Choose the right photo resolution for printing.

A large file in megabytes is not necessarily a sharp picture. Pixel dimensions and the size of the print determine how much detail is available. Compression, camera movement and focus can reduce quality even when the pixel count is high.

Calculate pixels per inch

Divide the image width in pixels by the printed width in inches. A 1200-pixel-wide image printed at 10 cm gives about 305 pixels per inch (PPI). At 20 cm, it gives about 152 PPI. Around 300 PPI is often useful for closely viewed photos; 150 PPI may be acceptable for some projects. These are guidelines, not quality guarantees, and PPI is different from the printer's hardware DPI setting.

Use the original image

Choose the original photo rather than a screenshot or a copy compressed by a messaging app. Cropping leaves fewer pixels for the same print size. Avoid repeatedly saving a JPEG, as each lossy save can reduce detail. If an image exceeds the tool limits, resize it once while keeping the untouched original.

Transparent images and printed colors

PNG and WebP transparency is preserved during local processing and shows the paper underneath in the PDF. A normal home printer does not add white ink to colored paper. Screen colors can also differ from the print because of paper, ink and the printer color settings. Test a small print before making a full set.

Can a small image become a large poster?

Enlargement spreads the same pixels over more paper; it does not create new detail. A poster may look acceptable from a distance but pixelated up close. The tools warn when an image falls below 150 PPI at its chosen size. Try the multi-page poster maker, then print one representative sheet before the full poster.

For smaller projects, use the exact-size photo tool or arrange multiple photos on a sheet.