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Why Does My Photo Look Pixelated When Printed?

Common causes of soft or pixelated prints.

Usually there are not enough pixels for the chosen size — not a “wrong” DPI tag. Screen sharpness says little about print sharpness.

How to check your image

Note width and height in pixels, choose a target DPI, and compute inches = pixels ÷ DPI. If the print is larger than that at your quality target, expect softness.

Upscaling limits

Software can invent pixels, but it cannot recover lost optical detail. Smaller prints or greater viewing distance are the reliable fixes.

FAQ

Can I just change 72 DPI to 300 DPI?

Changing the metadata number does not add detail. You need more pixels or a smaller print to increase effective resolution.

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