Inches to Pixels Converter

PPI (Pixels Per Inch) and DPI (Dots Per Inch) are related but distinct terms:

While different, these terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, though technically incorrect.

The appropriate PPI setting depends on your specific project:

• Web design and on-screen display: 72-96 PPI
  • Most screens are optimized for these densities
  • Higher PPI won't improve on-screen appearance
  • Standard for websites, apps, and digital media
• Print design (basic): 150-200 PPI
  • Suitable for internal documents, drafts
  • Balances quality and file size
• Professional print: 300 PPI
  • Industry standard for high-quality printing
  • Required for magazines, brochures, photography
  • Ensures sharp text and detailed images
• Large format printing: 50-100 PPI
  • For banners, posters viewed from a distance
  • Lower PPI reduces large file sizes

This converter includes presets for these common PPI values for convenience.

Blurry printed images are often caused by insufficient resolution (too few pixels per inch):

1. Low PPI for print size: If your image has 72 PPI but you're printing it at 4x5 inches, it will appear blurry because it doesn't have enough pixels.
2. Enlarging images too much: Stretching a small image to a larger physical size reduces effective PPI.
3. Wrong conversion approach: Simply increasing PPI in software without adding pixels doesn't improve quality.

To fix this, create or resize your image to have sufficient pixels for your desired print size at 300 PPI before printing.

Screen sizes are typically measured diagonally in inches, while resolution is specified in pixels:

Higher PPI (like in the second example) means smaller pixels, resulting in sharper displays but potentially smaller on-screen elements without scaling.

This is why "Retina" or high-DPI displays appear sharper - they pack more pixels into the same physical space.

Precision requirements vary by application:

• Web design: 0-1 decimal places (pixels are whole units)
  • Browsers render whole pixels
  • Sub-pixel rendering handles fractions
• Graphic design: 1-2 decimal places
  • Allows for precise alignment
  • Maintains consistency across elements
• Print preparation: 2-3 decimal places
  • Critical for accurate physical dimensions
  • Ensures proper alignment in multi-page documents
• Technical specifications: 3-6 decimal places
  • For display manufacturing specifications
  • Required for precise engineering calculations

This converter defaults to 2 decimal places, which works well for most design and printing needs. You can adjust precision from 0 to 6 decimal places using the precision buttons.