Why does an image show 96 PPI in file info but 300 PPI in GIMP?
Asked 10/1/2022
10 views
2 answers
0
When I check an image’s file information, it shows 96 DPI/PPI, but when I open the same image in GIMP it says 300. The images were downloaded from the web. Why do different programs show different values for the same file?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
1
2 things.
I.
The PPI information on a digital image is just a small piece of text embedded in the metadata in some file formats. Some file formats have it, some do not.
II.
Some programs use this information, some do not care at all about it.
When you say "I right click" you do not say where you are right-clicking. On the browser? Is it Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Brave, etc?... there are a lot of them. On the operating system, on the file manager? Which operating system?
Some programs, if the PPI information is missing, can assume a default resolution, some can say 96, some choose 72, and some 300. In reality that is irrelevant.
So the answer is: some programs and file formats handle the PPI metadata or the lack of it, in different ways.
(A side note. The correct unit is PPI; Pixels per inch. Dots is a unit to define the physical density of a printer)
Originally by user37321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user37321
3y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This usually happens because PPI/DPI in a digital image is just metadata, not the actual image detail. The image’s real resolution is its pixel dimensions; the PPI value is only a tag some programs read, ignore, or replace with a default.
Different apps handle missing or ambiguous PPI metadata differently. If the file doesn’t contain that value, one program may assume 96 PPI, while another may assume 300 PPI or something else. That’s why the same downloaded image can show different numbers in file info and in GIMP.
For web images, this value is often irrelevant unless you are printing or trying to calculate physical size. On screen, what matters is the pixel dimensions, not whether the metadata says 96 or 300.
Also, for image files the more accurate term is usually PPI (pixels per inch), not DPI.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI3y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I get enough image resolution from my camera for a 300 ppi print or Photoshop file?
What does the 72 DPI setting in my JPEG mean, and how does it relate to print resolution?
Can changing an image from 72 PPI to 300 PPI let me print larger without losing quality?
Does setting a JPEG to 300 PPI mean it will be delivered as 300 DPI?
What does a client's request for "300 ppi" photos actually mean?