Figure DPI checker
Check whether a figure is sharp enough at the size the journal will print it. Drop a PNG, JPEG or TIFF, pick the publisher, figure type and column width, and see the resolution at that width against the publisher's own minimum.
Free · no signup · works instantly. The file is read in your browser and never uploaded.
Elsevier, read 2026-11-10
“300 DPI for halftone images; 500 DPI for combination art; 1000 DPI for line art.”
Open the publisher's pagePreparing a graphical abstract? The free Graphical Abstract Checker compares it with the journal's pixel and file-size rules.
Drop a figure
PNG, JPEG or TIFF. The checker reads its pixel size and any DPI stored in the file.
Pick the rules
Elsevier, Nature, IEEE journals, PLOS ONE, the figure type and a column width, or your own width.
Read the result
Resolution at the printed width, pass or fail, and how many pixels you need if it falls short.
What this tool does not do
- • It checks resolution only, not colour mode, file format rules, fonts or file-size limits.
- • It does not open PDF, EPS or SVG files; vector line art has no fixed resolution and is usually what journals prefer.
- • Publisher minimums are quoted from each publisher’s page on the date shown; a journal’s own instructions can be stricter.
- • It cannot tell whether an image was enlarged from a smaller original, which adds pixels but not detail.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the DPI of an image?
Drop it into the checker. It reads the pixel size and the DPI stored in the file, then works out the resolution at the width the figure will print, which is the number a journal checks.
Why does my figure say 72 dpi?
Many programs write 72 dpi as a default label. The label only sets a print size. A 3,000-pixel-wide image labelled 72 dpi still prints at about 850 dpi in a 90 mm column; what matters is the pixel count across the printed width.
What resolution do journals ask for in figures?
It depends on the publisher and on the figure type, and line art usually needs more than photographs. Pick the publisher in the checker to see its own minimum, quoted from its author guidelines with the date we read it.
Can I fix a low-resolution figure by changing its DPI?
No. Changing the DPI label without adding pixels makes the figure print smaller, not sharper. Re-export it from the original software at the size you need, or save line art as a vector file.
Need the whole manuscript checked?
Move from one submission task to a full readiness review.
Manusights reads the manuscript as a connected argument and flags the issues most likely to matter before submission.
Run the free Readiness Scan →Built for an auditable submission workflow
Manusights separates technical checks from scientific judgment, states each tool’s limits, and keeps the final decision with the researcher. Read our trust and data-handling commitments.