Textile Printing DPI Guide

Resolution questions cause more printing problems than any other file issue. The good news is that the maths is simple once you separate two ideas: the number of pixels in your file, and the size you print it.

DPI, PPI and what actually matters

Technically, PPI (pixels per inch) describes a digital image and DPI (dots per inch) describes how a printer lays down ink. In textile design both terms are used for the same thing: how many pixels of your artwork end up in each inch of fabric.

Effective resolution = pixel width ÷ printed width in inches.

The DPI number stored inside a file is only a label. A 3,000 px image “at 72 DPI” and the same image “at 300 DPI” contain identical pixels; they simply suggest different print sizes.

How much resolution do you need?

Product	Recommended effective DPI
Fine florals, silk, cotton lawn, scarves	300
General apparel, quilting cotton	150–300
Home décor, curtains, upholstery	150–200
Large banners and wall hangings viewed from a distance	100–150

Many digital textile printers and print-on-demand services work at 150 DPI by default. Always check your printer’s specification — some RIPs resample everything to their native resolution anyway.

Calculating pixels for a repeat

To print a 30 cm repeat at 300 DPI: 30 ÷ 2.54 = 11.81 inches; 11.81 × 300 = 3,543 px. At 150 DPI the same repeat needs 1,772 px. The Fabric DPI Calculator handles these conversions in both units.

Fabric hides some detail — but not all

Fabric texture, dye spread and weave soften fine detail compared with paper, which is why 150 DPI often looks acceptable on cotton. Smooth, tightly woven fabrics such as satin and silk show more, so fine line work deserves higher resolution.

Fixing low-resolution artwork

• Print smaller. Reducing the repeat size raises effective DPI without touching the pixels — the Pattern Scale Calculator shows the trade-off.
• Redraw key elements. Vector or high-resolution redraws of line work beat any upscaling.
• Upscale carefully. Resampling to a larger size adds pixels but not detail; use it for modest increases only and check edges.
• Embrace the texture. Some painterly designs tolerate lower resolution — order a strike-off to judge.

Checklist before printing

1. Confirm the printed size of one repeat.
2. Check effective DPI with the Image Resolution Checker.
3. Embed the intended DPI in the file so it opens at the correct size.
4. Order a strike-off for new fabrics or detailed designs.