I think the "export at 300 DPI" rule for digital paintings is way overblown

Was at a friend's studio last month, she prints her character art at 150 DPI for convention prints and they look sharp as anything on a 24x36 poster. I've been sweating over 300 DPI for years because every tutorial screams it. Had a big piece for a gallery show at the local coffee shop, ran out of time and had to export at 150 DPI. Hung it up next to a 300 DPI print and nobody could tell the difference, not even the owner who's a graphic designer. So where's the actual cutoff where DPI matters if the viewing distance is more than a foot away? Anyone else test this with real prints?

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noahward1d ago

Did your friend test different viewing distances with those 150 DPI prints? I ran a quick experiment with some test strips at a local shop, held them at arm's length versus three feet away, and the 150 DPI stuff only looked soft if you put your nose on it. What kind of paper and ink setup was she using?