Applies to Cmsmart Product Designer (NBDesigner) 2.17.0 — updated October 2026. Settings named below are in Cmsmart › Settings of 2.17.0.

In short

  • DPI is dots per inch: more dots per inch means a sharper print, as long as the source image really has that many pixels.
  • As a working rule, 300 DPI suits most printed photos and marketing material and 150 DPI or less looks soft; check your printer’s own specification.
  • In Cmsmart Product Designer you set output DPI, a minimum upload DPI and a low-resolution warning so customers see the problem before ordering.

What is DPI in printing?

DPI means dots per inch: how many printed dots fit along one inch (2.54 cm). A higher value gives the printer more information per inch and a sharper result. A low-resolution image cannot be rescued by a better printer: the ink spreads and the edges look fuzzy.

Business card in the NBDesigner editor with guides for the design area
A print-ready design starts with the right size and resolution: here a business card in the modern editor.

Which DPI should I ask for?

ResolutionTypical useNote
150 DPI or lessInternal documents, large viewing distanceVisible blur and pixelation on close-up print
200–300 DPIBrochures, flyers, booklets, photos300 DPI is the usual standard for quality photos
600 DPI and aboveFine detail, art printsBigger files; gains above ~1,200 DPI are hard to see

These are general print guidelines, not Cmsmart limits. Large-format products such as banners are usually viewed from a distance and often accept lower DPI at full size; always follow your print provider’s specification.

How do I set DPI in NBDesigner?

There are three places, from global to per product.

  1. Default output resolution - DPI under Cmsmart › Settings › General › General Settings. The default is 150, so raise it to 300 if you print photos or marketing material.
  2. DPI ( Dots Per Inch ) in the Setting Cmsmart box of a product (minimum 72) to override the default for that product, next to Dimensions unit.
  3. The Print resolution row under Production specs in the Cmsmart › Products editor (a dropdown such as 72 DPI web; the help text says 300 suits most print), or a DPI field in a Printing Options group (under Online design fields) when the shopper chooses the quality or size.
Cmsmart Settings General tab showing Default design editor layout, Default output resolution DPI 150 and Dimensions Unit
Cmsmart › Settings › General: Default output resolution - DPI sits under the layout choice.

How do I stop customers uploading low-resolution images?

Set a minimum DPI and switch on the warning. Go to Cmsmart › Settings › Design Tool › Image Options:

  • Min image upload resolution (in DPI): images below it are treated as too small.
  • Enable low resolution image: alerts the customer with a message.
  • Min upload size and Max upload size: file-size limits.

In the modern editor you can also turn on Cmsmart › Settings › Appearance › Modern layout › Show warning image low resolution, which shows the warning by default inside the designer. If your products use the upload-file flow, Upload design › Min. resolution DPI for JPG/JPEG image sets a minimum for uploaded JPGs, and Min. resolution (px) and Max. resolution (px) limit the pixel size.

How are PDFs and AI suggestions handled?

Since 2.15.1 an uploaded PDF is placed at its real physical size and its preview is rasterised at up to 300 DPI (longest side capped at 2000 px); before, a small print-ready card PDF appeared tiny and blurry. The AI “low-resolution, upscale it” suggestion no longer fires on a PDF layer, so a vector PDF is not replaced by an upscaled raster copy.

Can the DPI rules be customised?

Yes, as a project. For example, a shop can compare each upload against its own DPI formula and show its own warning box. That is custom development rather than a setting; request a quote with your rule.

Frequently asked questions

What DPI should I set as the output resolution?

300 DPI for most photographic and marketing print. The plugin default is 150, so change it if your files are printed small and viewed close up.

Will the plugin upscale a low-resolution image for me?

It can suggest AI upscaling for a small raster image; it will not do so silently, and it skips PDF layers.

Is a high DPI always better?

No. Beyond what the printer can reproduce you only get bigger files. Match DPI to the product and the printer.

Where does the customer see the warning?

In the designer, as a notification, when the image is below the minimum you configured.

Try it on your store

Start the free 30-day trial from your Cmsmart Dashboard, see the WooCommerce product designer plugin page, or open the live demo. For custom print-shop projects, request a quote.