Print file checker
Will your image print sharp at that size? Drop the file in, enter the print size, and get an instant verdict. Runs 100% in your browser — your file never leaves your computer.
Drop your image here, click to browse, or paste it
JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, SVG — nothing is uploaded
Everything runs locally in your browser — files are never uploaded or stored.
How much DPI do you actually need?
The farther away a print is viewed, the less resolution it needs. This is why a billboard can print at 20 DPI and still look sharp from the highway — and why chasing 300 DPI on a banner wastes everyone's time.
| Typical use | Viewing distance | Minimum DPI |
|---|---|---|
| Business cards, brochures (in hand) | under 2 ft | 300 |
| Posters, trade-show graphics | 3 – 6 ft | 150 |
| Wall graphics, window signs | 6 – 10 ft | 100 – 125 |
| Yard signs, A-frames | 10 – 20 ft | 75 – 100 |
| Banners across a parking lot | 20 – 50 ft | 50 |
| Billboards | 50 ft + | 20 – 30 |
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Print resolution, answered
What DPI do I need for printing?
It depends on viewing distance. Items read in the hand (business cards, brochures) need 300 DPI. Posters and trade-show graphics viewed from 3–6 feet look great at 150 DPI. Large-format signs viewed from 10+ feet are fine at 75–100 DPI, and billboards viewed from across a road print at 20–50 DPI. This checker computes your file's effective DPI at your print size and grades it against those thresholds.
What resolution does a banner need?
A typical 3×6 ft vinyl banner viewed from 10–20 feet prints well at 75–100 DPI — that's roughly 2,700 × 5,400 pixels at 75 DPI. You rarely need 300 DPI at banner sizes; the file would be enormous and the extra detail is invisible at viewing distance.
My file says 72 DPI — is it unprintable?
Not necessarily. The DPI number saved inside a file is just metadata. What actually matters is pixel dimensions divided by print size — the effective DPI. A '72 DPI' photo that is 6000 pixels wide still prints a 20-inch-wide poster at a crisp 300 DPI. That's exactly what this tool calculates.
Can I increase the DPI of an image?
You can't add real detail that was never captured. Traditional upscaling makes a bigger, blurrier file. Modern AI upscalers can help within reason (2–4×), but the best fixes are getting the original/higher-resolution file — or a vector version (AI, EPS, SVG, vector PDF), which scales to any size with no quality loss.
What about vector files like SVG, AI, or EPS?
Vector artwork has no resolution — it's math, not pixels, so it prints perfectly sharp at any size. If this checker detects an SVG, it will tell you you're good at any dimensions. For AI/EPS/PDF, ask whether the contents are true vector or just an embedded photo — embedded photos still obey the DPI rules.
Is my file uploaded to your server?
No. The checker runs entirely in your browser using local JavaScript — your file is never transmitted, stored, or seen by us. Refresh the page and it's gone.
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