Poster production

Scientific Poster Resolution: DPI, PPI, and Placed Image Size

Evaluate images at their placed size, target practical 150–300 ppi output, and use vector artwork for crisp charts, logos, and diagrams.

By Hendri Susetyo (ArsyaVisual) · Published · Updated

Calculate resolution at placement

Pixel dimensions do not guarantee print quality. Divide pixel width by placed width in inches: 2400 pixels placed 12 inches wide yields 200 ppi. For many poster assets, 150–300 ppi is practical, subject to printer guidance and image type.

  • Check the largest placement.
  • Do not trust slide zoom.
  • Avoid web thumbnails.

Use vectors for line work

Charts, diagrams, and logos are often best as SVG or PDF because geometry scales without pixelation. Raster formats suit photographs, scans, and microscopy. Preserve originals and avoid repeated JPEG compression during revision.

  • Export plots from source.
  • Keep line weights visible.
  • Check font and transparency.

Proof problem areas

Inspect the PDF at high zoom for interpolation, blocks, missing lines, and substituted fonts, then print a 100 percent crop. More ppi cannot restore detail absent from the original, so replace weak sources rather than sharpening blindly.

  • Check labels separately.
  • Review thin rules.
  • Ask the printer before conversion.

A practical example

An 1800-pixel image placed six inches wide yields 300 ppi; stretched to eighteen inches it falls to 100 ppi. The file stays the same, but usable resolution changes.

Resolve mixed-quality figures before printing

Custom design can audit placed-image resolution, rebuild eligible charts as vectors, and prepare a print-ready PDF while preserving original assets.

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Sources and further reading