Choose the size for the job
A square crop can be reused from 4 × 4 to 5 × 5 without changing the position of the subject. The visible detail changes with scale, however. Compare the actual retained pixels rather than the pixel dimensions of the uncropped rectangular source.
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Inches | 5 × 5 |
| Centimetres | 12.7 × 12.7 |
| Millimetres | 127 × 127 |
| Short-edge-to-long-edge ratio | 1:1 |
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 | 750 × 750 |
| 240 | 1,200 × 1,200 |
| 300 | 1,500 × 1,500 |
A worked example
A 2400 × 2400 square image gives 480 PPI at 5 × 5 inches. The same image gives 600 PPI at 4 × 4 and 300 PPI at 8 × 8. Nothing has been added or removed in these three cases; the physical size alone changes the distribution of pixels.
Before you print
Two 5-inch squares cannot sit side by side across the 210 mm width of portrait A4, because the pair alone needs 254 mm. They can fit along A4’s 297 mm edge in landscape with a suitable gap, but the other edge and printer margins still constrain the arrangement.