Some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive from our Pillarbox customers concerns the term “Image Resolution”. With this in mind, we have decided to summarise exactly what it means and why it is so important to get it right – all resulting in the perfect printed envelope.
Resolution is essentially the amount of detail that is contained within an image. As the resolution increases, so does the clarity of the image; becoming sharper, more defined and more detailed. If you have a computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet or digital camera, then the image stored or created will be an electronic file – the quality of which is measured in “pixels”. Pixels are basically a certain number of small dots all joined together to form a kind of image mosaic. Put even more simply, the more dots that fit into the width and height of the screen, the higher the resolution. The less dots, the lower the resolution.
Why is Image Resolution so important?
In order for your design to be printed as clearly as possible on our printed envelopes, the resolution needs to be around 300 dpi (dots-per-inch). This means that there is enough detail and clarity to ensure a clear image is then printed. As you can see from the image on the left, there is a considerable difference between a high resolution (300 dpi) setting and a low resolution (72 dpi) setting.
What happens if my Image Resolution is too low?
If the image resolution is low (72 dpi) then this affects the quality of the image. Our design studio are very limited to how they can utilise a low resolution image as it becomes blurred if the image is enlarged. Pillarbox will always recommend that a high resolution image is omitted to ensure the best finish to your printed envelopes.
How do I create a high Image Resolution image?
A high resolution image can be created when selecting the appropriate dpi setting on digital cameras before taking a photograph. A high resolution image or logo can also be created using one of many design programs such as Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator etc. This allows the user to determine the dpi before creating the image, ensuring that the end result meets all requirements.
We hope that the above clarifies the terminology and reasoning behind the need for the correct resolution, ensuring a perfect design to fit a Pillarbox printed envelope!
Pillarbox is a privately owned company specialising in the manufacture, printing and personalisation of envelopes and packaging. Many of our products are made either from recycled materials, or wood pulp which comes from timber grown in sustainably managed forests