Printing, Output, and File Delivery
What this domain tests
Printing, Output, and File Delivery tests whether you can translate a screen image into a physical or client-ready file with predictable color, size, and sharpness. It includes resolution math, soft proofing, paper choice, and delivery specs.
Core rules
- ppi describes pixel density in a file at a given print size; dpi describes printer dots. A 300 ppi file is a common lab request, but large prints can succeed at lower ppi when viewed from farther away.
- Print size in inches equals pixels divided by ppi. A 6000 x 4000 px file at 300 ppi prints 20 x 13.3 in; at 200 ppi it prints 30 x 20 in.
- Soft proofing simulates the paper and ink profile on a calibrated monitor. Use the correct ICC profile, rendering intent, and black point compensation.
- Glossy papers show deeper blacks and more saturation; matte and fine-art papers have lower Dmax and a flatter tonal range. Paper choice changes the image, not just the surface.
- Output sharpening depends on media and viewing distance. Ink limits and media settings belong in the printer driver or lab profile.
- Delivery: sRGB JPEG for general web, TIFF or high-quality JPEG for print, embedded profiles, sensible naming, and metadata as requested.
Worked example
A lab asks for 16 x 20 in at 300 ppi. Multiply 16 x 300 = 4800 px and 20 x 300 = 6000 px. The file must be at least 4800 x 6000 px, ignoring crop. If your master is 4000 x 5000 px, you are at 250 ppi for that size. You can resample upward, but resampling does not create detail; inspect the print at normal viewing distance and sharpen for output. A 16 x 20 print is often viewed from about arm’s length or more, so 250 ppi may be acceptable.
Traps that cost marks
- Confusing ppi with dpi.
- Assuming upsampling restores lost detail.
- Soft proofing without a calibrated monitor.
- Using the wrong rendering intent or skipping black point compensation.
- Judging print brightness from an uncalibrated, too-bright screen.
- Sending a wide-gamut file to a lab that expects sRGB.