pixels
 4 x 8 inch / 15 x 20 cm  844 x 1163 pixels  1767 x 2326 pixels
 8 x 12 inch / 20 x 30 cm  1180 x 1744 pixels  2360 x 3488 pixels


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Valhals Plads 23 · 3650 Ølstykke · +45 47 17 56 22 · +45 40 33 69 40
info@niels-ebbesen.net · www.niels-ebbesen.net