300 DPI

300 DPI (dots per inch) is the standard image resolution used in professional print production. It indicates that a digital file contains 300 distinct pixels or dots within every linear inch of the final output. For business cards, this density ensures that photographs, logos, and fine text remain sharp and free of visible pixelation when viewed at arm’s length.

While screen displays typically operate at 72 or 96 PPI, print media require higher density because the human eye can resolve finer detail on physical paper. If an image is created at a lower resolution and enlarged to fit the card size, the software must interpolate new pixels, which often results in a blurry or jagged appearance. Maintaining 300 DPI at the final trim size, including bleed areas, is a fundamental requirement in pre-press workflows to guarantee high-quality reproduction.

Sources

• ISO 12647-2:2013 — Graphic technology: process control for offset lithographic processes
• CGATS ISOcoated v2 ICC Profile Documentation