Image Resolution Calculator
Convert between pixel dimensions and print sizes instantly. Enter your pixel dimensions and DPI to find the print size, or enter a target print size and DPI to find the required pixel count.
Print Size Result
Inches
Centimeters
Pixel Dimensions Required
Common Print Size Presets
Click any preset to instantly populate the calculator. DPI is set to 300 (standard print quality).
Presets open in Pixels → Print Size mode and fill in 300 DPI pixel dimensions for the chosen paper size.
Common DPI Reference
| DPI | Use Case | 4×6" pixels | 8×10" pixels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | Web / Screen (standard) | 288 × 432 | 576 × 720 |
| 96 | Windows screen resolution | 384 × 576 | 768 × 960 |
| 150 | Draft / large-format print | 600 × 900 | 1,200 × 1,500 |
| 300 | Standard photo & document print | 1,200 × 1,800 | 2,400 × 3,000 |
| 600 | High-quality / fine-art print | 2,400 × 3,600 | 4,800 × 6,000 |
| 1200 | Archival / commercial offset | 4,800 × 7,200 | 9,600 × 12,000 |
Understanding Image Resolution
Resolution describes how much detail an image holds per unit of length. When working with digital images you encounter two related but distinct concepts:
- PPI (Pixels Per Inch) - The density of pixels on a screen. A 1920×1080 monitor at 24 inches is roughly 92 PPI.
- DPI (Dots Per Inch) - The density of ink dots a printer lays down. Most inkjet printers print at 300–600 DPI for photo-quality output.
The two values are directly linked: if you have a 3000×2000 pixel image and you set the print resolution to 300 DPI, the image will print at 10×6.67 inches. Increase the DPI setting and the print becomes smaller (but sharper); decrease it and the print gets larger (but softer).
Choosing the Right DPI
- 72–96 DPI - Fine for websites and screens. Never use for professional print.
- 150 DPI - Acceptable for large posters or banners viewed from a distance of several feet.
- 300 DPI - The industry standard for photo prints, brochures, and most commercial printing.
- 600 DPI - Use for fine-art prints, sharp text-heavy designs, or when printing small at high quality.
Megapixels and Print Size
A 12-megapixel camera produces roughly 4000×3000 pixels. At 300 DPI that gives you a maximum sharp print of about 13.3×10 inches - plenty for standard photo sizes. Going larger than the natural print size means the printer must interpolate (invent) missing pixels, which softens the image.
Setting Resolution in GIMP
GIMP stores two separate concepts: pixel dimensions (the actual image data) and print resolution (metadata telling a printer how large to print).
- Image → Print Size - Change the DPI metadata without altering any pixels. Use this to set a target print resolution before exporting to PDF or sending to a print shop.
- Image → Scale Image - Physically resample the image to a new pixel count. Use this when you need more (or fewer) actual pixels, for example upscaling to 3000×2000 before a 300 DPI print.
- File → Export As → JPEG / PNG - JPEG supports embedding DPI metadata; PNG does not store it in the same way. Always verify the DPI setting in the export dialog.
A common mistake is changing DPI in Print Size and expecting the file to look sharper on screen - It will not, because the pixel count is unchanged. True sharpness comes only from having more pixels.