Choose the size for the job
Check the pocket opening before choosing the print. A nominal pocket label can describe the intended photograph rather than every millimetre of visible space. At exactly 88.9 × 127 mm, this format is narrower and shorter than 4 × 6 inches, but it is also proportionally less elongated.
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Inches | 3.5 × 5 |
| Centimetres | 8.89 × 12.7 |
| Millimetres | 88.9 × 127 |
| Short-edge-to-long-edge ratio | 7:10 |
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 | 525 × 750 |
| 240 | 840 × 1,200 |
| 300 | 1,050 × 1,500 |
A worked example
A landscape file of 1500 × 1050 pixels fits a 5 × 3.5 inch print at exactly 300 PPI without a crop. For comparison, a 3000 × 2000 photo kept whole at 5 inches wide becomes 3⅓ inches high. Inside the same 5 × 3.5 frame, a centred image leaves about 0.0833 inch above and below.
Before you print
Do not enter 3.5 as a centimetre measurement or substitute 9 × 13 cm as an exact equivalent. The latter is a different physical rectangle. Select the units first, then compare both the crop and the final outside size before sending a file to a lab.