Which print ratios should you offer?
A ratio describes shape. Pixel dimensions describe available image information.
Start with the frame shape
Two prints share a ratio when width and height scale by the same factor. An 8 × 12 inch print and a 12 × 18 inch print both use 2:3. A 16 × 20 inch print uses 4:5. Moving between ratios needs either a crop or borders.
| Ratio | Examples (inches) | Example pixels |
|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | 4 × 6, 8 × 12, 12 × 18 | 2400 × 3600 |
| 3:4 | 6 × 8, 9 × 12, 12 × 16 | 2400 × 3200 |
| 4:5 | 8 × 10, 12 × 15, 16 × 20 | 2400 × 3000 |
| 11:14 | 11 × 14, 22 × 28 | 3300 × 4200 |
| A-series | ISO paper proportion | 1 : approximately 1.414 |
Calculate the size you can actually print
At 300 pixels per inch, a 2400 × 3600 pixel image maps to an 8 × 12 inch print. The calculation is pixel dimensions divided by 300. A 12 × 18 inch print at that same density needs 3600 × 5400 pixels.
What the tool reports
PrintPack 0.3 checks the sizes you enter against the actual file proportions and pixel dimensions. Enter explicit sizes such as 8 x 10 in, 20 x 30 cm or A4. Missing proportions and insufficient effective PPI block packaging. Generated enlargements also check source density; imported files may already be upscaled, which cannot be detected. Enlargement is off by default.