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Achieving the right image resolution for poster printing is essential for generating top-quality, professional poster prints. However, because so many variables come into play, ranging from the size of your poster to the printing technology you're using, it can be challenging to gauge exactly which image resolution will give you the best results.

Through this guide, you will discover how to set the right image resolution for poster printing. We will help you understand the impact of image resolution for poster printing, the elements of poster printing that affect image resolution, and how image resolution can be adjusted to maximise your poster printing standards. In the end, you will have accumulated enough knowledge to confidently set up the best image resolution for all your future printing activities.

How Does Image Resolution Affect Print Quality?

If you've ever enlarged a digital image or photo to end up with print results that are blurred, pixelated, or otherwise distorted, you've likely experienced a problem with resolution. In a printed or digital image, colours and shapes are distributed in dots or pixels. Resolution is the measurement of how many dots or pixels fit into one inch. This is relayed as dots per inch (dpi) in a printed image or pixels per inch (ppi) in a digital image. When these building blocks become spaced too far apart, the image quality becomes distorted. You can avoid poor-quality prints by setting the right resolution on your large format printer.

High Image vs. Low Image Resolution

The Importance of Image Resolution When Printing Posters

Posters typically require images to be enlarged several times beyond the size of the original photo or drawing. When they're enlarged, the dots or pixels that make up these images are spread further apart. When the resolution is too low, the images will become blurred or distorted.

Common Printing Methods for Posters

Digital Printing

Offset Printing

How to Determine the Best Image Resolution for Posters

Using a high-quality printer is an important part of getting the resolution you're looking for in your finished poster. HP large format printers and plotters are widely known for producing professional results. Whether you're printing artistic posters or large advertisements, we can help you meet your printing needs. Contact HP Virtual Booth to explore our most popular printers.