Design 101 :: Lesson 1 :: Resolution

Resolution of an image determines not only how clear or how pixelated an image appears, but also the file size of the image. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image. The higher the resolution, the larger the file. Resolution is measured in dots per inch, or DPI. The resolution of your computer screen is only 72 dpi. So, most web graphics usually do not need to be any higher than 72 dpi. The resolution of printed material must be much higher than 72 dpi, or it will appear pixelated when printed. For this reason, web graphics should never be used for printed material. You can get away with 150 dpi for printed material, if needed, but usually 300 dpi is a good rule.