How can I succintly explain the difference between print and web resolution?
If it’s a photo I usually say something like the photo in the file is X dots/pixels wide and the dots on the printed page are much closer together. e.g. If you’re printing at 150 dpi and the image is 300 pixels wide, give them these numbers and say the photo will work if it’s printed 2 inches wide but any larger and you’ll need a higher resolution. If it’s a line drawing or something that would work best in a vector format, my first approach is to ask the client to go back to their own graphics person for a vector format file, as this is required for print. Unless/until this approach fails I would try to avoid much explanation (unless, of course, the explainee is eager to learn). Besides, if this approach fails, it’s unlikely that a vector format file will be found in any case. I once made the mistake of asking for the logo (needed for a poster-size printout) as an EPS (instead of saying “vector”) rather than the 50-pixel wide jpeg that had been provided. What I got back was the result
The only way to explain this is with a square tray and various concentrations of bouncy balls, I posit. Even with fairly computer-literate people, it’s a big concept to get their head around. Generally, what they need to know to make your job bearable is: – Ask for high-resolution images up-front – Get them to load images in a web browser (logos should be as big as a playing card, pictures of people should fill the screen) What you can do to help: – Know how to get public domain replacement images easily – Go over the actual printing details first-thing before making them any design proofs…..it’s much easier to structure preprints and such from the beginning than to try to retrofit them in.
Don’t try to explain 72 dpi vs. 300 dpi being the difference between web and print. DPI is irrelevant on the web. All that matters is the overall size in pixels. You can save a 300 x 300 image in Photoshop at 20 dpi or 400 dpi and it’ll still be the same size and clarity on the web but only one will print well. In print, color information is transfered into dots but the size is fixed. A screen’s resolution will determine the size of an image. 72 dpi is an arbitrary number with a history that I won’t explain here. Yeah, that probably doesn’t help. It is an uphill battle.
