A 3:2 photo in an 8 × 10 frame
500 PPIafter crop
A 6000 × 4000 photo becomes 5000 × 4000 pixels after a 5:4 fill crop. That is 500 PPI at 10 × 8 inches, with 16.7% of the original area removed.
Read the calculation and next stepsPRINT PREP LAB / PRACTICAL PREPRESS
Better print decisions.Start with the real pixels.
Check image resolution, final size, crop and bleed before sending your artwork to print. Use the calculation, understand what it means, then confirm the printer’s requirements.
Local image checksNo account requiredVisible calculations
Live print check
Runs locally in your browser1Image dimensionspixels
×
2
3Quality targetPPI
Print readiness
Meets target
YOUR IMAGE3:2
TrimSafe area6 in4 in
Source file3600 × 2400 px8.6 MP · ratio 3:2
Crop needed0%Ratio match
Pixels needed1800 × 1200 px300 PPI · selected target
With 3 mm bleed158.4 × 107.6 mm1871 × 1271 px
Maximum print sizeswithout changing pixel count
| Target | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 150 PPI | 24 × 16 | 61 × 40.6 |
| 240 PPI | 15 × 10 | 38.1 × 25.4 |
| 300 PPI | 12 × 8 | 30.5 × 20.3 |
Best aspect-ratio matcheslowest estimated crop
At the 300 PPI target. Final requirements vary by printer, paper and viewing distance—confirm the shop's specification before production.
NEW / PDF INSPECTION
Inspect a PDF →Open the file. See what is inside.
Inspect every PDF page: real dimensions, trim and bleed boxes, and image PPI at its placed size. Preview pages and take a report to your printer. Your file stays in your browser.
THE TOOLKIT
Compare all toolsA tool for each print question.
01
PDF print preflight
Does my PDF match the printer's requirements?
02Print readiness checker
Is my image large enough to print?
03Pixels to print size
How large will these pixels print?
04Print size to pixels
How many pixels do I need for this print?
05DPI / PPI calculator
What PPI will my image have when printed?
06Paper size in pixels
What is this paper size in pixels?
07Aspect ratio & crop
How much of my photo will be cropped?
08Bleed & safe area
What canvas size includes print bleed?
WORKED EXAMPLES
See the number. Understand the decision.
Illustrative jobs with stated assumptions. Recalculate for your own printer and product.
An A4 flyer with 3 mm bleed
216 × 303mm artwork canvas
The finished page is 210 × 297 mm. Adding 3 mm on all four edges makes a 216 × 303 mm canvas: 2551 × 3579 pixels at 300 PPI, rounded to whole pixels.
Read the calculation and next stepsA small image, an honest print limit
4 × 2.67inches at 300 PPI
A 1200 × 800 pixel original prints 4 × 2.67 inches at 300 PPI. Changing the file’s DPI tag cannot create the missing detail. A smaller print or a better source is the first fix.
Read the calculation and next stepsTHE PRINT PREPARATION LIBRARY
Go from an answer to a finished file.
Learn resolution, cropping, color, export and production checks. Every guide links the decision to a practical next step.
010203040506070809101112
DPI vs PPI: What Matters for Printing?
Learn the practical difference between image PPI and printer DPI, and which number to use when preparing a file for print.
How Large Can I Print My Image? A Pixel-Based Guide
Use pixel dimensions and PPI to estimate a photo's maximum print size, then check the file at 150, 240 and 300 PPI.
Print Resolution Guide: 150 vs 240 vs 300 PPI
Compare 150, 240 and 300 PPI for different print sizes and viewing distances, with formulas and practical examples.
Bleed, Trim and Safe Area: A Practical Print Guide
Understand bleed, trim size and safe area, including common margins and a step-by-step setup workflow for print files.
Photo Print Aspect Ratios and Cropping Explained
Compare common camera and print aspect ratios, see which sizes fit, and learn when to crop, add borders or choose another print.
Print File Preflight Checklist: 12 Checks Before You Export
Check trim, crop, effective PPI, bleed, safe area, color, file format and proofing in the right order before sending artwork to print.
How to Export Images for Large-Format Printing
Choose dimensions, viewing-distance resolution, crop, sharpening, color and export settings for posters and wall prints without inventing pixels.
A4 vs US Letter: Size, Pixels and Layout Differences
Compare A4 and US Letter in millimetres, inches, pixels and aspect ratio, then adapt a full-page layout without accidental crop or reflow.
RGB or CMYK? Prepare Color for Your Printer
Choose the right color workflow, keep a master image, check profiles and proof important colors before a print run.
Prepare a PDF for Print: Check the File You Actually Send
A practical PDF handoff covering trim, bleed, fonts, image resolution, output settings and a reopened-file review.
Low-Resolution Images: What You Can Fix Before Printing
Diagnose missing pixels, blur, compression and crop loss, then choose a smaller print, a better source or a carefully checked enlargement.
Business Card Print Setup: Trim, Bleed and Safe Area
Work through an 85 × 55 mm example, calculate a 3 mm bleed canvas and keep names, logos and QR codes away from the cut.
WHO THIS IS FOR
For the person preparing the print.
Print Prep Lab helps designers, photographers, print sellers, students and production teams turn pixel dimensions and printer specifications into a repeatable preparation process. Start with a file or a finished size; the tools show the math rather than treating a DPI label as evidence of quality.
A pixel-density result is one check, not a production approval. Sharpness, compression, color profiles, fonts, paper and finishing need separate review. Our guides explain these limits and help you ask the printer the right questions.
Managing a production job?
Keep browser-local jobs, costing, suppliers and release evidence together in the professional workspace.