Lettering preflight
Inspect the text before enlarging the image.
What text needs
Letter shape matters as much as pixel count.
Thin strokes fail first
Low-resolution text loses counters, fine serifs, punctuation, and tight spacing before large letterforms disappear. A higher pixel count helps only when the source crop still contains distinguishable shapes.
The AI model does not know the word
ESRGAN may sharpen a letter or invent a plausible stroke. That is unsafe for prices, ingredients, addresses, part numbers, legal text, and brand names because a convincing preview can still be wrong.
Use the local detail crop as evidence
The 1:1 crop shows actual source pixels, not AI output. Click a representative label and compare the crop with the planned printed size. The JPEG audit can help identify a heavily compressed source before enlargement.
Pixel planning
Calculate the type before choosing the workflow.
A 5 mm character is about 0.197 inches tall. At 300 DPI, it needs roughly 59 source pixels of height before considering antialiasing, weight, contrast, and printer behavior.
- Use a real text layer whenever you control the original design.
- Inspect the smallest important character, not only a large heading.
- Check letters at the intended physical size and normal viewing distance.
- Reject any AI preview that changes spelling or character shape.
Text FAQ
Know when AI type is too risky.
Can AI upscaling make blurry text readable?
Sometimes it can produce a more convincing preview, but it cannot recover the exact letterforms discarded by blur, low resolution, or lossy compression. Replace important text with a real text layer or a clean original whenever possible.
How many pixels tall should printed text be?
Multiply the physical character height in inches by the target DPI. The exact minimum depends on the typeface, weight, contrast, viewing distance, and printer, so use the result as a planning boundary rather than a guarantee.
What does the local edge signal measure?
It measures average pixel-to-pixel contrast inside the selected source crop. It can reveal a very soft or compressed crop, but it does not recognize characters or certify legibility.
Inspect the letters first.
If the source detail is viable, create a private preview and verify every important character at 100%.
Sources and verification
Primary references
- Adobe Photoshop image size and resolution ↗ — Vendor documentation for pixel dimensions, resolution, and print sizing.
- MDN image file type guide ↗ — Browser-oriented reference for JPEG, PNG, and WebP behavior.
These links identify the primary standards or provider guidance used for this page and were checked on . Third-party requirements and policies can change. Verify them with the provider before production or upload.