Large image uploads downsizing dpi when uploaded

Discussion Forums Technical Issues
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I’m not sure if anyone else is having a problem like this, with image dpi upon uploading; or image dpi as being represented in mockups.

Could tech support look into this for me?

I’m having a problem with large images appearing downsized in their dpi when uploaded.

I’m uploading images with a “physical” footprint of approximately 60.42in x 25in at a dpi of 150.  File size, approximately 19mb.

First, I’m having the uploading errors where I have to try several times to get the image to upload at all.  Mostly it’s failing.

Finally, when they do upload, when applied to products, they are very poor resolution.

See, in this example, the tongue of the shoe.  The glitter sparkle details should be crisp and clear.  But they aren’t, even though I’ve applied a tiling to the product of only 40inches, when the original file is an actual 60-ish inches.  (And viewing the original image before uploading, the image IS crisp and clear at full size.)

Example: (Note: this product is “hidden”, to prevent people from attempting to purchase a bad product, so, unfortunately, forum users here won’t be able to access the link.)

Bad resolution of glitter 

  Even though these images are actually 150dpi, with a “physical” dimension of 60inches in width, on Zazzle, once uploaded, they are poor dpi.  Ie., they shouldn’t be low resolution when applied to an item that is far narrower than 60 inches wide.

And, oddly, this bad resolution problem isn’t even consistent.

In the following example, even though I’ve applied the exact same image to various parts of the shoes, the product mockup shows sometimes that the exact image is of extremely low resolution, appearing fuzzy; but other views on the mockup show the same image being at a higher resolution.

Example: (Note: this product is “hidden”, to prevent people from attempting to purchase a bad product, so, unfortunately, forum users here won’t be able to access the link.)

Shoes with inconsistent dpi application of exact same image. 

Can you please look into this for me?

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We have also noticed that our high resolution images all look blurry, whether its on a product preview or our store banner, creator photo, etc. Is there a setting somewhere that we can choice to show high res, true to the actual image we are creating?

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Zazzle stores the original images uploaded by Creators which are used when printing the products so you can be assured that they will print high quality as long as you don’t get error messages in the design tool that it is too low resolution.

We do not use those full resolution images in the design tool as super-high resolution images would cause the design tool to be less responsive when moving, resizing, rotating, etc… We have created a smaller version of the image for the design tool which is actually what the user is manipulating in the browser. So your original image that was 3750px × 9056px when uploaded is more like 800 pixels on its longest side when you see it in the design tool.

You used the smaller image in the design tool and then zoomed in significantly (~5x) so you only selected a portion of the image to display. This zooming in, on the smaller design tool image, caused the pixelation in the design tool.

If you want the design tool to display a non-pixelated image you will need to crop your image to something close to the size of the portion you want to use on the product and then upload it again.

Note: you will not see that pixelation in the product image as it is using a higher resolution image to composite the design on the product.

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Thank you so much for this thorough explanation!

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Thanks for that response, @Scott . I’ve also noticed that some of my pngs that should have been razor sharp were not in the design tool/preview. I was hoping/thinking it was just a screen resolution thing and that once printed, it would be sharp. Glad to hear I was correct!

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@Scott  wrote:

Zazzle stores the original images uploaded by Creators which are used when printing the products so you can be assured that they will print high quality as long as you don’t get error messages in the design tool that it is too low resolution.

We do not use those full resolution images in the design tool as super-high resolution images would cause the design tool to be less responsive when moving, resizing, rotating, etc… We have created a smaller version of the image for the design tool which is actually what the user is manipulating in the browser.

Goodness, now I understand. I had a similar problem recently and couldn’t figure what was happening, my super crisp (large) image looked blurry on the previews in design tool. Now I understand, so no need to worry if that happens again.