Pixels needed per print size
Multiply inches by 300 for gallery quality, or by 150 for a print that is viewed from arm's length or further (posters, canvas). A 4× upscale multiplies both dimensions by four, so a 1200×1800 phone crop becomes 4800×7200, enough for a 16×24 at 300 DPI.
| Print size | 300 DPI (sharp) | 150 DPI (minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| 4×6 in | 1200×1800 | 600×900 |
| 5×7 in | 1500×2100 | 750×1050 |
| 8×10 in | 2400×3000 | 1200×1500 |
| 11×14 in | 3300×4200 | 1650×2100 |
| 16×20 in | 4800×6000 | 2400×3000 |
| 24×36 in | 7200×10800 | 3600×5400 |
Getting the best print from an upscale
Crop to the print's aspect ratio before upscaling, so every pixel the model produces ends up on paper. Keep the PNG the tool gives you; converting to JPEG for the lab is fine at quality 90 or higher. Print at the lab's native resolution rather than letting the kiosk resample again.
Upscaling recovers plausible detail, not the original detail. A 640×480 web image printed at 8×10 will look far better upscaled than stretched, but it will not match a photo that was 2400×3000 to begin with. Faces are the most sensitive area, and this model has no face-specific pass; for a large portrait from a small source, a dedicated face enhancer is worth paying for: Higgsfield Upscale in the cloud, or Topaz Gigapixel on the desktop.
Limits
Input up to about 6 megapixels on desktop (for example 3000×2000), which gives a 12000×8000 result, more than any consumer print needs. On phones the input limit is about 2 megapixels.
Questions, answered
What DPI do I need for a good print?
300 DPI is the standard for sharp prints viewed up close. 150 DPI is acceptable for posters and canvas viewed from a distance. Multiply the print's inches by the DPI to get the pixel count you need.
Should I upscale before sending to the print lab?
Yes, if your image has fewer pixels than the table asks for. An AI upscale produces cleaner edges and texture than the lab's resampling, and doing it here keeps the photo on your device.
Is the output good enough for a 24×36 poster?
At 150 DPI a 24×36 needs 3600×5400 pixels, which a 4× upscale of a 900×1350 image provides. At 300 DPI it needs 7200×10800, so start from at least 1800×2700.
What if faces still look soft after upscaling?
This model has no face-specific pass, so a small, compressed portrait keeps some softness at 4×. For a large print from a small face, use a tool with a dedicated face enhancer: Higgsfield Upscale runs one in the cloud (paid; the image is uploaded there) and Topaz Gigapixel on the desktop (paid). higgsfield.ai
Curious what "AI upscaling" actually does? Read the plain-English guide, or go back to the upscaler.