Add an image to see its pixel size, DPI, color mode, bit depth, transparency, ICC profile, and Exif details, plus a checklist to run before you print or post it.
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JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, and BMP · up to 12 images per selection
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How to Check Image DPI, Color Mode, and Other Metadata
An image file stores more than its picture. It also records its pixel dimensions, color mode (RGB, CMYK, or grayscale), bit depth, whether any pixels are transparent, an optional ICC color profile, and often a saved DPI value. Problems with these settings usually show up after a print order arrives or a page goes live.
This tool reads those details from the file header and from a reduced copy of the image drawn on a canvas, then lists them in one report with a print-ready checklist. For JPEG files it also shows basic Exif data: camera make and model, date and time, and whether a GPS tag is present.
Use it to answer practical questions. Is this file RGB or CMYK? How large can I print this photo? Does this PNG have transparency? Does this photo carry location data?
When to Inspect an Image Before You Print or Post It
Checking files before you send them to a printer
See the color mode, saved DPI, transparency, and color profile in one report before you upload artwork to an online print shop.
Working out how large you can print a photo
Find out which standard sizes your photo can fill at 300 dpi and 150 dpi, and see the exact print size at other DPI values in inches and centimeters.
Checking images you received from someone else
Confirm the format, pixel size, color mode, and transparency of logos, product shots, or stock images from clients and vendors.
Checking a photo for a GPS tag before you share it
See whether a JPEG's Exif data includes a GPS tag before you post it on social media or send it to someone you do not know well.
Inspect One Image or a Batch in 4 Steps
- Drop one or more images onto the upload area, or click it to choose files. Each selection takes up to 12 images.
- Read the summary cards: pixel size, color mode, bit depth, transparency, and ICC profile.
- Go through the print-ready check. Each item is marked OK, Check, or Problem.
- Use the print size tables to see how large the image can print at each DPI, and which standard sizes it covers.
Note: With several images loaded, click a thumbnail to switch reports. The icon on each thumbnail shows that image's worst result.
What the Report Can and Can't Tell You
- The saved DPI is a label in the file, not a measure of quality. Changing it does not add or remove pixels. The print size tables use the pixel dimensions.
- DPI is read from PNG files and from the JFIF header of JPEG files. Other formats, and JPEG files that store DPI only in Exif, show “No DPI data.”
- Bit depth means different things by format: bits per channel for PNG and JPEG, color resolution for GIF, and bits per pixel for BMP. WebP is shown as 8-bit.
- For JPEG files, the ICC profile field shows the profile's color space code, such as RGB or CMYK, not its name.
- Transparency is detected from a reduced copy of the image, so a very small transparent spot could be missed.
- Exif is read from JPEG files only. The date and time is the Exif DateTime tag, which can differ from the moment the photo was taken. A GPS tag means location data may be stored, but the tool does not show the coordinates.
- The tool does not edit your files. Always confirm the final file requirements with your printer.
JPEG vs PNG vs WebP vs GIF vs BMP: Color Modes and Transparency
General traits of each format. Support varies by software and by file.
| Format | Color modes | Transparency | Typical bit depth | Printing notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | RGB, CMYK, grayscale | No | 8-bit per channel | No transparency. Some apps can't display CMYK JPEG files correctly. |
| PNG | RGB, grayscale, indexed | Yes | 1 to 16-bit | No CMYK. Better suited to screens than to print. |
| WebP | RGB | Yes | 8-bit | Not supported by every print or editing app. Convert it first. |
| GIF | Indexed (up to 256 colors) | Yes, one transparent color | Up to 8-bit | Limited palette, so photos look poor. |
| BMP | RGB, indexed | Depends on the version | 1 to 32-bit | Large files that are rarely used for print jobs. |
Print-Ready Image Basics: RGB vs CMYK, DPI, and ICC Profiles
A short primer on the settings this report covers.
Five things worth checking before you send a file
Check the color mode, the pixel dimensions against your print size, whether the image has transparency, whether a color profile is present, and whether the file format is one your printer accepts. This tool reports all five and marks each as OK, Check, or Problem.
RGB vs CMYK: why colors change on paper
RGB mixes red, green, and blue light, so it suits screens. CMYK layers cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink, so it suits print. The two cover different ranges of color, which means bright blues and greens in an RGB file can look duller once converted to CMYK. Some printers convert RGB files for you and others ask for CMYK, so read your printer's file requirements.
DPI explained: what the number does and doesn't change
In an image file, DPI is a label that tells software how large to print the image. Divide the pixel dimensions by that number to get inches. A 3000 × 2000 px image labeled 300 dpi prints at 10 × 6.7 in, and the same image labeled 150 dpi prints at 20 × 13.3 in. The pixels are identical in both cases, so changing the label does not make a photo sharper.
How many pixels you need for common print sizes
Multiply the print size in inches by the DPI. At 300 dpi, a 4 × 6 in print needs 1200 × 1800 px, an 8 × 10 in print needs 2400 × 3000 px, and an 11 × 14 in print needs 3300 × 4200 px. At 150 dpi, those same sizes need half as many pixels in each direction.
What an ICC profile does
An ICC profile describes the color space a file was made in, such as sRGB. With a profile attached, apps, screens, and printers can convert colors using the same reference. Without one, they have to guess, and the same file can look different from one device to the next. If you need predictable color, embed a profile in your image editor before you send the file.
Common Print and Privacy Mistakes This Check Catches
Sending RGB artwork to a printer that expects CMYK
The file looks vivid on your screen, but the printed piece comes out duller than you expected.
💡 See the solution▼
Enlarging a small web image for a big print
A photo sized for a website, say 800 pixels wide, prints at only 50 dpi when stretched to 16 inches. It looks soft and blocky.
💡 See the solution▼
Sending a transparent PNG to print
Transparent areas may print as white, black, or another color, depending on the printer's software.
💡 See the solution▼
Skipping the color profile
An image with no ICC profile can look different on your monitor, on a client's screen, and on paper.
💡 See the solution▼
Posting a photo that carries a GPS tag
A photo taken at home may include location data, which can reveal where you live when you share the original file.
💡 See the solution▼
Questions About DPI, CMYK, ICC Profiles, and Exif
Q.What does this image metadata checker show?
A. It shows the pixel width and height, file format, color mode (RGB, CMYK, grayscale, or indexed color), bit depth, whether the image has transparent pixels, whether a color profile is present, and the DPI saved in the file. For JPEG files it also reads basic Exif data: camera make and model, date and time, and whether a GPS tag is present.
Q.How do I check the DPI of an image?
A. Add the file and look at the “DPI saved in file” line. The tool reads this value from PNG files and from the JFIF header of JPEG files. If a JPEG stores its DPI only in Exif, or the file is a WebP, GIF, or BMP, the tool shows “No DPI data.” The DPI value is only a label. It does not change the pixel count, so the print size table is based on pixel dimensions.
Q.What DPI do I need to print an image?
A. 300 dpi is the figure most print shops recommend for sharp prints. For large prints viewed from a few feet away, such as posters and banners, 150 dpi is often acceptable. To see what your image can do, divide its pixel width and height by the target DPI. The print size table does this for 600, 300, 200, 150, and 72 dpi. Your printer may publish its own minimum, so check its file requirements.
Q.How can I tell if an image is RGB or CMYK?
A. Look at the Color mode card. For JPEG files, the tool counts the color channels in the file: three channels are shown as RGB or YCbCr, and four channels are shown as CMYK or YCCK. For PNG, GIF, WebP, and BMP files, the tool reports RGB, grayscale, or indexed color. It only reports CMYK for JPEG files.
Q.Why do printers care about RGB and CMYK?
A. RGB describes color as mixed light, which is how screens work. CMYK describes color as layers of ink. Bright blues and greens in an RGB file can look duller after conversion to CMYK. Some printers convert RGB files for you and others expect CMYK, so the safe move is to check your printer's file requirements before you upload.
Q.How does the tool detect transparency?
A. It draws a reduced-size copy of the image on a canvas and looks for any pixel that is not fully opaque. This works for PNG, GIF, and WebP files. JPEG files cannot store transparency, so they always show “No.” Because the check uses a reduced copy, a very small transparent spot could be missed. A PNG that has an alpha channel but only opaque pixels also shows “No.”
Q.What does it mean if there is no ICC profile?
A. An ICC profile tells software what the color numbers in the file mean. Without one, screens and printers have to guess, and colors can shift. If color accuracy matters, embed a profile such as sRGB in your image editor before you send the file, or ask your printer which profile it wants. For JPEG files, this tool shows the profile's color space code (for example RGB or CMYK), not the profile's name.
Q.Can it show my photo's GPS coordinates or remove Exif data?
A. No. The tool only tells you whether the Exif block contains a GPS tag. It does not display coordinates, and it does not edit or remove metadata. It reads Exif from JPEG files only. If a GPS tag is flagged, remove location data with your phone's sharing options or an image editor before you post the photo.
Q.Are my images uploaded anywhere?
A. No. The tool reads your files in your browser and does not send them to a server. The images disappear when you close or reload the page, or when you select “Clear all.”
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