A simple guide to pixels, megapixels and print size, so your prints come out sharp.
For a sharp print, aim for about 300 pixels for every inch of the print. A 4x6 inch print needs about 1200 x 1800 pixels. Almost every recent phone photo has far more than that, so most people can print at any common size without a problem.
Not sure which size to pick? See the print sizes guide.
These sizes are for 300 pixels per inch:
3.5x5 inch: 1050 x 1500 pixels (about 1.6 megapixels)
4x6 inch: 1200 x 1800 pixels (about 2.2 megapixels)
5x7 inch: 1500 x 2100 pixels (about 3.2 megapixels)
6x8 inch: 1800 x 2400 pixels (about 4.3 megapixels)
8x10 inch: 2400 x 3000 pixels (about 7.2 megapixels)
8x12 inch: 2400 x 3600 pixels (about 8.6 megapixels)
10x15 inch: 3000 x 4500 pixels (about 13.5 megapixels)
The same rule applies to a page. A full page of an A4 photo book is about 8.3 by 11.7 inch, so a photo that fills it needs roughly 2500 x 3500 pixels. A full page of a 12x12 inch book needs about 3600 x 3600 pixels. A photo that only takes up half a page needs about half as many pixels.
Chat apps shrink photos so they send faster. A photo that started at 4000 pixels wide may arrive at well under half that. It looks fine on a phone screen, but there are not enough pixels to fill a print.
Always upload the original from your camera roll, or ask the sender for the original file.
On Windows, right-click the photo, choose Properties, then the Details tab, and look for Dimensions. On a Mac, open the photo in Preview and choose Tools, then Show Inspector. Both show the width and height in pixels. Compare that with the table above.
When a print has a different shape from your photo, part of the photo is cropped away, and the pixels in that part go with it. A photo that is only just big enough may not be big enough after cropping. If your photo is close to the limit, choose a size that matches its shape, such as 6x8 inch for most phone photos.
Prints you look at from a distance, such as wall prints and posters, do not need the full 300 pixels per inch, because your eye cannot see that much detail from far away. A photo can look good with about half that. If you are unsure, upload the largest original you have and check the preview.
Software can enlarge a small photo, but it cannot add detail that was never captured. The photo will just look soft. It is better to find a larger original or to print at a smaller size.
Upload your originals and check every photo in the preview. Use code WELCOME20 for 20% off your first order (up to ₹500).
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