How to Reset a Photo PPI

Decrease your photos' PPI to save room on your hard drive.

The term "pixels per inch" (PPI) indicates the number of pixels that are contained within an inch of a photo. Images with many PPI are high-quality and can be made into large prints; however, they also take up more space on your computer's hard drive than photos with fewer PPI. Many image-editing programs -- such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Paint Shop Pro -- allow you to adjust your photos' PPI.

Instructions

1. Open an image in your image-editing program.

2. Open your image editor's Image Size and Adjustment dialog box.

3. Change the number next to "Resolution." If you want a photo with many PPI, increase the number; if you want a photo with fewer PPI, decrease the number.

Tips & Warnings

• The number that you change should be in terms of "pixels per inch." If your image editor defaults to "pixels per centimeter," click the drop-down box next to "Resolution" and change it to "pixels per inch."

• Attempts to increase PPI will result in a reduction of image quality.

References

• Bryan Saxton