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 help: overview > device guidelines


Device Guidelines

These are suggestions for color mode, printable area, and ppi requirements for our output devices. Before you begin to size your scans, determine the smallest acceptable scan resolution requirement for the device.

Exceeding the suggested PPI could result in a file too large to output or additional megabyte charges. Save time and expense by testing the procedures that you will follow from start to finish.

Output Device Media Size Printable Area Device
Available
DPI
Suggested PPI
at final
dimensional size
Device
Color Mode

Xerox Docucolor color lasers

8.5 x 11
11 x 17
12 x 18

8 x 10.5
10.5 x 16.5
11.5 x 17.5

2400

200-300

CMYK
60" wide 59.5" wide 1200 100-150 CMYK
17x26 16.5x25.5 1440 180-360 RGB
16x24
11x17
15.5x23.5
10.5x16.5
2880 180-360 RGB
12x18 11.125x17.125 812 300 CMYK
12.375x18.125 11.125x17.125 1270 300 CMYK
1x1.5 36x24mm 4000 L. 1500-2000 RGB

Considerations for scans, file size, and resolution
When preparing your scans, remember that a higher scan resolution does not always result in better print quality. Excessive scan sizes result in huge files that extend print times with little improvement in print quality.

Vector-based graphics are suitable for type and logos, even when they are scaled to larger sizes. However, when you increase the size, any included raster images must have a proper resolution for the final dimensional print size. Because the number of pixels in an image is fixed, increasing the size of a raster image decreases its resolution, and decreasing its size increases its resolution.


Terms to understand
Pixels per inch (ppi) - Pixels are the individual elements that make up a digital file.

Dots per inch (dpi) - A measure of output resolution rendered by printers.

Perceptual Maximum Resolution - The resolution beyond which you visually experience no appreciable gain in the printed output.