What resolution should I use?
Written by Clare Alviola
Updated at October 10th, 2025
Table of Contents
To make sure your yearbook prints with crisp, clear, and professional-quality photos, all images must meet the minimum resolution requirements.
Low-resolution images can appear blurry, pixelated, or grainy once printed, even if they look fine on your computer screen.
Recommended Image Resolution
| Type of Image | Minimum Resolution | Recommended Resolution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait Photos | 300 DPI | 300 DPI | Headshots and individual photos |
| Candid / Group Photos | 200 DPI | 300 DPI | Avoid zooming in or cropping too much |
| Backgrounds / Full Page Images | 300 DPI | 300 DPI | Ensure large enough file size for full-page printing |
| Logos / Graphics | Vector format (SVG, EPS, AI) or 300 DPI PNG | 300 DPI | Avoid screenshots of logos |
✅ Best Practice: Always aim for 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the final print size.
How to Check Image Resolution
On Windows:
Right-click the photo → Properties → Details tab.
Look for Horizontal Resolution and Vertical Resolution.
Both should be 300 dpi or higher.
On Mac:
Open the image in Preview.
Go to Tools → Show Inspector (⌘ + I) → More Info → General or Image.
Check the DPI value.
In Canva or Design Software:
Canva does not display DPI directly, but export in PDF Print automatically uses 300 DPI.
In Photoshop, InDesign, or Affinity — check Image Size or Document Settings for DPI.