How to Edit Photos for Print

Why Screen Photos Look Different When Printed

A photo that looks perfect on your phone or monitor can print poorly for several reasons. Screens display images at 72-96 pixels per inch (PPI), while printers need 300 dots per inch (DPI) for sharp output. This means an image that fills your phone screen might only print clearly at 2x3 inches. Colors also shift because screens use RGB light while printers use CMYK ink. Bright blues and vivid greens on screen often print darker and more muted. Understanding these differences before you edit saves you from wasting paper and ink on test prints.

Resolution Requirements for Common Print Sizes

At 300 DPI, each print size requires a minimum pixel count. A 4x6 print needs 1200x1800 pixels. A 5x7 needs 1500x2100 pixels. An 8x10 needs 2400x3000 pixels. An 11x14 needs 3300x4200 pixels. A 16x20 poster needs 4800x6000 pixels. Most modern phone cameras (12MP+) produce images large enough for prints up to 8x10. For larger prints, or for older or cropped photos, you'll need to upscale. Upload your image to EditThisPic and ask to 'upscale this image for 8x10 printing at 300 DPI.' The AI increases resolution while preserving detail.

Cropping to Standard Print Sizes

Phone photos are typically 4:3 or 3:2 ratio, but standard print sizes use different ratios. A 4x6 is 2:3, an 8x10 is 4:5, and a 5x7 is 5:7. If you send an uncropped photo to a printer, they'll auto-crop it and may cut off heads or important edges. Crop before printing to control exactly what's included. Upload to EditThisPic and specify: 'crop this photo to 4x6 print ratio, keeping the faces centered' or 'crop to 8x10 ratio with the building centered.' The AI crops intelligently, preserving the key subject.

Adjusting Color and Brightness for Print

Photos typically need to be slightly brighter and more saturated for print than they appear on screen, because ink on paper absorbs light rather than emitting it. Shadows that look detailed on a monitor may print as solid black. Subtle highlights may wash out on paper. Before printing, brighten your image slightly and increase contrast. In EditThisPic, describe: 'brighten this image by 10-15% and increase the contrast slightly for printing.' For photos with important shadow detail, add: 'lift the shadows so dark areas retain detail.' This compensates for the natural darkening that occurs in print.

Sharpening Photos for Crisp Printed Output

Print requires more sharpening than screen display because the printing process inherently softens images. Inkjet printers spread tiny dots of ink that slightly overlap, and the paper absorbs ink differently than a screen displays pixels. A photo that looks perfectly sharp on your monitor may look slightly soft on paper. Upload your image to EditThisPic and describe: 'sharpen this photo for printing' or 'enhance the details and increase sharpness.' Apply sharpening after all other edits, as resizing and color adjustments can reduce sharpness.

Quick Reference: Print Sizes and Minimum Pixels

• 4x6 inches (standard photo): 1200 x 1800 pixels minimum at 300 DPI
• 5x7 inches (greeting card): 1500 x 2100 pixels minimum at 300 DPI
• 8x10 inches (portrait): 2400 x 3000 pixels minimum at 300 DPI
• 11x14 inches (wall art): 3300 x 4200 pixels minimum at 300 DPI
• 16x20 inches (poster): 4800 x 6000 pixels minimum at 300 DPI
• 24x36 inches (large poster): 7200 x 10800 pixels at 300 DPI, or 3600 x 5400 at 150 DPI for viewing distance