Q:
What is resolution and how do I set it?
A:
What it is
Resolution is a term used to describe the quality of a digital image, which is measured in DPI (dots/pixels per inch). This parameter is exclusive to raster bitmap applications such as Photoshop, GIMP or Photopaint.
How to set it
Nearly every image-editing program has an “Image” menu, under which you will find an “Image Size” option. That is where you set the resolution.
The DPI you choose depends on the type of printing application you are working with, but a general rule of thumb is to have at least 300 dpi for photos and 400dpi for text and/or logos.
Make sure that you do not forget to set the physical size of your file to the desired dimensions. A 400dpi image that is half an inch wide will not do you much good.
Words of Caution
- JPEGS andother images downloaded from websites are often not fit for print. They are compressed and optimized for screen use and tend to print very badly.
- You cannot simply add resolution to a poor quality image. It must be scanned or shot at a decent resolution to begin with.
Carefree Zone
Illustrator, Freehand and Corel are vector programs and resolution-independent. You usually do not have to worry about setting the right DPI, unless you plan to import a bitmapped image into one of these programs.
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