what resolution do you need to print ai art?
ppi, the 72 myth, where 300 comes from, and what to do if your file is too small.
ai images often come out at 1024 or 2048 px. that sounds like a lot. on a wall, it often isn't.
what ppi means
ppi is pixels per inch. it's how many pixels of your image land on each inch (2.54 cm) of paper. a 3000 px wide image printed 25 cm wide gives about 300 ppi. printed 100 cm wide, about 76.
72 ppi is only a label
most ai images say 72 ppi. that number does nothing. it's a note in the file. what counts is the pixels. before you send it, set the ppi to match your print size with resample off, so the lab doesn't guess.
where 300 comes from
300 ppi is the classic rule for prints you hold in your hand or look at up close. but big prints are seen from further away, so they need fewer pixels per inch. hp's large format guide puts it by viewing distance:
| seen from | ppi |
|---|---|
| under 60 cm, fine art up close | 200 to 300 |
| 1 to 1.5 m | 150 to 200 |
| 1.5 to 3 m, posters | 100 to 150 |
| 6 m and more, banners | 50 to 100 |
why it still depends for ai images
ai images can be soft even at full size. faces, hands and textures may fall apart before the pixel count does. a sharp 150 ppi beats a mushy 300.
if your file is too small
try a free upscaler like upscayl, or chainner if you like tinkering. then check it again. if it still looks off up close, go through what to look for, or email me.