The Framely print-quality guide
Image resolution for printing photos
From pixels on your phone to a photograph on your wall. Find the right print size, understand your file and keep the details that matter.
Start with the original
Look for pixel dimensions, such as 4000 × 3000 px.
Account for your crop
Only the pixels inside the chosen crop reach the print.
Match detail to display
Size, viewing distance and source sharpness all matter.
The quick answer
Aim for around 300 PPI for detailed photo prints viewed close up. Larger wall prints may work well at lower densities, depending on viewing distance and the image. Use the actual pixels left after cropping and the dimensions of the printed photo. A high pixel count cannot correct blur, poor focus or heavy compression.
01 / Turn your file into a print plan
How large can I print my photo?
Enter your original image’s pixel dimensions and the size of the photograph you want to print. The calculator estimates a centred crop that fills the image area without stretching.
Your printed image
Use the photo area only. Exclude mat borders, unprinted margins and frame moulding. Match the photo’s orientation to the print.
Your estimated pixel density
241.9 PPI
Meets the 240 PPI planning target
Pixels remaining after the shape crop
≈ 4,000 × 2,829 px
94.3% of the original image area retained
For 42 × 29.7 cm at 240 PPI
3,969 × 2,807 px
Whole-pixel targets, rounded up
At 240 PPI, keeping this crop
42.3 × 29.9 cm
Maximum calculated image area at this target
There are enough pixels for this target. Check focus, noise, compression and the final crop before printing.
This tool checks numbers, not the photograph. No photo is uploaded or analysed. Cropped dimensions are approximate because a mathematical crop boundary may fall between pixels. It does not simulate bleed, canvas wraps, mat openings or frame overlap.
PPI = cropped pixels ÷ (printed centimetres ÷ 2.54)
Check both edges. To plan a pixel target, calculate cm ÷ 2.54 × PPI and round up. To find print size, calculate pixels ÷ PPI × 2.54.
02 / The reference worth bookmarking
Print size to pixel size chart
Compare three resolution targets for the 14 sizes in Framely’s glass-front guide. These calculations assume the photograph fills the listed dimensions; adjust the image area if you choose a mat or blank border.
| Reference size | Image areacm | 150 PPI pixels | 240 PPI pixels | 300 PPI pixels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3Rectangle | 29.7 × 42 | 1,754 × 2,481 | 2,807 × 3,969 | 3,508 × 4,961 |
| A2Rectangle | 42 × 59.4 | 2,481 × 3,508 | 3,969 × 5,613 | 4,961 × 7,016 |
| 50 × 70 cmRectangle | 50 × 70 | 2,953 × 4,134 | 4,725 × 6,615 | 5,906 × 8,268 |
| 60 × 90 cmRectangle | 60 × 90 | 3,544 × 5,315 | 5,670 × 8,504 | 7,087 × 10,630 |
| 70 × 100 cmRectangle | 70 × 100 | 4,134 × 5,906 | 6,615 × 9,449 | 8,268 × 11,812 |
| 60 × 30 cmPanoramic | 60 × 30 | 3,544 × 1,772 | 5,670 × 2,835 | 7,087 × 3,544 |
| 80 × 40 cmPanoramic | 80 × 40 | 4,725 × 2,363 | 7,560 × 3,780 | 9,449 × 4,725 |
| 100 × 50 cmPanoramic | 100 × 50 | 5,906 × 2,953 | 9,449 × 4,725 | 11,812 × 5,906 |
| 30 × 30 cmSquare | 30 × 30 | 1,772 × 1,772 | 2,835 × 2,835 | 3,544 × 3,544 |
| 40 × 40 cmSquare | 40 × 40 | 2,363 × 2,363 | 3,780 × 3,780 | 4,725 × 4,725 |
| 50 × 50 cmSquare | 50 × 50 | 2,953 × 2,953 | 4,725 × 4,725 | 5,906 × 5,906 |
| 60 × 60 cmSquare | 60 × 60 | 3,544 × 3,544 | 5,670 × 5,670 | 7,087 × 7,087 |
| 70 × 70 cmSquare | 70 × 70 | 4,134 × 4,134 | 6,615 × 6,615 | 8,268 × 8,268 |
| 90 × 90 cmSquare | 90 × 90 | 5,315 × 5,315 | 8,504 × 8,504 | 10,630 × 10,630 |
No sizes match this filter yet.
Each edge is rounded up to the next whole pixel. Swap width and height for the opposite orientation. Sizes are based on Framely’s current size guide; these are not verified image openings for every mat configuration.
There is no universal pass/fail number. 150, 240 and 300 PPI are comparison targets. A sharp original can be more useful than a much larger file that is out of focus or artificially enlarged.
Why the image area matters
If the frame’s selected size includes a mat, your photograph may occupy a smaller area. Calculate from that actual image area, then confirm the product configuration.
For frame dimensions, inch conversions and shapes, use the companion photo frame size guide.
03 / Understand the three numbers
Pixels are the file.
PPI connects it to the print.
Pixel dimensions tell you how many picture elements the photo contains. PPI tells you how densely they are spread over a chosen print. DPI describes the printer’s output dots.
Framely / Print resolution reference
Pixels, PPI and DPI measure different things.
Start with the photo’s pixel dimensions, then relate them to its printed size.
Pixels
The information in your file
Example: 4000 × 3000 px
12 MP describes a count, not sharpness.
PPI
Pixels per inch of printed image
Density changes with print size.
Schematic pixels; not 300 literal pixels.
DPI
Printer dots per inch
A setting of the printing system.
It is not the photo’s pixel count.
Changing a file’s “72 DPI” tag to “300 DPI” without resampling adds no pixels and no captured detail.
framely.com.au • Planning reference, not a guarantee of print quality • September 2026
Conceptual diagram. The grids and ink dots are illustrative, not a representation of a specific printing system.
300 PPI
A useful starting target for detailed photographs examined closely. Fine text and line work may have different requirements.
240 PPI
A useful comparison for photo prints when balancing available pixels and physical size. Assess the original and the intended display.
150 PPI
A lower-density comparison for larger wall prints viewed farther away. Close inspection may reveal softer detail; check a sample if uncertain.
Framely / Print resolution reference
Same pixels. Different print sizes.
One 3000 × 2000 px photo • No cropping or resampling • Images shown at the same relative scale
300 PPI
25.4 × 16.9 cm
A compact, detailed print
240 PPI
31.8 × 21.2 cm
A little more wall space
150 PPI
50.8 × 33.9 cm
Twice the width of 300 PPI
Halving the PPI doubles each printed edge and makes the printed area four times larger.
The photo still contains 6 million pixels. This screen illustration is not a calibrated print-quality proof.
framely.com.au • Planning reference, not a guarantee of print quality • September 2026
The physical areas are drawn at the same relative scale. This illustrates the arithmetic; your screen cannot provide a calibrated preview of printed sharpness.
Changing a metadata label alone does not create captured detail.
04 / Protect your pixel budget
Check the crop before the resolution.
A different shape removes part of the photo. A tighter crop removes even more. Use the pixels that remain, rather than the camera’s original megapixel count.
Example source: 6000 × 4000 px
3:2 Rectangle
6,000 × 4,000 px
24 MP · 100% retained
The shape matches the photo, so no pixels are removed. Every pixel from the source reaches the print.
Square
4,000 × 4,000 px
16 MP · 66.7% retained
The left and right edges are removed. Check people and details near both sides.
Panoramic
6,000 × 3,000 px
18 MP · 75.0% retained
The top and bottom are removed. Check the sky, the foreground and anything near the upper and lower edges.
The photograph illustrates a hypothetical 6000 × 4000 px source; the downloadable illustration itself is not a 24 MP camera file. Calculations assume a centred crop with no resampling or stretching.
Framely / Print resolution reference
A tighter crop leaves fewer pixels to print.
Worked example: a hypothetical 6000 × 4000 px source, using this illustrative coastal photo
Half the width and half the height = one-quarter of the original pixels. Keep the uncropped original.
For a shape-only crop, calculate the retained width and height first. Megapixels alone are not enough.
framely.com.au • Planning reference, not a guarantee of print quality • September 2026
A crop keeping half of each edge retains only a quarter of the pixels. Repositioning the crop changes the content retained, not the dimensions of that crop.
A square crop does not always lower PPI. Removing spare side pixels may leave the limiting edge unchanged. The result depends on the destination’s width and height; calculate both instead of assuming a fixed percentage loss in resolution.
05 / Find the numbers that matter
How to check your photo’s resolution
Look for width × height in pixels. A file-size value such as “4.8 MB” or a metadata label such as “72 DPI” is not enough to judge the available detail.
On an iPhone
Open the original in Photos, then swipe up or tap the information button. Check the pixel dimensions in the photo details. Make sure you are using the original, not a screenshot of it.
On Android
Open the original in your gallery or Google Photos and open Info or Details, often by swiping up. Find its pixel width and height. The exact labels vary by app and phone.
On a Mac
Open the file in Preview, then choose Tools → Show Inspector. Look for Image Size in pixels. Use a downloaded original if the file is still in a cloud library.
In Photoshop
Choose Image → Image Size and read the pixel dimensions. Turn off Resample when exploring how print size and PPI relate without adding or removing pixels.
Coastal-memory.jpg
Illustrative file-information panel
- Dimensions
- 4000 × 3000 px
- Pixel count
- 12 MP
- File size
- 4.8 MB
- Resolution tag
- 72 PPI
Use the highlighted dimensions.
This example still has 12 million pixels. At 300 PPI, the uncropped image can be printed at approximately 33.9 × 25.4 cm. Changing the tag to 300 without resampling does not alter those pixels.
06 / A useful phone-photo reference
What can a 12 MP or 24 MP image print?
These are calculated sizes for specific example dimensions, before cropping. Photos from the same phone can have different dimensions because of camera mode, export settings or edits.
| Example image | At 300 PPIcm | At 240 PPIcm | At 150 PPIcm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone-style 12 MP 4,032 × 3,024 px | 34.1 × 25.6 | 42.7 × 32.0 | 68.3 × 51.2 |
| 4:3 image · 12 MP 4,000 × 3,000 px | 33.9 × 25.4 | 42.3 × 31.8 | 67.7 × 50.8 |
| 3:2 image · 24 MP 6,000 × 4,000 px | 50.8 × 33.9 | 63.5 × 42.3 | 101.6 × 67.7 |
| 4:3 image · 48 MP 8,000 × 6,000 px | 67.7 × 50.8 | 84.7 × 63.5 | 135.5 × 101.6 |
Check the file you will actually upload. A social-media copy of a 24 MP photograph may be far smaller than the original. A full-resolution cloud download or direct original-file transfer is a better starting point.
07 / Quality is more than a number
Paper, canvas and viewing distance
A print seen from across a room is a different experience from a photograph held in your hands. The subject and surface affect how readily you notice fine detail.
Check what the numbers cannot.
Zoom in to look for motion blur, missed focus, noise, compression blocks and altered faces. Then view the image at a sensible scale. A 100% screen view is useful for finding defects, but it is not a true-size print proof.
For a large or particularly important print, a representative test print can help you judge the source and finish.
08 / Make the most of the image you have
What if the file is too small?
Work through these options in order. A larger export of the original can solve a problem that an enlarged screenshot cannot.
Find a better source
Check the camera card, photo library, photographer’s download or original attachment. Avoid preview thumbnails and messaging-app copies.
Reconsider the crop or size
Keeping more of the original can preserve detail. A smaller printed image, potentially presented with a mat, can improve pixel density.
Review any enlargement
Upscaling estimates new pixels. Compare faces, text and textures against the original and assess the result at the intended size.
More pixels do not always mean more truth. AI enlargement can create plausible details that differ from the original. Keep the original and be especially careful with wedding portraits, old family photographs and meaningful text.
09 / A final check before ordering
Keep your photo at its best.
-
Use the largest original available. Keep an untouched backup before editing.
-
Check the real pixel dimensions. Do not rely on megabytes or a DPI metadata label.
-
Match the shape and orientation. Check faces and details at every crop boundary.
-
Calculate for the printed image area. Confirm the effect of mats, white borders and any canvas wrap.
-
Inspect focus and compression. A favourable calculator result cannot identify image defects.
-
Export once at high quality. Keep full pixel dimensions and avoid repeated JPEG re-saving.
-
Use the product preview. Framely reviews submitted images before printing; the order preview determines the chosen composition.
Colour management and file-format acceptance are separate checks. Follow the live upload requirements and keep embedded colour information when exporting; do not convert to CMYK simply because the photo is being printed.
10 / A reference to keep and share
Your print-resolution toolkit.
Save the charts, share them with your photographer, or use the checklist before ordering.
11 / A few useful answers
Image resolution FAQs
What resolution do I need for printing photos?
Start with 300 PPI as a useful target for detailed photos viewed close up. A lower density can work for a larger wall print viewed farther away. Calculate the pixels remaining after cropping, then assess focus, noise and compression as well as the number.
Can a photo labelled 72 DPI still print well?
Yes. The label alone does not tell you how much detail is available. A 4000 × 3000 px file still has 12 million pixels whether its metadata says 72 or 300 PPI. At 300 PPI, the uncropped image measures about 33.9 × 25.4 cm.
How many pixels do I need for A3 or A2?
For an image filling A3 (29.7 × 42 cm), a 300 PPI target requires at least 3508 × 4961 px. For A2 (42 × 59.4 cm), it requires 4961 × 7016 px. These values are rounded up. If the image occupies a smaller area inside a mat or white border, calculate that actual image area instead.
Can I print a 12-megapixel phone photo at 60 × 90 cm?
Possibly, depending on the source and how it will be viewed. A 4000 × 3000 px landscape file cropped to a 90 × 60 cm image produces about 113 PPI. That is below the targets in this chart. It may suit some distant viewing, but a smaller print or a review of the original file is sensible before committing.
Does a larger file in megabytes mean a better print?
No. Megabytes measure storage size and are affected by format, compression and image content. Pixel dimensions describe the image grid. Neither number proves that a photo is in focus. Start with the largest original you can find, then inspect the image itself.
Will an AI upscaler fix a blurry photo?
It may make an enlargement look more pleasing, but added pixels are not the same as authentic captured detail. Faces, lettering and fine textures can change. Keep the original and compare carefully. An upscaled file can meet a pixel target while still needing a visual review.
Is canvas a solution for a low-resolution file?
Canvas texture can make tiny detail less prominent, and larger pieces are often viewed farther away. It does not restore missing detail or correct poor focus. Base the choice on the photograph, crop, size and viewing distance, and have uncertain files reviewed.
Does the calculator upload or analyse my photo?
No. This calculator uses only the dimensions you type. It calculates pixel density and a centred fill crop. It does not inspect a photo, detect blur, evaluate colour or guarantee a finished print. Use the product preview and Framely’s file review before production.
Should I send a screenshot or the original photo?
Send the original full-resolution photo wherever possible. A screenshot or a social-media copy can contain far fewer pixels. Export or download the original from your photo library, keep its full dimensions and avoid repeated JPEG re-saving.
Do mat borders or canvas wraps count in the print dimensions?
For a paper photo with a mat or blank border, use the area occupied by the photograph. For a canvas, check how the product handles wrap edges: extending, mirroring or cropping them can change the image area and composition. This calculator does not model wraps, bleed or frame-lip overlap.
Ready to see it on your wall?
Choose your finish, check the crop and preview your photograph.