The quick answer
Ask the printer what size and file they need before you enlarge the picture. Also ask which color profile to use. It tells their software how to read the colors. Check every AI-edited area at the planned print size.
PPI means pixels per inch of print. Pixels are the tiny dots in the picture. Changing the PPI number does not create detail. You need enough clear pixels and a check on paper.
In this article
Keep these in mind
- Calculate pixels from the required print size.
- Inspect AI details before enlarging them.
- Use the print provider’s specifications.
1. Get the print specifications
Ask the print provider for width, height, any bleed, preferred PPI, file format and color profile. Bleed is extra image beyond the trim edge. Leave important faces, text and labels away from that edge.
Do not convert to CMYK just because the job is printed. Some printers ask for RGB, others for CMYK or PDF/X. These are different ways to prepare a print file. Use the one your printer asks for. Keep the layered master before making a delivery copy.
2. Check the pixel budget
Open Image > Image Size. Turn Resample off to inspect how your existing pixels translate into print size. You can then see how large the picture can print with the pixels it already has.
For example, a 10 × 8 inch print at 300 PPI needs 3000 × 2400 pixels. Add any extra space the printer needs at the edge. The calculation is inches multiplied by PPI. A 1500 × 1200 image has only 150 PPI at that same size. Use the provider’s target, rather than treating 300 as a rule for every print.
Read more: Adobe: Image size and resolution without resampling
3. Examine the content before enlarging
Inspect the image at 100%, especially generated extensions, repaired faces and product labels. Look for broken lines, false letters, smooth patches and repeating textures. A larger file can make these errors easier to notice.
If more pixels are needed, try an enlargement on a copy and compare the result with the source. Reject changes to identity, wording or product shape. Still too little clear detail? Try a smaller print, a different crop or a better photo. Do not promise that AI recovered the original.
4. Preview the intended print colors
The printer may give you a profile for its paper and printer. Select it under View > Proof Setup. Use View > Proof Colors to preview it. This only changes the preview. It does not convert the saved picture.
The preview is only as useful as the screen setup and the profile. Paper also looks different from a glowing screen. Check shadows, pale detail and vivid colors. Make changes for print in a separate copy. Keep your original and web picture too.
Read more: Adobe: Preview print colors with a soft proof · Adobe: Prepare images for commercial printing
5. Check a sample and the saved delivery
For an important job, request a test from the chosen print process. Test a small part at the final scale. Include a face, fine detail, an AI-edited edge and important colors. A small print of the whole image may hide flaws that a large print reveals.
Open the delivery file and verify its dimensions, crop, profile and visible content. Ask whether the provider applies automatic corrections so you know what will happen after upload. Save the approved file and its settings together for later reprints.
Sources & further reading
Product features can change. Check the linked documentation for the version and service you use.