Printable Resolution Scale Calculator

PPI Formula:

\[ \text{PPI} = \frac{\sqrt{W^2 + H^2}}{D} \]

Pixels Per Inch (PPI):

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1. What is a Printable Resolution Scale Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the pixel density (PPI) of an image based on its resolution and physical print size.

Purpose: It helps photographers, designers, and printers understand the quality and sharpness of printed images.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ \text{PPI} = \frac{\sqrt{W^2 + H^2}}{D} \]

Where:

\( \text{PPI} \) — Pixels per inch (pixels/in)
\( W \) — Width resolution (pixels)
\( H \) — Height resolution (pixels)
\( D \) — Diagonal size (inches)

Explanation: The formula calculates the diagonal resolution in pixels and divides it by the physical diagonal size in inches.

3. Importance of PPI Calculation

Details: Higher PPI values result in sharper prints. Standard print quality typically requires 300 PPI, while large format prints may use lower values.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the image width and height in pixels, and the desired print diagonal size in inches. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good PPI for printing?
A: 300 PPI is standard for high-quality prints, 150-200 PPI is acceptable for large format prints viewed from a distance.

Q2: How does PPI relate to DPI?
A: PPI refers to digital image resolution, while DPI refers to printer dots per inch. They're often used interchangeably but are technically different.

Q3: Can I calculate print dimensions from PPI?
A: Yes, print width = pixel width/PPI, print height = pixel height/PPI.

Q4: Why use diagonal measurement?
A: Diagonal measurement provides a single value that accounts for both width and height dimensions.

Q5: Does higher PPI always mean better quality?
A: Up to a point, but beyond what the human eye can distinguish (about 300 PPI at normal viewing distance), higher PPI has diminishing returns.