Finding Resolution: Inkjet Banner vs. Photographic Printing

The amount of printing resolution necessary for an image is dictated by the viewing distance. Most photography is meant to be viewed from 12 inches away or less. Therefore, I would suggest 1440 x 1440 dpi on an Epson, and 1200 x 1200 dpi on an HP, or Canon.

However, if you are using these printers to print a large banner, the viewing distance will usually be 10 feet away or more. Therefore, the required print resolution drops. In this case, I would print at 720 dpi with an Epson or 600 dpi on an HP or Canon.

I would also recommend that you print bidirectional for this type of job. One thing you should keep in mind is that a profile for this lower resolution and bi-directional printing should be generated to ensure accurate color reproduction.