In this article, we will go over optimal print resolutions for your exported images as well as go over common print aspect ratios and how that affects image cropping 😄

If you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out to our team! We're here and happy to help 😄

For all sizes, our Partner Print Labs (WHCC, Miller's & MPIX) recommend a 300dpi for the best results. While you can get away with a slightly lower DPI, you may see a reduction in quality, which can be especially noticeable with larger prints.

So to get the proper resolution, take the length and width (in inches) of the largest print you want to offer and multiply each of those by 300 to get the optimal resolution.

Here's a breakdown of some of our most popular sizes and their optimal resolution:

Aspect Ratio is the proportional relationship or ratio of an image's width and height. Aspect ratios are typically displayed as two numbers separated by a colon symbol and indicate the width and height of an image, for example, 1:1 or 5:7. In the photography world, aspect ratio directly affects photography prints if the wrong print size is ordered. Imagine a rectangle image is printed on a square canvas… some parts of the rectangle image will have to be cropped.

Most cameras default to photographing in a 2:3 ratio based on the ratio created by 35mm film becoming the industry standard. Chances are good, if you are delivering images to clients and have not changed the crop aspect ratio in your camera or post-processing, your images will be found in a 2:3 ratio.

These are common print size aspect ratios that you may recognize as being the ratio of some of the most popular print sizes— 5x7 inch and 8x10 inch prints. Keep in mind these common print ratios often differ from the ratios that are “standard” in-camera and will most likely require image cropping to achieve the aspect ratio.

This is a common aspect ratio for social media and print where the length and the width are equal to each other. This aspect ratio of 1:1 will be a perfect square.

Here's an example of how aspect ratio affects the cropping of an image. You'll notice that the tighter an image is, the wider the aspect ratio you will need. If you leave more space around your subject, you have more flexibility when it comes to print sizes.

Here are common sizes available in different aspect ratios:

If you have any questions or need additional help, feel free to contact us in the chat bubble in the lower right-hand corner of your dashboard. We're always happy to help!