How to check your print size and resolution
To check the print size and resolution of your image…
- Open the file in Photoshop and head to Image > Image Size…
- Check that the Resample box is not ticked.
- If necessary, adjust the Width and Height values so that the image fits your chosen print size. If you need to look up your print size, click here. Take note whether the measurements are in centimetres or millimetres!
- Now look at the Resolution value. We recommend a figure of 300 pixels per inch for images submitted to BPrint.
If your resolution is much smaller than that, then it’s likely that your print will not look clear and crisp when printed. If your resolution is much greater than that, then your image might be over the 100 MB filesize limit. Read on to find out what to do in each of these cases.
The BPrint system will additionally check your images for you and highlight any images in your basket as “lo-res” if the resolution is below 250 pixels per inch for the print size you are ordering. If you come across any of your images marked as “lo-res”, then it would be a good idea to check your resolution using the method above before placing an order.
What to do if your image is too small
- Check your print size and resolution using the guide at the beginning of the article.
- Make sure the Resample box is not ticked and change the resolution to 300 pixels per inch.
- The Width and Height values will automatically reduce in order to accommodate the higher resolution. Choose a new print size from the BPrint system based on these values.
If choosing a smaller print size is not an option, then you can either order your print as it is and accept a possible lack of clarity or, if you are able to, you could return to your source files and recreate the image from scratch.
What to do if your image is too large
Firstly, check your print size and resolution using the guide at the beginning of the article. If your resolution is over 300 ppi, but the size of your JPEG is less than 100 MB, then it is not necessary to alter the file. You can upload the image to BPrint and place an order.
If the size of your JPEG is more than 100 MB, then you will need to resample your image.
- If you haven’t just done so, check your print size and resolution using the guide at the beginning of this article.
- Double check that the Width and Height values will fit your intended print size.
- Tick the Resample box.
- Change the resolution value to 300 pixels per inch. Your Width and Height values should not change when you do this.
- Save your image as a JPEG.
If your filesize is still larger than 100 MB, then you can compress your image by adjusting the Quality slider when you save as a JPEG.