How to Increase Image Quality: Converting Low Quality Images into Print Ready

Posted on: 27 February 2024

It can be so frustrating – when an image just isn’t good enough for print, yet it holds a special place in your heart or is crucial for your project. You’re caught in this limbo, knowing that its current state won’t do it justice once it hits the physical ‘canvas’.

There is a way to fix this -to increase image quality, though—it’s not an end-all solution and won’t fix images that are shockingly low quality to the point of making you cringe at first glance. However, for those images teetering on the edge of usability, where the essence of what you need is there but clouded by pixelation or blurriness, there’s hope. This process isn’t about performing miracles on the utterly irredeemable but about refining and enhancing those images that still have a spark of potential.

What is print resolution?

Print resolution is all about how many pixels make up an image. For example, 300dpi (dots per square inch) means that there are 300 pixels live in that inch of screen. This measurement is crucial because it determines the clarity and detail of the image when transferred to print. The higher the dpi, the sharper and more detailed the print will be. This is especially important for materials where fine detail is paramount, such as in professional brochures, business cards, and art prints.

How do we increase image quality to this benchmark?

I wish there was some magic website that could do it for you, but unfortunately, reality says otherwise: to get the best results, you’ll need professional software – like Photoshop, Affinity Photo or CorelDraw and, depending on how bad the image quality is, quite a bit of time. We use a combination of VectorMagic and CorelDraw to carry out our digital alchemy operations.

Method to increase image quality

• First, we drop the image into VectorMagic in its original format, usually a PNG or JPEG. It can be any raster format for that matter. We use VectorMagic’s automatic setting and put it on high-quality to get the best result. Once it’s loaded and it has spat out its vectorisation, we save it as an AI file to be dragged into CorelDraw.
• Once all is set up in CorelDraw, we use the curve tool to manually iron out any discrepancies and perfect the image. Typically, the client will also want any background removed, so we tediously remove that as well.
• Once we’re happy with how the image looks, we export it as a PNG file, sized correctly using the sizing tools within CorelDraw to ensure the final image meets the specific dimensions required by the client.
• For the sizing process, we pay close attention to the resolution and dimensions to ensure that the final PNG is optimised for its intended use, whether that be for web, print, or any other medium. This step is crucial, as it determines how well the image will perform in its final context. For web usage, for example, we aim for a balance between file size and clarity to ensure fast loading times without compromising image quality.
• Finally, before delivering the final PNG file to the client, we conduct a thorough review to ensure that all aspects of the image meet our high standards and the client’s specifications. This review process includes checking the image for any possible errors and making sure that it is perfectly aligned with the client’s branding and design requirements.

Reworking an image to increase quality can be tedious, time consuming and the software to do so can be costly. That’s not to be said that you can’t do it by yourself, but having the right tools and knowledge at your disposal is crucial. The process involves more than just pressing a few buttons; it requires an understanding of colour spaces, resolution, and the intricacies of image formats. Moreover, a keen eye for detail and a patient hand are indispensable for manually correcting flaws that software might overlook.

We charge only £15 to increase your image quality to print ready, vectorised versions. For more information, click here.

Or get in contact today at ku/oc/sorp-tnirp//selas.