Skip to main content

DPI in Modeling: What the Heck Is It?

With so many people taking/uploading/editing their own photos, most are up to date on the lingo that comes with digital photography. Terms like DPI are often thrown around and while I would like to assume that everyone knows what that is, I know that's not true, which is the point of this post. :-)

Even if you're not a model that retouches or prints his/her own photos, it's still important to know what DPI is...after all, a good model knows his/her craft and that includes more than just the modeling aspect of things. So here is a basic post that'll give you a crash course into what DPI is and how it is relevant for modeling.

Below is a great definition for DPI, according to the site WiseGeek.com:

DPI (dots per inch) is a measurement of printer resolution, though it is commonly applied, somewhat inappropriately, to monitors, scanners and even digital cameras. The higher the DPI, the more refined the text or image will appear.

Based on this definition, it's easy to see why DPI would matter for models--namely when it comes to their photos. The DPI that your digital modeling images are is crucial for whatever purposes you plan on using them for. If you're going to print a headshot, comp/zed card or regular modeling pictures for your portfolio, 300 DPI is the golden rule. This setting means the image will appear crisp and in focus, especially if the file size is larger than 1 MB. Trying to print an 8" x 10" photo from an image file that's less than 1 MB in size will come out with poor quality, even if the DPI is set to 300 so make sure you're always working with hi res files!

When submitting your pictures to agencies, sometimes they may or may not mention the DPI in addition to the size the image files should be. You'll definitely run into DPI when dealing with printing companies/photo labs for having your pictures professionally printed. Regardless of the occasion, be on the lookout for the DPI requirement anytime you plan on printing modeling pictures and ensure that your images are formatted properly.

In some situations, you might see the DPI requirement for 72. However, this particular setting typically only applies to when you're posting images on the Internet for viewing, not for printing. The reason for this is because the higher a photo's DPI is, when it's posted on the Internet, it takes longer for the page to load. If you've ever had to wait seconds or even longer for a particular page to display all of the images, you'll know how annoying that can be. So when you see a 72 DPI requirement, that's what the deal is.

However, for uploading modeling pictures online, it isn't necessary to set the DPI of your pictures to 72. Unless the site you're trying to upload to says otherwise, you'll be fine with keeping your images' DPI at the standard 300, even though you aren't planning on printing them.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Want to Be a Victoria's Secret Model?

(*Due to the number of comments and questions I get from aspiring models about working for VS, please be sure to read my post on this very carefully. If you don't meet all of these requirements then you cannot become a model for VS. If you are not tall enough, if you are not signed to a top agency, your chances are not good.  If you don't meet the requirements, please don't be too upset about it. Find another field of modeling you may be good for. There are plenty of other modeling opportunities for models outside of being a VS angel. They may not be as good or as well-known as VS but it's better than nothing.) I know I’d jump at the chance to be offered a gig modeling for Victoria’s Secret (although I think they’d be irritated by Photoshopping my stretch marks HAHA, yeah, I said it, I’ve got stretch marks!). All silliness aside, the gals of Victoria’s Secret are probably the inspiration for a majority of aspiring models out there. Not only do they get to wear the s...
358 comments
Read more

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It...
37 comments
Read more

How Old is Too Old to Model?

It’s no secret that the media has made a big deal out of youth. Think about it: how many people have you heard say, “Gosh, I can’t wait to get wrinkles!” Worldwide, selling the idea of youth has made many companies billions of dollars. Without the models, however, they wouldn’t get very far. So that’s the obvious stuff but what about the question of age and being older in the modeling industry? Well, for starters, if you plan on being in the fashion and runway field, the younger you are the better. The longevity for this type of modeling is extremely short for the majority of models involved. Agencies sign girls as young as 13 years old and tend to hesitate if a model is over 18. This topic, like the height issue, is a reality of the industry that you don’t have to agree with but you will have to accept or at least get used to. It’s just a plain fact that agencies and their clients can get more work out of youthful models than those who already show the signs of aging. Sadly, this...
95 comments
Read more