We would always recommend that you purchase the highest quality image possible (or largest file size) as this will save you having to go back and buy the higher quality version at a later date if you decide you want to use an image you have selected for your website in a brochure or annual report etc. Don’t go cheap!Īnother thing to bear in mind is when you are purchasing images from an online image library (such as iStockphoto, Shutterstock), the cheapest option is not always the best.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules in that now with the introduction of higher resolution monitors and displays your images might need to be a higher resolution (or contain more pixels) than the standard 72dpi. So the main difference between the 2 formats is that hi-res images are used mainly for print and large format graphic design such as exhibition design work, which requires more dots per inch (dpi) than low-res images which are mainly used for screen and can be as low as 72dpi including work app work done by icon designers. The required dpi (dots per inch) for printing is higher than needed for your screen, so even though the image looks fine on your monitor when printed, this might become blurred or pixelated, like the example below. These are formatted for use in the print industry and are normally have a CMYK colour setting. Traditionally these are images that are 300dpi (at actual size) and above. They are formatted for screen use (such as websites and social media).

These are images that are 72dpi and normally have an RGB colour setting.

So what are High Resolution and Low Resolution images? Low-res images Firstly we need to define what is a high resolution (hi-res) image and a low resolution (low-res) image and what to use and when. When dealing with brochure designers you might get asked to supply your images as ‘hi-res’.

High Resolution and Low Resolution images – what to use and when

Vdmx looks low res in full screen