Resolution determines where your headshot can be used. A photo that looks sharp on LinkedIn might print as a blurry mess on a business card. A file optimized for email might be too small for a conference banner.
Knowing what resolution you need before you need it saves a lot of headache.
Digital vs. Print: The Core Difference
Digital (screens): Resolution is measured in pixels. A 400x400 pixel image looks great on LinkedIn because screens display at 72-96 pixels per inch. More pixels than the display can show are wasted.
Print: Resolution is measured in DPI (dots per inch) at the physical print size. Print requires 300 DPI at the intended size. A 300x300 pixel image is only 1 inch square at 300 DPI. For a 3x4 inch print, you need 900x1200 pixels.
The same image file serves both, but print demands far more pixels to look sharp.
Resolution by Use Case
| Use Case | Minimum Pixels | DPI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400x400 | N/A | 800x800 recommended | |
| Email signature | 200x200 | N/A | File size under 100KB |
| Slack/Teams | 512x512 | N/A | Displays at 36-256px |
| X/Twitter | 400x400 | N/A | Circular crop |
| Company website | 800x800 | N/A | Varies by design |
| Business card | 450x600 | 300 | At 1.5x2 inch print |
| Conference program | 900x1200 | 300 | At 3x4 inch print |
| Press kit (web) | 800x1000 | N/A | High quality JPG |
| Press kit (print) | 1500x1875 | 300 | At 5x6.25 inch |
| Banner/signage | 3000+ | 150 | Large format allows lower DPI |
What Your Photographer Should Deliver
A professional photographer should deliver files at the camera's native resolution, typically 4000-8000 pixels on the long edge. This gives you enough resolution for any use case, from email signatures to large-format prints.
Ask for:
- Full-resolution edited files (not pre-cropped to a specific size)
- Both TIFF/PNG (lossless) and JPG (web-ready) versions
- Files without compression artifacts
Red flags:
- Files under 2000 pixels on any edge (too small for versatile use)
- Only JPG, no lossless option
- Pre-cropped to one specific aspect ratio with no full-frame version
What AI Headshot Tools Deliver
AI generators like Narkis.ai produce output at resolutions suitable for digital use. Check the specific tool's output resolution before relying on it for print applications.
Most quality AI tools now produce images at 1024x1024 or higher, which is sufficient for:
- All social media platforms
- Email signatures
- Company websites
- Small print applications (business cards)
For large print use (conference banners, posters), you may need upscaling software like Topaz Photo AI or similar.
File Format Quick Guide
| Format | Best For | Compression | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIFF | Print, archival | None/Lossless | Highest |
| PNG | Web with transparency | Lossless | High |
| JPG | Web, email, social | Lossy | Good (at high quality) |
| WebP | Modern web | Lossy/Lossless | Good |
Rule of thumb: Keep a TIFF or PNG as your master file. Export JPGs from it for specific uses. Never edit a JPG and re-save it repeatedly. Each save cycle degrades quality.
For platform-specific guidance, see our headshots by platform guide. For cropping advice, see how to crop a headshot.
