Choose the size for the job
This is a useful format when a 12 × 18 crop would lose vertical detail from a landscape 4:3 photo. Compare whether the extra sky, foreground, or space around a group contributes to the image before choosing the more elongated alternative.
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Inches | 12 × 16 |
| Centimetres | 30.48 × 40.64 |
| Millimetres | 304.8 × 406.4 |
| Short-edge-to-long-edge ratio | 3:4 |
Pixel examples
These examples multiply each edge in inches by the stated PPI. They describe pixel counts for the chosen size, not a universal pass or fail rule for appearance. Use the retained pixels after cropping when checking an existing photo.
| Example PPI | Pixels |
|---|---|
| 150 | 1,800 × 2,400 |
| 240 | 2,880 × 3,840 |
| 300 | 3,600 × 4,800 |
A worked example
A 4000 × 3000 source placed at 16 × 12 inches gives 250 PPI with no crop. At 8 × 6 inches it gives 500 PPI. To place a 6000 × 4000 source in the larger frame using fill, retain an ideal 5333⅓ × 4000 rectangle, giving about 333.33 PPI and removing about 11.11% of the area.
Before you print
The 304.8 mm short edge is wider than portrait A3’s 297 mm. Rotating the image does not solve a two-edge fit check by itself. A2 can hold this rectangle with room around it, subject to your printer’s actual capabilities.