diff --git a/ocrd/ocrd/workspace.py b/ocrd/ocrd/workspace.py
index eafc136f29..5434fbd6ff 100644
--- a/ocrd/ocrd/workspace.py
+++ b/ocrd/ocrd/workspace.py
@@ -1002,8 +1002,9 @@ def save_image_file(self, image,
                         file_grp,
                         page_id=None,
                         mimetype='image/png',
-                        force=False):
-        """Store an image in the filesystem and reference it as new file in the METS.
+                        force=False,
+                        dpi=None):
+        """Store and reference an image as file into the workspace.
 
         Args:
             image (PIL.Image): derived image to save
@@ -1024,7 +1025,17 @@ def save_image_file(self, image,
         if not force and self.overwrite_mode:
             force = True
         image_bytes = io.BytesIO()
-        image.save(image_bytes, format=MIME_TO_PIL[mimetype])
+        if dpi and not isinstance(dpi, tuple):
+            dpi = (dpi, dpi)
+        elif not dpi:
+            # TODO - brittle, will this always find the original image?
+            orig_img_file = self.mets.find_files(pageId=page_id, mimetype='//^image')[0]
+            orig_img_pil = self.resolve_image_exif(orig_img_file.url)
+            exif = OcrdExif(orig_img_pil)
+            dpi = (exif.xResolution, exif.yResolution)
+            if exif.resolutionUnit == 'cm':
+                dpi = (dpi[0] * 2.54, dpi[1] * 2.54)
+        image.save(image_bytes, dpi=dpi, format=MIME_TO_PIL[mimetype])
         file_path = str(Path(file_grp, '%s%s' % (file_id, MIME_TO_EXT[mimetype])))
         out = self.add_file(
             file_grp,