Artwork resolution for large prints: how many pixels do you need?
Resolution is measured in pixels per inch (PPI) at final print size. A small card is held close and needs high resolution; a big banner is seen from far away and does not.
A practical guideline
- Handheld items (cards, small signs): 300 PPI at final size.
- Posters and signs: 150 PPI at final size is usually fine.
- Large banners, flags and tent graphics: 100 PPI or less at full size can look good from a normal viewing distance. Fabric prints also tend to be forgiving.
Many of our templates ask for around 125–150 PPI at full size as a safe target.
Vector is best
Logos and text should be vector files (PDF, AI, EPS, SVG) because they scale to any size without losing sharpness. Photographs are raster images — use the largest original file you have.
Do not enlarge a small image
Scaling up a small web image only makes it blurry. If that is all you have, send it anyway and we will tell you whether it will print well, and whether it can be rebuilt as vector.