Quick answer: Aim for 150 pixels per inch (PPI) at the printed size. For a 24 × 16 inch acrylic print that's 3,600 × 2,400 pixels, about 8.6 megapixels. Anything from 100 PPI up still looks sharp from normal viewing distance, so a 12-megapixel phone photo (4,032 × 3,024 px) prints well up to roughly 40 × 30 inches.
Why 150 PPI, not 300?
300 PPI is the magazine standard for prints you hold a foot from your face. Wall art is viewed from three to six feet away, where the eye can't resolve the difference between 150 and 300 PPI. Acrylic also has a slight softening effect because you're looking through 3/16 inch of clear material, which hides fine pixel structure. 150 PPI gives a crisp result on acrylic; 100 PPI is an acceptable minimum for large pieces viewed from across a room.
Minimum and recommended pixels for every size
Pixel counts apply in either orientation (a 20 × 16 landscape and a 16 × 20 portrait need the same image, turned).
| Print size | Recommended (150 PPI) | Minimum (100 PPI) | Megapixels at 150 PPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 8 in | 1,800 × 1,200 px | 1,200 × 800 px | 2.2 MP |
| 18 × 12 in | 2,700 × 1,800 px | 1,800 × 1,200 px | 4.9 MP |
| 20 × 16 in | 3,000 × 2,400 px | 2,000 × 1,600 px | 7.2 MP |
| 24 × 16 in | 3,600 × 2,400 px | 2,400 × 1,600 px | 8.6 MP |
| 30 × 20 in | 4,500 × 3,000 px | 3,000 × 2,000 px | 13.5 MP |
| 36 × 24 in | 5,400 × 3,600 px | 3,600 × 2,400 px | 19.4 MP |
| 48 × 36 in | 7,200 × 5,400 px | 4,800 × 3,600 px | 38.9 MP |
| 60 × 40 in | 9,000 × 6,000 px | 6,000 × 4,000 px | 54.0 MP |
| 12 × 12 in | 1,800 × 1,800 px | 1,200 × 1,200 px | 3.2 MP |
| 16 × 16 in | 2,400 × 2,400 px | 1,600 × 1,600 px | 5.8 MP |
| 20 × 20 in | 3,000 × 3,000 px | 2,000 × 2,000 px | 9.0 MP |
| 30 × 30 in | 4,500 × 4,500 px | 3,000 × 3,000 px | 20.2 MP |
| 40 × 40 in | 6,000 × 6,000 px | 4,000 × 4,000 px | 36.0 MP |
The math: multiply the print's width and height in inches by 150 (recommended) or 100 (minimum). Any custom size works the same way.
What phone and camera photos can print
- 12 MP phone (iPhone 11 through 15 main camera, most Android): 4,032 × 3,024 px. Sharp up to 24 × 18 at 150 PPI; fine up to 40 × 30 at 100 PPI.
- 24 MP or 48 MP phone (iPhone 14 Pro and newer, Pixel 7 Pro and newer, shooting in full-res mode): 5,712 × 4,284 px or larger. Sharp up to 36 × 24 and acceptable at 60 × 40.
- 24 MP DSLR or mirrorless: 6,000 × 4,000 px. Sharp at 40 × 27 and acceptable at the largest 60 × 40 size.
- Older phones or cropped photos (under 2,000 px on the long side). Best at 12 × 8 and smaller unless upscaled.
The catch with phones: photos sent through text messages, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook are compressed and shrunk, often to 1,000 to 2,000 pixels wide. Always use the original from the camera roll, sent through email, AirDrop, Google Photos, or a direct upload.
How to check a photo's resolution
- iPhone: open the photo, tap the i (info) button or swipe up; the pixel dimensions are listed under the file details.
- Android: open the photo in Google Photos, tap the three dots, then Details.
- Mac: select the file in Finder and press Command-I; look for Dimensions.
- Windows: right-click the file, choose Properties, then the Details tab.
What low resolution looks like on acrylic
Under about 80 PPI, edges turn soft and blocky, especially on faces and text. Glossy acrylic does not hide this; it makes a sharp image look sharper and a soft one look softer. If your file is close to the minimum for the size you want, a smaller size or an upscale is the safer choice.
Can a low-resolution photo be fixed?
Often, yes. AI upscaling can take a 1,500-pixel-wide photo to 4,000 pixels or more with convincing detail, as long as the original is in focus. It can't recover a blurry or badly out-of-focus shot. PrismScript includes free photo enhancement on every order: if your file is under the recommended size we upscale and sharpen it before printing, and if it's too far gone for the size you picked we'll tell you before anything is printed. Old prints and damaged photos go through our photo restoration service instead.
Other things that matter as much as pixels
- Focus. A sharp 6 MP photo beats a blurry 48 MP one every time.
- Cropping. Cropping throws away pixels. Check the resolution after you crop, not before.
- Aspect ratio. A phone photo is 4:3; a 24 × 16 print is 3:2. Some trimming on the long or short side is normal, so keep faces away from the edges.
- Screenshots. A screenshot is only as large as your screen, usually 1,100 to 1,300 px wide. Use the original photo, not a screenshot of it.
- File type. JPEG, HEIC, PNG, and TIFF all print fine. Keep the original rather than a re-saved copy.
Frequently asked questions
What resolution do I need for a 24 × 16 acrylic print?
3,600 × 2,400 pixels (about 8.6 MP) is recommended. 2,400 × 1,600 pixels is the minimum.
Is 72 DPI okay for printing on acrylic?
The DPI number saved in the file doesn't matter; only the pixel dimensions do. A 4,000 × 3,000 pixel photo "at 72 DPI" prints exactly the same as the same photo "at 300 DPI."
Can I print an iPhone photo on acrylic?
Yes. A standard 12 MP iPhone photo prints sharply up to 24 × 18 inches and acceptably up to 40 × 30. Send the original, not a text-message copy.
Can you print an Instagram photo?
Instagram downsizes images to 1,080 pixels wide, which is only enough for about 10 × 10 inches. Use the original from your camera roll instead.
Does PrismScript check resolution before printing?
Yes. Every file is checked and enhanced before it goes to print, and we contact you if the photo can't support the size you ordered.
Related: Acrylic vs canvas vs metal prints · How to hang an acrylic print · Order a custom acrylic print