Short answer: Your image resolution depends on your photo and the print size. We recommend at least 30 pixels per cm². For detailed images, 60 pixels per cm² or more is ideal. What really matters is the total pixel dimensions (width × height), not the file size in MB.
Why does resolution depend on the image? Not every photo needs the same level of detail to look great in print.
Images with soft details or smooth areas
For example: sky, sunsets, blurry backgrounds, abstract designs
→ Around 30 px/cm² is usually enough.
Images with lots of fine details or sharp edges
For example: nature shots with leaves or grass, architecture, text, logos, group photos
→ We recommend the highest resolution possible, ideally 60 px/cm² or more.
As a rule of thumb: the more detailed the image, the higher the resolution should be.
Important: High resolution doesn’t always mean sharp
Even a high-resolution image can look blurry if it was:
- Taken while moving
- Shaky (camera shake)
- Slightly out of focus
Quick check: Open your image on your screen and zoom in on important details. If it already looks blurry there, it may not print sharp, especially in larger sizes.
File size (MB) or resolution – what’s more important? File size (MB or KB) doesn’t say much about print quality.
What counts is the pixel dimensions of your original file (width × height).
On a PC, you can check this by: Right-click the file → Properties → Details → Dimensions
Quality check in the Product Designer: After uploading your image, the Product Designer shows a quality indicator above your photo:
🟢 Green = excellent quality
🔴 Red = low quality
You can also use our “Optimize Resolution” tool, which uses AI to enhance your image resolution for your selected print size. Learn more in our article: “How does Optimize Resolution work?”
Quick summary
- Minimum recommendation: about 30 px/cm²
- For detailed images: ideally 60 px/cm² or higher
- Resolution is not the same as sharpness
- Pixel dimensions matter, not file size
- Final quality check is shown in the Product Designer
If you’re unsure whether your photo is sharp enough or high enough resolution for your desired size, please contact our customer service team before placing your order. Once your order is submitted, we can’t make changes to the image or format.