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When a photo indicates that it is, say, 300 DPI, is that based on a standard sized print?

i.e. is there a specific standard size that the DPI is based on, and if so what is that size?

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  • \$\begingroup\$ When you say a "standard sized print", do you have a specific size in mind? If so, what is it? \$\endgroup\$
    – osullic
    Commented May 4, 2016 at 22:51
  • \$\begingroup\$ @osullic I've edited the question to clarify - my question is essentially whether there is such a size. James Snell's answer seems to indicate no, so I will accept that soon unless there is disagreement. \$\endgroup\$
    – Wossname
    Commented May 4, 2016 at 23:18

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The manufacturer's use of 300 PPI is not based on any calculation, it is purely arbitrary and selected purely based on historical convention that hi-res printers were 300PPI.

Not all devices even record resolution (PPI) values, the raw files for my Nikon D70, D90 and D600 cameras don't report resolution in Adobe Bridge at all.

.jpg files based on those raw files do, suggesting there is a requirement in the jpeg metadata for resolution to be present (I may check and update later.)

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    \$\begingroup\$ There is no requirement for metadata to be included in a .jpg file. I may get corrected here, but it's my understanding that the "official" JPEG specification doesn't include metadata at all. Technically, what we think of as JPEG files are actually EXIF files (a.k.a. DCF files). These files are made up of a JPEG-compressed image and additional metadata. As far as I know, even with EXIF files, it's not the case that some metadata is required to be included. \$\endgroup\$
    – osullic
    Commented May 4, 2016 at 22:45
  • \$\begingroup\$ Just because Adobe Bridge doesn't display a particular bit of metadata doesn't necessarilly mean it isn't there. Adobe products are well known to ignore certain bits of EXIF info. They even strip things such as the entire maker note section when converting to .dng or exporting as .jpeg or .tiff. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented May 5, 2016 at 3:05
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MichaelClark - I may check with exiftool at some point, but it doesn't change the key point of the answer that the selection of the 300ppi value is entirely arbitrary. \$\endgroup\$
    – James Snell
    Commented May 5, 2016 at 18:37
  • \$\begingroup\$ The main point may be correct, but your entire second paragraph isn't. The reason a value is not displayed in Adobe Bridge is a characteristic of Adobe Bridge, not of your cameras. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented May 5, 2016 at 21:27
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Nope. The number is purely fictitious. The vast majority of cameras always put the same number. You can even check it out by changing the size of image output and you will see that the DPI stays exactly the same. So, if your 24 MP camera outputs a 24 MP image at 6000x4000 which specifies 300 DPI, it should correspond to a 20" x 13.3" but if you set it to 12 MP, it records at 3000x2000 which at 300 DPI is a 10" x 6.6" print.

A few digital cameras, mostly from Olympus as far as I can remember right now, let you set the DPI in camera. Still, the same number is stored in the metadata of all images, even if you change resolution, until you change the number again.

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I think the aproach of a photographer and a designer is in this case the opposite. (I am both)

A Photographer needs a print of some size, for example an 8x10 print, and you can just send your photo on the Megapixels the photo has. The PPI are defined by the size of your print. It can be xxx, yyy or any number depending on the print size. The photo is streched to that size.

Is that based on a standard sized print?

No. The 300 ppi is based on a specific pre-press process for print in a specific paper and a specific quality on a specific plate resolution. (Technically the range is between 212 and 300 ppi.

The other resolution that is a myth is the 72 ppi for screen. Thoose 72 ppi was on one of the very first Macintoch computer, The number also had a coincidence on the value of the point vs an inch. 1 pt = 1/72 inch. So the value stays, but for screen you do not need that resolution value.

Is there a specific standard size that the DPI is based on, and if so what is that size?

No. The ppi alone do not tell you the physical dimension. It also needs the total pixel dimensions, so no. There are diferent Megapixel values.

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If a camera has a resolution of 2400 x 3000 pixels then it simply has that many pixels, regardless of the PPI. It's not until you print that the PPI comes into play. At 300 PPI you'd get 8" x 10" (2400/300 and 3000/300). At 200 PPI you'd get 12" x 15".

So for a fixed resolution, if a camera reports 300 PPI, then yes that equates to a specific print size, but the PPI can be changed to whatever you feel appropriate, depending on the size of print you want, the viewing distance etc.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ PPI and DPI are two very different things. Whether intended or not your answer seems to equate the two as interchangeable, which is certainly not the case. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented May 5, 2016 at 7:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ No, I was merely stating that DPI or PPI are not relevant until you display or print - in camera, the resolution (# of pixels) is the only relevant measure. Removed the brackets, might make that clearer. \$\endgroup\$
    – MikeW
    Commented May 5, 2016 at 18:15
  • \$\begingroup\$ A value of 300 or 200 is almost always an expression of PPI. The multiple number of dots that are required to produce one pixel means DPI is normally much higher. A typical Canon printer (such as the 9500) that has a native resolution of 600 PPI might have a resolution of around 4800x1200 DPI. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented May 5, 2016 at 21:35

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