How To Change the DPI in Photoshop

Aaron Donald October 20, 2022

If you want to print high-quality photos, DPI, or dots per inch, is one of the essential parameters to keep in mind. Optimizing DPI affects the clarity and quality of the photograph you’re printing.

If you want to learn how to change DPI in Photoshop, look no further. In this article, we’ll teach you how to do it in several ways and discuss what to keep in mind when working with DPI.

How to Change DPI in Photoshop Elements

Open the desired image in Photoshop.
Tap Image in the Photoshop Elements menu.
Tap Resize.
Tap Image size.
If you want to change the image size or resolution and change the number of pixels, mark the checkbox named Resample image. If you don’t want to change the number of pixels, leave the checkbox unmarked.
Enter the desired amount of DPI under Resolution.
Tap Ok.

Can I change the DPI in Photoshop Express?

Unfortunately, if you have the Photoshop Express app, you won’t be able to change the DPI. You can adjust the size of your image and select the preferred quality, but the app doesn’t let you change DPI.

How to Change DPI in Photoshop on an iPad

Open the desired image in Photoshop.
Tap the gear icon to open the Document properties tab.
Tap Image size.
Under Resolution, enter the desired amount of DPI.
Tap Ok.

How to Change DPI in Photoshop Without Changing the Size

Open the desired image in Photoshop.
Tap Image in the Photoshop menu.
Tap Resize.
Tap Image size.
Make sure that the Resample Image checkbox is unmarked.
Change the DPI under Resolution.
Tap Ok.

The image size and the number of pixels will remain the same, while the height and width of the image will change accordingly.

How to Change DPI During a Photoshop Export

Photoshop has various options for saving and exporting your images. Among others, you have the “Export as” option. It’s important to note that Adobe made the default resolution for exporting 72 DPI. If you change the resolution of an image to 300 DPI and press “Export as” to save it, the resolution will automatically change to 72 DPI. This happens because the “Export as” option removes the metadata of the image.

Since the amount of DPI only matters when you’re printing the image, Adobe assumes you’ll use the “Export as” option only for the web. That’s why it’s best to use the Save as option when changing the DPI in Photoshop.

Additional FAQs

Is DPI the same as PPI?

DPI isn’t the same as PPI. DPI, or dots per inch, is the amount of printed dots per inch when printed by a printer. It’s used to describe how many ink dots are placed on paper by a printer to create an image.

PPI, or pixels per inch, is the number of pixels in one inch of an image displayed on a monitor. PPI is used to prepare images for printing.

These two terms are often used interchangeably for various reasons. Firstly, even though the PPI refers to an on-screen image, it can affect the quality of the printed image. If an image contains fewer pixels, it won’t have much detail, and the quality will be reduced. The more pixels, the better. Secondly, both DPI and PPI are related to the clarity of the image. DPI is how the image looks when printed, and PPI is how the image looks on-screen.

While PPI affects the quality of the printed image, DPI doesn’t affect the quality of the on-screen image in any way. It only refers to image quality when printed.

Therefore, when we say we’re changing the DPI in Photoshop, we’re actually changing the PPI that affects the printed image and is transformed to DPI after printing.

Why would I want to change the DPI?

Since DPI is related to the printed image, changing and optimizing it affects the clarity and quality of your image. By changing it, you prevent your images from being blurry, smudgy, and unclear. If your image is set to print at the correct DPI, you’ll get an image with smooth transitions, clear edges, and more details.

DPI is especially important if you’re a designer, photographer, architect, or if you work with high-quality images.

What is the optimal DPI?

The optimal DPI for images viewed only on screens is 72. If you don’t want to print your image, there’s no need to change the DPI since it doesn’t affect the on-screen image quality. What’s more, changing the DPI can only make your image larger, thus making it harder to upload.

If you’re printing your image and want it in high resolution, the image needs to be 300 DPI at least.

Make Your Image Crystal Clear

Optimizing the DPI and PPI directly affects the clarity and quality of your image. Learning how to change DPI in Photoshop is easy and doesn’t require previous experience working with the program. If you don’t have Photoshop, you can use one of the free online tools to change the DPI and ensure your photos are of the best quality.

Do you often adjust the DPI? What program/tool do you use? Tell us in the comments section below.