We need a 300dpi photo…

All right, grasshoppers, print this out because it’s going to save you all kinds of time and trouble. Oh, and money. How many times have you been asked to send in a photo, “300dpi” or better… Thus leading you on a hunt to a) figure out what 300 dpi is, whether or not your photos possess this elusive quality (probably not; right-click and select Properties and you’ll see) and c) how to get your hands on one without bugging your publisher’s PR rep yet again….Sea Chaser

People will tell you that you have to have “Photoshop,” an expensive RAM-hog program, in order to edit your digital photos. You don’t. You just need to go to www.irfanview.com and download their swift little free program. To convert a shot to 300dpi, right-click the photo. Select “Open With” and then select Irfanview. On the menu bar, select Image–>Resize/Resample and in the box that comes up, change the DPI to 300. You might also want to reduce the size in pixels, too. Et voila! Your photo is ready for print.

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0 Responses

  1. Sounds simple enough.

    Just curious though. . .this is probably a silyy question.

    Ah, do the pixels go in size by small, medium and large
    Or, is there a exact percentage you have to enter in order
    to reduce them.

  2. Sounds simple enough.
    Just curious though. . .this is probably a silyy question.
    Ah, do the pixels go in size by small, medium and large
    Or, is there a exact percentage you have to enter in order
    to reduce them.

  3. Terri, I think they adjust automatically. The resize/resample option brings up a dialogue box that has lots of options to click. It’s pretty handy and user-friendly.

  4. Terri, I think they adjust automatically. The resize/resample option brings up a dialogue box that has lots of options to click. It’s pretty handy and user-friendly.

  5. Ifranview has been my only photo maniputlatioon tool for 3-4 years. I find that it does everything I have asked it to do.

    It is one of those rare programs that works better than I expected it too …and you can’t beat the price!

  6. Ifranview has been my only photo maniputlatioon tool for 3-4 years. I find that it does everything I have asked it to do.
    It is one of those rare programs that works better than I expected it too …and you can’t beat the price!

  7. You do need to qualify that IrfanView is a Windows-oriented application. This is not a problem with those who have Macs that are now Intel-based, but they still have to have XP or Vista to use it. FYI and to cut to the chase for those of us interested in the basic requirements…

  8. You do need to qualify that IrfanView is a Windows-oriented application. This is not a problem with those who have Macs that are now Intel-based, but they still have to have XP or Vista to use it. FYI and to cut to the chase for those of us interested in the basic requirements…

  9. Well, this is a perfect time to print this. I have heard of this on and off in the last few years and never seem to know what/how to do it. It’s worth printing and putting in my “I don’t know what to do with this” file! Now, it will just be a matter of finding this paper when I need it.

    ThAnKs for sharing!

  10. Well, this is a perfect time to print this. I have heard of this on and off in the last few years and never seem to know what/how to do it. It’s worth printing and putting in my “I don’t know what to do with this” file! Now, it will just be a matter of finding this paper when I need it.
    ThAnKs for sharing!

  11. Thanks for this excellent post. I was entering an amateur photography contest and did a Google search for “300dpi”; I’m so amateur I didn’t even know what that meant! It saved me a lot of time & headache, I’m sure. It was much appreciated, over a year from its original post date.

    Thanks again,

    Ami

  12. Thanks for this excellent post. I was entering an amateur photography contest and did a Google search for “300dpi”; I’m so amateur I didn’t even know what that meant! It saved me a lot of time & headache, I’m sure. It was much appreciated, over a year from its original post date.
    Thanks again,
    Ami

  13. You have saved my life. Well, maybe that’s a little melodramatic, but I’ve got a submission deadline and was freaking out about this 300 dpi thing… also found you through Google… thank you so much!!

  14. You have saved my life. Well, maybe that’s a little melodramatic, but I’ve got a submission deadline and was freaking out about this 300 dpi thing… also found you through Google… thank you so much!!

  15. hi there

    My name is danny, i have a 3d render from a presentaion , which i need in 300 dpi, to print leaflets can this be done with this software

    all i have is the video screen shot can this be done ?

    thank you for yoru time

    danny

  16. hi there
    My name is danny, i have a 3d render from a presentaion , which i need in 300 dpi, to print leaflets can this be done with this software
    all i have is the video screen shot can this be done ?
    thank you for yoru time
    danny

  17. Here again another Mac- artist person- that is asked to “send in photos in 300 dpi format”. I use a Mac OS X (Year old ) I need suggestions please, and thank you for your website.
    Ellie

  18. Here again another Mac- artist person- that is asked to “send in photos in 300 dpi format”. I use a Mac OS X (Year old ) I need suggestions please, and thank you for your website.
    Ellie

  19. Thank you so much! I had to resize a photo for my dad to be put in magazines all over the place and I was stressing about 300dpi as well. Found you through google and your help was much appreciated! (=

  20. Thank you so much! I had to resize a photo for my dad to be put in magazines all over the place and I was stressing about 300dpi as well. Found you through google and your help was much appreciated! (=

  21. Do they have this program for MACs??? If not can n e one recommend a similar Program for a mac? I need to convert low res to high res.

  22. Do they have this program for MACs??? If not can n e one recommend a similar Program for a mac? I need to convert low res to high res.

  23. Thanks so much, same as everyone else here….googled and found your tip….thanks alot….once I downloaded the program it was easy to change the DPI….

  24. Thanks so much, same as everyone else here….googled and found your tip….thanks alot….once I downloaded the program it was easy to change the DPI….

  25. thank you so much, I was suddenly asked by a magazine to send them few photos in 300dpi and I did a Google, saw your post as the first search result. Got my answers instantly. Thank you again! – Adi (www.perfios.com)

  26. thank you so much, I was suddenly asked by a magazine to send them few photos in 300dpi and I did a Google, saw your post as the first search result. Got my answers instantly. Thank you again! – Adi (www.perfios.com)

  27. Im confused about the pixel bit. and how many mega pixels should ur camera have if u wanna print it huuuge like billboard size, in 300dpi

    i have a deadline and would appriciate help from any1

    1. contact the billboard company you are leasing the space from; they should be able to guide you along… if not look up some of the other b.b. company’s and ask what you need there…

  28. Im confused about the pixel bit. and how many mega pixels should ur camera have if u wanna print it huuuge like billboard size, in 300dpi
    i have a deadline and would appriciate help from any1

    1. contact the billboard company you are leasing the space from; they should be able to guide you along… if not look up some of the other b.b. company’s and ask what you need there…

  29. Thanks for this – I am a digital newbie and needed this information quickly. Your post made the most sense and was the most useful. Thanks for the software tip, too!

  30. Thanks for this – I am a digital newbie and needed this information quickly. Your post made the most sense and was the most useful. Thanks for the software tip, too!

  31. I missed several opportunities to have my products in major magazines because I didn’t have 300dpi photos available. This is wonderful. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  32. I missed several opportunities to have my products in major magazines because I didn’t have 300dpi photos available. This is wonderful. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  33. i was up alnight trying to get an ad created before deadline, just to find out the next morning the file was not large enough to print. they gave me one more day to get this done. frantic, i goopled 300 dpi and came across your site. i downloaded this file and IT WORKED!!! now i’m good to go and my ad is going to look great. i do not usually leave feedback, but this was sooo important. thank you so much, terry b

  34. i was up alnight trying to get an ad created before deadline, just to find out the next morning the file was not large enough to print. they gave me one more day to get this done. frantic, i goopled 300 dpi and came across your site. i downloaded this file and IT WORKED!!! now i’m good to go and my ad is going to look great. i do not usually leave feedback, but this was sooo important. thank you so much, terry b

  35. Hi Susan,
    Thank you for a concise helpful post on a topic that has for far too long been a bugbear of mine!
    I noticed that irfanview is a windows only programme which is fine. However I would like to know if there is a similar application for us linux/mac users?

    Kind regards, Andy

    P.S. I enjoyed looking at the photo you have chosen to illustrate the item.

  36. Hi Susan,
    Thank you for a concise helpful post on a topic that has for far too long been a bugbear of mine!
    I noticed that irfanview is a windows only programme which is fine. However I would like to know if there is a similar application for us linux/mac users?
    Kind regards, Andy
    P.S. I enjoyed looking at the photo you have chosen to illustrate the item.

  37. Thanks a Million for this invaluable information! I needed to convert my product photos to 300 dpi, for inclusion in the May 2011 issue of Inventors Digest Magazine. This post was GREAT help!

  38. Thanks a Million for this invaluable information! I needed to convert my product photos to 300 dpi, for inclusion in the May 2011 issue of Inventors Digest Magazine. This post was GREAT help!

  39. Susan,

    YOU ARE A LIFESAVER!!! Working on a book for which I thought about 100 photos were unusable because the publishing house said what I had was too small. You have no idea how happy I am. Thank you SO much for taking the time to write about this. I will pay it forward and pass this along.

    Thank you again and best wishes in your endeavors!

    P.S. Your name should be prominently on this site, no? It took me a while to figure out whose site this was! 🙂

  40. Susan,
    YOU ARE A LIFESAVER!!! Working on a book for which I thought about 100 photos were unusable because the publishing house said what I had was too small. You have no idea how happy I am. Thank you SO much for taking the time to write about this. I will pay it forward and pass this along.
    Thank you again and best wishes in your endeavors!
    P.S. Your name should be prominently on this site, no? It took me a while to figure out whose site this was! 🙂

  41. yay!! thank you so much for this! i was major confused when asked to remit my picture at 300 dpi, and even though i still don’t fully understand it, lol, at least i can just resize the picture to the size that they want. =)

  42. yay!! thank you so much for this! i was major confused when asked to remit my picture at 300 dpi, and even though i still don’t fully understand it, lol, at least i can just resize the picture to the size that they want. =)

  43. This is just the information I was looking for!! After searching through so called ‘techy sites’ and not finding any easy to understand info or an easy way of doing this (for someone who doesn’t have photoshop), I found your post. Interestingly, I’m reading one of your books right now! Thanks Susan 🙂

  44. This is just the information I was looking for!! After searching through so called ‘techy sites’ and not finding any easy to understand info or an easy way of doing this (for someone who doesn’t have photoshop), I found your post. Interestingly, I’m reading one of your books right now! Thanks Susan 🙂

  45. Wow by a slim chance, nearly giving up already, I “stumbled” across your site. Needed 300dpi photos for travel catalogues and am under time constraint. Thank you and cannot stop looking at your site with all other interesting comments etc.
    Ida from Namibia

  46. Wow by a slim chance, nearly giving up already, I “stumbled” across your site. Needed 300dpi photos for travel catalogues and am under time constraint. Thank you and cannot stop looking at your site with all other interesting comments etc.
    Ida from Namibia

  47. Thank you Susan for sharing this information. I too found you on Google. After I read the useful post, I looked at the rest of the site and realized that I recognized your name because I have two of your books in my soon to read pile :).

  48. Thank you Susan for sharing this information. I too found you on Google. After I read the useful post, I looked at the rest of the site and realized that I recognized your name because I have two of your books in my soon to read pile :).

  49. Thanks Susan that was very helpful. Most digital pictures have the pixels sized for a comparative of 72 DPI in print. So, going from a large pixel picture to a book size photo is a matter of compression. My question is how to get an 8 Meg picture of a painting of 24in x 48in to print at 300 DPI in the same as the paining?

    1. to downsize you will usually increast your dpi which is good… the higher your dpi the clearer the quality… (you can also have too much, which is kinda the same as zooming in…. all products are different. if you want it to hang on your wall, i would suggest going to costco (or your fav pic printing place) they will help you set to the correct dpi for what you are trying to accomplish (usually no charge)

  50. Thanks Susan that was very helpful. Most digital pictures have the pixels sized for a comparative of 72 DPI in print. So, going from a large pixel picture to a book size photo is a matter of compression. My question is how to get an 8 Meg picture of a painting of 24in x 48in to print at 300 DPI in the same as the paining?

    1. to downsize you will usually increast your dpi which is good… the higher your dpi the clearer the quality… (you can also have too much, which is kinda the same as zooming in…. all products are different. if you want it to hang on your wall, i would suggest going to costco (or your fav pic printing place) they will help you set to the correct dpi for what you are trying to accomplish (usually no charge)

  51. Sorry to say it but using this technique is pretty much useless.
    You may have changed the resolution to 300dpi but by doing this you only lowered the quality of the picture. If you make a 72 dpi image 300 dpi and print it you will see the quality is very low.

  52. Sorry to say it but using this technique is pretty much useless.
    You may have changed the resolution to 300dpi but by doing this you only lowered the quality of the picture. If you make a 72 dpi image 300 dpi and print it you will see the quality is very low.

  53. Thank you SOOOO much for this. I had a Mac and was still able to use it after downloading another software called Winebottler. This really saved me, thanks against.

  54. Thank you SOOOO much for this. I had a Mac and was still able to use it after downloading another software called Winebottler. This really saved me, thanks against.

  55. its looking good, many thanks, however when you say “you might want to reduce the size in pixels too” – what does this mean and what do I reduce it to?

  56. its looking good, many thanks, however when you say “you might want to reduce the size in pixels too” – what does this mean and what do I reduce it to?

  57. thank you! it really helped. I entered the details, followed what you said and simply put me in a better spot in my job. So thanks a ton. 🙂

  58. thank you! it really helped. I entered the details, followed what you said and simply put me in a better spot in my job. So thanks a ton. 🙂

  59. Appreciating the commitment you put into your site and in depth information
    you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the
    same old rehashed material. Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  60. Appreciating the commitment you put into your site and in depth information
    you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the
    same old rehashed material. Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  61. I’m just going to give it a go…. many many thanks – I was just looking at Photoshop and it was going to be about £500!
    Thank you so much again – I will bookmark your site 🙂

  62. I’m just going to give it a go…. many many thanks – I was just looking at Photoshop and it was going to be about £500!
    Thank you so much again – I will bookmark your site 🙂

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  71. My pictures are 300 DPI, but when I e-mail them the recipient gets them at 72 DPI, I use Windows live mail using “original size” option to send pictures. Magazine requires 300 DPI. Help!!!. How do I avoid the resolution reduction?

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