DPI vs. PPI: What Packaging Designers Need to Know

What is DPI?

DPI stands for dots per inch, and it refers to the number of ink droplets inkjet printers will produce per inch when printing a digital image. The higher the dots per inch, the more closely together the ink droplets are packed, and the more detail the image will have when printed. 300 DPI, or dots per inch, is a standard for high quality prints, and it means that there are 300 individual dots per inch. This is because the human eye can't usually differentiate detail beyond 300 DPI, so whether it's 300 tiny dots per inch or 5,000 dots per inch, the overall image quality will look the same to the naked eye.

What is PPI?

PPI stands for pixels per inch and, like DPI, PPI resolution affects how a digital image looks on a web page. A higher PPI (pixels per inch) means better image quality, with smaller pixels that create both clarity and depth. Low resolution images contain larger pixels in fewer numbers (resulting in a more pixelated image), while high resolution images have a greater number of smaller pixels, resulting in a crisp and smooth digital image. This is why selecting the correct PPI setting is so important.

DPI vs. PPI: Key Differences

The main difference between PPI and DPI is that PPI (pixels per inch) refers to the image resolution of digital images and those viewed on computer monitors while PPI refers to the print resolution of a printed image. Think of it this way: if you can hold a picture in your hand, you should be concerned about DPI (dots per inch). If you're a graphic designer who works only with digital images, you should be looking at PPI, or the pixel count of the image.

Practical DPI and PPI Tips for Packaging Designers

Here are a few quick tips for packaging designers who are preparing an image file for print or for viewing online:

• Use 3000 PPI as the baseline for print images. This higher DPI will ensure your image will be of the highest quality.
• When saving images, use a lossless file format like TIFF.
• Don't compress or reduce the size of your image using image editing software, like Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• Before saving the image, check the image's properties (file size, number of pixels, screen resolution) to ensure they're still correct.
• If you're preparing a digital image for print, consider the material you'll be printing on. You may need to make the image larger or the image size window smaller depending on the material.
• Photographs, barcodes, and some graphics may require a higher DPI.

It's clear that if you're seeking a clear image there are a lot of things to consider. Fortunately, CarePac can help. Contact us today to get started on your project. We're well versed in the different resolutions and will work with you to ensure your packaging is of the highest quality.