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I specialize in macro photography and I've recently begun to export in 300-350dpi, as I find it does a better job of representing details (crucial to my work).

However the file size is small, eg. 1200px.

Am I compromising my image's safety? (given watermarks can be removed and files can be enlarged easily)

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    \$\begingroup\$ DPI is pretty much meaningless in a digital environment. 1200 pixels is 1200 pixels. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented Oct 13, 2017 at 11:51
  • \$\begingroup\$ Does the dpi number reported by camera in JPG have any meaning? \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented Oct 13, 2017 at 11:52
  • \$\begingroup\$ How does the dpi setting affect the image exported from Lightroom \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented Oct 13, 2017 at 11:54
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    \$\begingroup\$ What is "image safety"? \$\endgroup\$
    – user29608
    Commented Oct 13, 2017 at 11:57
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    \$\begingroup\$ How are you using these files? The only place I know where DPI will make a difference is in Microsoft Word, where the default picture size on import is determined by the pixel dimensions divided by the DPI. \$\endgroup\$
    – Mark Ransom
    Commented Oct 13, 2017 at 15:03

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An image doesn't have a DPI until you print it.

All it has are dimensions in pixels.

Anything else is simply an interpolation of one system to another in order to display on your screen... which is probably about 72dpi anyway.

If your image is 6000 x 4000 pixels, then that's its size, whatever dpi you think you may have saved it at.

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    \$\begingroup\$ An image doesn't have a DPI until you print it. +1. About the most succinct way I've seen it put. \$\endgroup\$
    – scottbb ♦
    Commented Oct 13, 2017 at 17:41

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