Hello, Patyrn creators!

You’ve designed a pattern you love. It looks sharp and vibrant on your screen, but when you send it to the printer, it comes back blurry and pixelated. What went wrong? The answer, almost always, is DPI.

Understanding DPI is the single most important step to bridge the gap between your digital design and a professional, high-quality physical product. This guide will demystify DPI and show you how to set up your Patyrn projects for flawless printing every time.

What is DPI?

DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. It’s a measurement of print resolution. It tells a printer how many tiny dots of ink to place within a one-inch line.

High DPI: More dots are packed into each inch, creating a sharp, detailed, and high-quality image.

Low DPI: Fewer dots are used, resulting in a blurry, "pixelated," or low-quality image.

Think of it as the difference between a high-definition TV and an old standard-definition one. More dots (or pixels) simply looks better.

The Magic Numbers: Which DPI Should You Choose?

While DPI can be any number, there are three standards you need to know:

300 DPI: The Gold Standard for Quality. This is the industry standard for high-quality printing. If your design will be seen up close—on fabric, stationery, phone cases, scrapbook paper, or art prints—you should always aim for 300 DPI.

150 DPI: The Standard for Distance Viewing. This is acceptable for large-format items that are meant to be viewed from a distance, like a large wall tapestry, a trade show banner, or a shower curtain. The lower detail isn't noticeable from far away.

72 DPI: For Screens Only. This is the historical standard for web images. It is not suitable for printing and will always produce a blurry result.

How to Set Up Your Canvas for Perfect DPI in Patyrn

Patyrn makes it easy to get this right from the very beginning. The key is in the Canvas Size Modal.

When you start a new project, you have two ways to think about size:

Method 1: The "Print First" Approach (Recommended)

This is the easiest and most foolproof method.

Open the Canvas Size modal.

Change the units from Pixels to Inches or Centimeters.

Enter the dimensions of your desired final print. For example, if you want to create a 12x12 inch piece of scrapbook paper, simply enter 12 for the width and 12 for the height.

When you do this, Patyrn automatically does the math for you, creating a canvas with the correct pixel dimensions to print perfectly at 300 DPI.

Method 2: The "Pixel First" Approach

If you prefer to work in pixels, you just need to remember one simple formula:

Print Size (in inches) x 300 = Required Pixels

Let's say you want to create a design that can be printed at 10x10 inches.
10 inches x 300 DPI = 3000 pixels

You would need to set your canvas size to 3000 x 3000 pixels to ensure a high-quality print.

The Final Check: Does Your Design Meet the Bar?

If you have an existing design and want to know how large you can print it, just reverse the formula:

Pixel Dimension / 300 = Max Print Size (in inches)

For example, if your exported pattern is 1800 pixels wide, the largest you can print it at high quality is 6 inches (1800 / 300). Printing it any larger will risk it looking blurry.

By understanding the relationship between pixels and DPI, you take full control over the quality of your work. Set your canvas correctly from the start, and you'll never have to worry about a disappointing print again.