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Image upscaler · Print files

Upscale an image for printing

Enlarge a design or a photo 2x or 4x so it holds up at print size: the AI adds detail instead of stretching pixels, and a transparent PNG stays transparent. Check how big your file needs to be first, free and without an account.

Without an account
Free DPI check
The print file checker tells you if a file is big enough for a print size, no sign-up. The upscale needs a free account.
Free account
10 credits a month
A 2x upscale uses 6 credits, a 4x upscale 12. No card.
Output
2x or 4x
Up to 8,000 px on the longer side and 36 megapixels

Upscale your image

Add the file, pick 2x or 4x and the picture type, then compare before and after and download.

1Add a picture
2Enlarge by

3Picture type

Transparent PNG: the background stays see-through, so the picture type does not matter.

Add a picture to start.

View
Your enlarged picture shows up here Add a design or a photo, pick 2x or 4x, and get the same picture larger, with detail added rather than stretched pixels.
Download
  • Upload only pictures you own or have permission to edit.
  • The result goes up to 8,000 px on the longer side and 36 megapixels. A PNG comes back as a PNG, anything else as a JPG.
  • A run is paid with credits: 6 for 2x, 12 for 4x. A free account gets 10 a month, and a run that fails gives its credits back.

Free without an account: check any file's DPI and print size with the print file checker, and get 1 watermarked mockup preview a day. The upscaler needs a free account because it works on your full-size file: 10 credits a month, 6 per 2x upscale, no card.

How to

How to upscale an image for printing

Work out the size you need before you enlarge anything.

  1. 01

    Work out the pixels

    Multiply the print width and height in inches by 300 for a 300 DPI print. A 12 × 16 inch print needs 3600 × 4800 px.

  2. 02

    Check your file

    The print file checker compares your file with that size and shows its effective DPI, free and without an account.

  3. 03

    Upscale 2x or 4x

    Pick Art and graphics for designs and logos, Photo for photographs, Low quality for small or compressed files.

  4. 04

    Compare and download

    Slide between before and after, zoom into edges and text, then download the PNG or JPG.

Guide

What resolution you need to print

Pixels, inches and DPI

A print needs enough pixels for its size. Most print shops and print on demand services ask for 300 DPI at the final size: 300 pixels for every inch. So a design printed 10 inches wide needs 3000 px across, and a 16 × 20 inch canvas needs 4800 × 6000 px. Check your own printer's requirement, since some accept less for large posters seen from a distance.

2x or 4x

Upscaling multiplies the width and height. A 1500 px wide design becomes 3000 px at 2x, enough for a 10 inch print at 300 DPI, and 6000 px at 4x, enough for 20 inches. Pick the smallest step that reaches your target: a bigger file than you need only makes uploads slower.

Designs, photos and transparent PNGs

  • Art and graphics keeps lines and flat colors crisp: the right choice for t-shirt designs, logos and illustrations.
  • Photo keeps skin, fabric and natural texture looking real.
  • Low quality cleans up small, blurry or heavily compressed files.

A PNG with a transparent background comes back transparent, so a print on demand design is ready to upload after upscaling.

When upscaling is not enough

An upscaler adds believable detail, but it cannot recover what the original never had: a tiny, very blurry image improves, yet will not look like a photo taken at high resolution. Small text is best retyped at full size, and a logo made in a vector program should be exported larger from the source file instead.

FAQ

Questions about upscaling images for print

Something else? Write to us from the contact page and a person replies within one business day.

Can I upscale an image for printing for free?
The upscaler needs a free account, because it works on your full-size file. The account comes with 10 credits a month, no card: a 2x upscale uses 6 credits and a 4x upscale 12. Checking a file's DPI with the print file checker is free without an account.
What resolution do I need for printing?
Most printers ask for 300 DPI at the final print size, so multiply the inches by 300. An 8 × 10 inch print needs 2400 × 3000 px. Check what your print shop asks for.
How large can the upscaled image be?
Up to 8,000 px on the longer side and 36 megapixels, from a PNG, JPG or WebP of up to about 5 MB. A picture already that large is not enlarged further, and the credits for that run come back.
Will upscaling fix a blurry photo?
It helps: choose the Low quality type for small or compressed files. It cannot bring back detail the original never captured, so start from the best copy you have.
Does it keep a transparent background?
Yes. A transparent PNG comes back as a transparent PNG, ready for a print on demand product. A JPG comes back as a JPG.
Can I upscale AI art for print on demand?
Yes. Art from an image generator is often around 1000 to 1500 px, too small for a large print. Upscale it with the Art and graphics type, then check the result with the print file checker.

Print it sharp.
Start with a free account.

10 credits a month, no card: a 2x upscale uses 6. Checking DPI is free without an account.

Upscale an image Create a free account