DPI Explained: Why Dots Per Inch doesn't mean what you think it means!

[@BoorayPerry]

In case you are curious how I export my files, I tend to export at 3000 on the longest side. That means that a client can print an 8x10 at 300 DPI. If it's for the web I do it at 2048 on the longest side which is big enough for HD and Quad HD at full screen.

[@pollypowell3907]

As always, great explanation to where I can understand the concept. Thank you Booray. You and the podcast have been a real influence.

[@BoorayPerry]

Thank you! 📷😁

[@ronaldccastle]

I've never understood why the DPI is even part of the export form since it has nothing to do with how the file is handled by the process!! It just adds to the confusion you explained so well.

[@txheadshots]

I hear people all the time say things like “I sell digital images, but I make them 72 dpi so they can’t print them” All. The. Time. 🤦‍♂️

[@BoorayPerry]

LOL... it's 3000 on the long side but 72 DPi so....

[@tjhjr2]

Well done video and explanation. Enjoy your channel very much, you have been a main inspiration for learning and gear selection (Fuji X100V, ThinkTank bag, Q20 flash, etc. all good advice!) Having been in print production and design for over 30 years, I have always started the conversation on photos/bitmaps with clients by recommending 300 dpi at the FINAL size it needs to print (length or width or both). Since everything is digital now, old-school line screen measurements are irrelevant. Of course, I usually end up doing the work on their photos myself, lol. I've been doing photography for the last 2 years or so myself, thanks for the advice on how to export for photo prints. I hope to have photos good enough for others to purchase and enjoy. Keep up the great work!

[@BoorayPerry]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the encouragement. :)

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Just picked up a 16x20 print here in Orlando discussing this 😂

[@dave7870]

Great explanation. Such a common request from clients. However, I had always thought that digital images are comprised of pixels and measured pixels per inch (PPI) whereas analog prints are comprised of dots on paper and measured as dots per inch (DPI) Am I missing something here?

[@BoorayPerry]

You're not missing anything but nowadays the terms are often used both ways. As far as I know the way that a computer scales for DPI is to have one pixel for every dot. If you say you want an image at 300 DPI it will just divide the pixels by 300 and then show you the size of the image in inches or centimeters based on that calculation.

[@ridderus]

I always say, ppi is for photographers and dpi something for a printing company should take care of

[@jradamsjr]

Thanks! I needed that! 🤣

[@CWReace]

Ran into this earlier this year when a friend asked me to edit a photo of them needed for some contest submission. I asked how big, and they said 300 DPI. After some discussion, I got to the website of the relevant contest submission site, and sure enough, all it said was 300 DPI -- no indication of how big/small it should be. 🙄

[@JET-Photo]

So, if I had a 6000x4000 image exported at 300 dpi it actually didn’t print at 300 dpi, it actually printed at 167 dpi. But it still looked good, even up close. Essentially I should’ve had to up res the image to 10,800 on the long end to get a true 300 dpi on my 24x36 print. Right?

[@BoorayPerry]

That's correct but not necessary. When you are talking about large prints what's important is the relative DPI. In order to view a really large print you have to move it farther away from your eyes. When you do, the relative size of the print becomes smaller and the relative DPI becomes larger. This is how they're able to prrint billboards from regular sized images. The billboard may be 50 ft wide but from where you are standing when you look at it, it only takes up about as much space as a 4x6 image in your vision. You can hold up your hand and completely block it from your view.

[@michaeldesselle7589]

Thanks Booray; very helpful. Now, what is 12 inches to the foot?

[@BoorayPerry]

A ridiculous system of measurement that no one in the world uses except Americans. :)

[@mikescott8225]

I work with 10 graphic designers and I think two of them understand dpi. I can give them a 4000x6000 file, but if it's at 72 dpi instead of 300 dpi, I will get an email telling me that they need me to send the high-rez!

[@BoorayPerry]

Yes. lol

[@cmar6268]

Informative video. Thank you! However, a monitor’s measurement is along a diagonal. A 20 inch monitor is not 20 inches along the long side. It is 20 inches along the diagonal. It is something less along the long side.

[@BoorayPerry]

Yes, I know.

[@markcasebeer8273]

Funny Stuff! Well done...

[@BoorayPerry]

Thanks!😁

[@makiinen75]

it's such a fun to watch Your vids. :)

[@BoorayPerry]

Thanks! 😁

[@GaryHughesOfficial]

Another mystery solved!

[@MacbethStudio]

Thank you for putting this together. A succinct explanation.. I've been wondering how to convey this to clients and colleagues for years. If you see a spike in views, it's because I'm going to send it to everyone I know in the business. Great job, Booray!

[@BoorayPerry]

If you come up with something better let me know. I always want to explain to clients that "300 DPI" doesn't help me but I'm always afraid I will come across bad or embarrass them.

[@Pitti71]

Hey Perry, thank you so much for your hard work and your relentless will to make us understand the basics and the advance knowledge of fuji and photograhpy, and the patience and the kindness. If you decide to make a trip to europe, id be honoured to show you around Vienna & Austria. Keep the good work up -THANK YOU!!!

[@BoorayPerry]

That would be amazing! Thank you so much! Hey, let me ask you a question: I notice that sometimes I will have a client who will email or text me and call me "Perry." I used to think it was just a mistake but now I see it more often and I'm wondering: is that just a "European" thing? Is it common usage to call people by their last name instead of their first?

[@Pitti71]

@@BoorayPerry sorry, If I got your name wrong, I just tought the cartoonish logo and all booray would be like a nickname to the first name. Maybe your are right and it might be a European thing, unconsciously. In the german speaking regions there are two pop cultural references. One is perry rhodan a science - pulp- fiction hero that has been huge in the 80ies and perry mason a tv series lawyer - very popular also in italy. So sorry about that misunderstanding also because I’ve been a lot in the US and never met anybody called booray - (which has a nice ring to it btw) 😅😃

[@BoorayPerry]

@@Pitti71 Oh, no worries at all. It happens a lot which is why I asked. :) "Booray" is a Cajun name from Louisiana. It's French-Creole. :)

[@Steve_I_See]

Very useful summary. Thanks for sharing.