
We can work out the dpi value with this formulaĭpi =(int)(imageWidth/GraphicsStateValue*100) Imagine we have an image which is 585×585 pixels.
FIND DPI OF PDF PDF
We saw a very large PDF file with raw images of 26,000 x 26,000 pixels which is rather excessive!Ĭombining the raw image size and the CTM does actually allow you to work out the image quality to decide how well the PDF file will scale and fit. If the raw image is bigger than the ‘slot’ you can zoom into the page and print it at high resolution. What you actually have with a PDF file is a raw image and a ‘scaling’ command to fit it into a slot on the page (the CTM matrix). Printing benefits from better images but this means bigger files. That is why most PDF creation tools allow you to specify whether you are producing files for screen or printing. The better quality, the bigger it (and the PDF) will be. This happens when the image is of a low resolution. If the image is too small, it will be stretched and the pixels will become blocky. If the image is stretched it can appear pixellated. This means that they will always appear ‘smooth and clear’. Most elements of a PDF file are device independent Vector graphics.

Understanding the PDF file format – PDF image dpi He has an MA in Medieval History and a passion for reading. Notes by Dr.Mark Stephens Mark has been working with Java and PDF since 1999 and is a big NetBeans fan.This threshold seems to vary depending on the source, but here are a few good articles if you’re interested: Secondly, our eyes cannot discern the difference between pixel densities above a certain threshold. In the print world, that’s why posters are printed at a much lower dpi than magazines. This is why large screens can get away with considerably lower pixel densities. The large screen will appear more crisp, as it’s typically viewed from a longer distance. Therefore, if a cell phone and a large screen have the same pixel density, :-) Higher DPI = Crisper graphics?ĭPI/PPI is a crucial metric for getting an idea of how crisp a display really is, but it’s only one factor among many.īesides the technical ones (which would need an entire book), there are also those that depend on human nature.įirstly, viewing distance can affect the perceived pixel size.

So I wanted to help people decide what to get with the actual numbers at hand, through an easy to use web app. I got fed up with marketing speak and buzzwords often used to create the impression that a display is much better than it actually is, That’s why vector-based or high-res bitmap graphics usually look more crisp when printed. In general, good quality printing uses around 300dpi which is higher than most displays.

The concept of DPI is also used in printing, although the dots and their formation isĭifferent there. The higher the number, the smaller the size of the pixels, so graphicsĪre perceived as more crisp and less pixelated. In the context of screens, DPI (Dots Per Inch) or PPI (Pixels Per Inch) refer to the number of device pixels per inch, also called “pixel density”. In more recent terminology, DPI is often used for the actual device pixels and Dots Per Pixel (dppx) for the amount of device pixels per CSS pixel (e.g. If you are interested, you can read more on this in the Wikipedia article about Pixel Density. In general PPI is a bit more correct but DPI is more commonplace, hence its usage on this site (also ppi.lv wasn’t available :P). Help this list expand: Click here to edit and send edit suggestions FAQ “It’s actually PPI, not DPI!”
