Resolution is the amount of dots or pixels that make up an image. It is traditionally measured in DPI (Dots Per Inch) it is now mostly referred to as PPI (Pixels Per Inch).

Resolution is quite important, as the wrong resolution in the wrong circumstances can look terrible.

For web images, for instance, the resolution for the same size image on the screen should be 72PPI, and images must be pixel perfect and the right size in order to line up correctly. If the resolution is too high, the images will be too big and it can break the page layout.

For photos in print it is advised that the resolution is a minimum of 300DPI, as this is broken down with a ‘screen’ (a pattern of dots to simulate the photograph), take a look at a magazine photo under a magnifying glass and you will see what I mean. When the resolution is too low it will look fuzzy and will have that telltale stepping or look ‘jaggy’.

For solid areas in print like black type and black panels, the resolution should be much higher, as there is no screen and we want to avoid jaggy edges or broken text.

When supplying flattened artwork I will tend to compromise and generally artwork at 300DPI, but wherever possible I will produce PDF/X artwork that overcomes this issue. In print, it doesn’t hurt to overdo resolution and the results are always pin-sharp