2 Easy Steps to Set DPI in Illustrator vs PPI
In this guide, we will discuss what DPI and PPI are and why your DPI setting matters, as well as provide step-by-step instructions on how to set the DPI in Illustrator and tips for selecting the right value for different scenarios. So let’s get started!
What is the Difference Between DPI and PPI in Illustrator? (DPI VS PPI)
The difference between DPI and PPI in Illustrator is that DPI has to do with the printer resolution or printed image from an output device while PPI has to do with the number of pixels on the image displayed on a screen.
What is Illustrator DPI?
- DPI is a measure of the resolution of a printed image and refers to the number of ink dots that can be placed in one inch on a printed page.
- DPI is meant to be used in a printing process.
- DPI is represented with circle dots.
What is Illustrator PPI?
- PPI is also the Adobe or Illustrator image resolution. In other words, it’s how you see the image file on your screen that’s not yet printed out.
- PPI is meant to be used for web or digital purposes.
- PPI is represented with square pixels.
Higher and lower DPI Vs PPI
The higher the DPI, the more dots it has, and the more detailed and sharp an image will look when printed.
A printed image that comes out blurry is said to have low DPI. Increasing the DPI with the same dimensions will help to improve the output’s resolution.
If you want to view a sharp image on your screen or display, you are looking for an image with a higher PPI with the same dimensions.
Let’s say you have an image that is 1000 px by 1000 px in size at 72 PPI at the time you embedded this image in Illustrator.
If you were to stretch it to 5000 px by 5000 px within Illustrator, you will start to see some of the pixels, and the image losses its sharpness.
If you were to do the same to a 300 PPI image, you may still see it sharp and clear. There are more smaller square pixels in a higher PPI image than in a lower PPI image.
Note that this does not apply to editable or outlined text in Illustrator. For example, there are times you may wish to enlarge text in Illustrator to make a drop cap or emphasize certain words in a paragraph.
You can do that and the text will still look crisp, sharp, and clear at any size due to its vector properties.
Why do Some People Use DPI Instead of PPI in Illustrator?
At this point in this guide, you know that DPI and PPI are not exactly the same things. Then why is DPI always been used and PPI is seldom heard of?
There isn’t a scientific answer to this, but based on my own experience as a designer for more than 20 years, print work used to be huge in the graphic design industry.
When it comes to printing, submitting a good enough resolution to the printer is key to the results of the finished product or printed artwork. There’s nothing the printer can do if you were to submit a file with poor or low-resolution images.
The people in the print shop will have to communicate with you to set and change your file to a preferred resolution. Most of them would have likely instructed you to increase the DPI of your design.
They are not wrong, because DPI is the correct term when it comes to the resolution of printed images. Due to the constant usage of DPI via such communication, “DPI” becomes the common term to use when someone is referring to the quality or resolution of a file.
300 DPI becomes the default DPI resolution in a custom setting for producing sharp printouts.
What is the Similarity Between DPI and PPI?
Both DPI and PPI refer to something similar, hence, it’s easy for us to get confused with the terms. The similarity between them is the value.
When it comes to the value, there’s nothing to worry about, Adobe has confirmed that “the conversion of PPI to DPI is usually 1:1“.
In this case, if you see DPI being used in this guide, it is the same as PPI in Illustrator, unless otherwise stated.
Why Do You Need to Set DPI in Illustrator
If you are printing an image at 72 DPI, it would likely appear blurry and pixelated, whereas if you were to print it at 300 DPI, it would look smooth and crisp. This is why it’s important to set your DPI properly when exporting artwork for print or web use.
Printers require images to be saved at 300 DPI for optimal quality. As for web design, lower resolutions such as 72 or 96 are generally preferred since they load faster than higher resolutions without sacrificing a huge loss of quality.
However, if you want your images to be of high quality and in high resolution on both print and the web, then a resolution of around 250-300 is recommended.
By understanding how to set the right dots per inch (DPI) in your Illustrator file and selecting the optimum value for various scenarios, you can ensure that your artwork looks sharp and professional no matter where it’s displayed.
Since Illustrator is created for you to create vector graphics, setting a DPI for your document affects the resolution of an image.
Other items in your artwork like text, shapes, objects, and paths are vectors and will not have the characteristics of a raster object. No matter how much you enlarge text or any vector object, you will not see any reduction in quality or resolution.
How to Set DPI in Illustrator
Setting the DPI in Adobe Illustrator is an important step when exporting artwork for print or the web. Here, you will learn to set DPI in a new document and to set DPI in Illustrator when exporting to a specific file type, such as PNG, JPEG, and SVG.
How to Set DPI In Illustrator for New Document
To set DPI in Illustrator, go to the top menu, then select File > New. In the New Document dialog box, go to Advanced Options and select High (300 PPI) in the Raster Images drop-down menu. Click the Create button.
Here are the detailed steps:
Step 1: Open New Document Preset details
First, start a new document by going to File, then select New in the top menu bar. Or select File > New.
In the New Document dialog box, go to the Preset Details column and select the arrow pointing down next to Advanced Options. A set of drop-down options appear.
Step 2: Set Your Preferred DPI
Under Raster Effects, select your preferred DPI (PPI)
The highest DPI you can select for a new document in Illustrator is 300 DPI. If you wish to change it to a higher value, for example, 600 DPI, you can do that at any point in time by changing it in the Document Raster Effects Settings.
How to Set DPI In Illustrator When Exporting Your File
To set DPI in Illustrator when exporting your file, here are the steps:
Steps to Set DPI When Exporting File as JPEG
Open your artwork in Adobe Illustrator.
Select File > Export As.
In the Export dialog box, key in your file name in the Save As: field, then, select JPEG (jpg) in the Format: drop-down box. Once you’ve selected the folder you’d like to save your file, click the Export button.
In the JPEG Options box that opens up, look for the Resolution field, found in the Options section.
Select your desired DPI value in the drop-down menu.
Or select Other and enter your custom DPI value into the field. Then, click the OK button to save your file to the specified resolution.
Steps to Set DPI When Exporting File as PNG
Open your artwork in Adobe Illustrator.
Select File > Export As.
In the Export dialog box, key in your file name in the Save As: field, then, select PNG in the Format: drop-down box. Once you’ve selected the folder you’d like to save your file, click the Export button.
In the PNG Options box that opens up, look for the Resolution field, found in the Options section.
Select your desired DPI value in the drop-down menu. Or select Other and enter your custom DPI value into the field. Then, click the OK button to save your file to the specified resolution.
Steps to Set DPI When Exporting File as PSD
Open your artwork in Adobe Illustrator.
Select File > Export As.
In the Export dialog box, key in your file name in the Save As: field, then, select Photoshop (PSD) in the Format: drop-down box. Once you’ve selected the folder you’d like to save your file, click the Export button.
In the Photoshop Options box that opens up, look for the Resolution field, found in the Options section. Select your desired DPI value in the drop-down menu.
Or select Other and enter your custom DPI value into the field. Then, click the OK button to save your file to the specified resolution.
Tips for selecting the optimal DPI for different scenarios
When selecting the optimal dots per inch (DPI) for your artwork, it is important to consider the desired output. For printing, higher DPI values are preferable since they ensure a sharper image with more detail and color depth. Generally, an image should be set at 300 DPI for standard printing purposes.
On the other hand, for web-based applications such as digital display ads or web banners, 72 DPI is considered acceptable. This is because lower-resolution images load faster on web pages while maintaining adequate sharpness and clarity.
In addition, there are certain factors to consider when selecting an appropriate DPI, depending on the type of media being used. For instance, if you are creating an image that will be viewed on a smartphone or tablet device, it should be set at a resolution of 72 to 100 DPI for optimal viewing quality.
If you are producing artwork for large format printing, such as billboards or posters, then a resolution of 250–300 DPI or up to 600 DPI may be required to ensure full graphic fidelity when printed at larger scale sizes.
In addition, if you need to resize an image, increasing the number of pixels by increasing the DPI instead of enlarging an image by scaling can help maintain image quality and sharpness when resizing large images for print.
Finally, it is also important to keep in mind that different file formats support different resolutions and density levels.
For example, vector graphics can typically be printed at a much higher resolution than rasterized images due to their scalable nature and ability to maintain sharp edges without pixelation.
Therefore, before exporting your artwork to print or publish on the web, it is highly recommended that you check the document’s settings before saving your file.
This makes sure that the desired output elements can be achieved efficiently and accurately.
FAQ on Setting DPI In Illustrator
How do I change to 300 DPI In Illustrator?
You can change your current DPI by going to the top menu bar. Select Effects > Document Raster Effects Settings. In the Resolution section, click on the arrow pointing down. Select 300 DPI from the given options.
How do I change 300 DPI to 600 DPI in Illustrator?
Select Effects > Document Raster Effects Settings. In the Resolution section, click on the arrow pointing down. Select Other from the drop-down options. Then type in 600 DPI in the field. Click the OK button.
How do I find the DPI In Illustrator?
You can find the DPI in Illustrator by going to the top menu bar. Select Window > Document Info. The Document Info window opens up and you will see the document information. To see the resolution of the embedded images, select the menu with the three lines in the top right-hand corner. Select Embedded Images and the Document Information Window will reflect the DPI of the images in Illustrator.
What DPI Should I use for Illustrator?
Illustrator uses PPI instead of DPI, but their values do correspond to the same thing. The appropriate DPI for your project will depend on whether you are working with print or digital projects.
DPI for High-Quality Prints
For high-quality prints, such as professional photographs or fine art prints, it is recommended to use a DPI of at least 300. This ensures that the printed image has excellent detail and clarity.
DPI for Everyday Prints
For everyday prints, such as brochures, posters, or flyers, a DPI of 150 to 300 is usually sufficient. Keep in mind that the specific requirements may vary depending on the printer and the type of paper used.
DPI for Web Graphics
For web graphics, a DPI of 72 is typically used, as most standard displays have a resolution of 72 PPI. However, with the increasing prevalence of high-resolution displays, you might want to consider higher DPI values to ensure crisp images on all devices.
DPI for Retina Displays
Retina displays, such as those found on Apple devices, have a higher pixel density than standard displays. To ensure that your graphics look sharp on these devices, you should create your images at 2x or even 3x the standard resolution, resulting in a DPI of 144 or 216, respectively.
Final Thoughts on Setting DPI in Illustrator
Dots per inch (DPI) is an important setting to consider when exporting artwork for print and the web. Setting the right DPI in Adobe Illustrator can make a big difference in how your images look on different devices or media formats.
Ultimately, by understanding what DPI is and why it matters, you will be able to confidently adjust this setting whenever necessary.
With these guidelines and resources at your fingertips, you’ll be well-equipped to produce high-quality digital art that looks great no matter where it’s viewed.
Whether you’re printing business cards or designing digital marketing materials, always remember: “It’s all about the dots!”
