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Printing images - what file size do you need?
A guide to required file sizes for printing on inkjet printers
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Image size Pixels
(Virtual Size of Scans)
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Mpixel
rating
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Print size (inches)
at 200ppi
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Print size (inches)
at 300ppi
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640 x 480
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0.3
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3.2 x 2.4
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2.1 x 1.6
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1,024 x 768
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0.8 |
5.1 x 3.8
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3.4 x 2.5
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1,280 x 960
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1.2 |
6.4 x 4.8
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4.2 x 3.2
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| 1,504 x 1,000 |
1.5 |
7.5 x 5.0 |
5.0 x 3.3 |
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1,632 x 1,224
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2.0 |
3.3 x 6.1 |
5.4 x 4.1 |
| 2,000 x 1,312 |
2.6 |
10.0 x 6.6 |
6.7 x 4.4 |
| 2,240 x 1,488 |
3.3 |
11.2 x 7.4 |
7.5 x 5.0 |
| 2,275 x 1,520 |
3.5 |
11.4 x 7.6 |
7.6 x 5.1 |
| 2,272 x 1,704 |
3.9 |
11.4 x 8.5 |
7.6 x 5.7 |
| 2,590 x 1,920 |
5.0 |
13.0 x 9.6 |
8.6 x 6.4 |
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3,008 x 2,000
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6.0 |
15.0 x 10.0
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10.0 x 6.7
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4,256 x 2,848
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12.1 |
21.3 x 14.2 |
14.2 x 9.5 |
| 4,536 x 3,024 |
13.7 |
22.7 x 15.1 |
15.1 x 10.1 |
| 5,782 x 3,946 |
22.8 |
28.9 x 19.7 |
19.3 x 13.2 |
Professional/online printing
Some professional services specify lower resolutions for image sizes, so you could get away with blowing up your images.
Kodak, for example, suggests these resolution/file sizes:
For a 4" x 6" print, the image resolution should be 640 x 480 pixels minimum.
For a 5" x 7" print, the image resolution should be 1024 x 768 pixels minimum.
For an 8" x 10" print, the image resolution should be 1536 x 1024 pixels minimum.
For a 16" x 20" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum.
For a 20" x 30" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum.
For a Wallet-size print, the image resolution should be 320 x 240 pixels minimum.
WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO PHOTO AGENCIES?
There's no hard and fast rules for stock library resolution requirements, but as a rough guide, you should be looking to get a dSLR camera 10MP and above (you might just get away with 8MP, or considerably less for web use only) and remember you'll need model release forms for people featured in your images.
Be sure to check the terms and conditions of the agency you're submitting your work to very carefully and think twice before signing off your very best photos.
Here's a useful guide from a stock library agency:  Alamy.com
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