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Graphics Help - Inches to Pixels??

by Rich Blondi
14 replies
I'm trying to put together an ad for an offline magazine and their requirements are that the size be 2.25 by 9.625 inches. All my graphics programs only give me options in pixels and I can't seem to figure out how I convert the two...can someone throw me a life line?
#graphics #inches #pixels
  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    The 'missing link' is the 'pixels per inch' setting.

    In Fireworks, when I create a new graphic, I can set the width and height in pixels and the number of pixels per inch.

    Sometimes this setting is in the 'properties' for the image. Sometimes it can be found when you export the file. It depends on which software you're using.

    But it will be there somewhere.

    Cheers,

    Neil
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    • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
      I just had another thought.

      You should ask the magazine which resolution they'd prefer.

      If they say 300dpi (dots per inch) then set your graphic software accordingly so that the output will be the best quality for the publisher.

      Pixels per inch and dots per inch are the same thing.

      The last thing you want is the publisher resizing a bitmap image that's set to the wrong resolution for their printing process because it will look hideously pixelated.

      Cheers,

      Neil
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  • Profile picture of the author LADWebDesign
    Magazines are usually printed at 300 ppi so here is the calculation:
    First you need to know your resolution (like 300 ppi) then you multiply that by the physical size. So 8X8 inches at 300 ppi is 2400X2400 pixels.

    For your case it's:
    2.25(300)X 9.625(300): so: 675px X 2887.5px

    The formula is correct, but check the math. lol

    Linda
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  • Profile picture of the author Ebbi
    Originally Posted by Rich Blondi View Post

    I'm trying to put together an ad for an offline magazine and their requirements are that the size be 2.25 by 9.625 inches. All my graphics programs only give me options in pixels and I can't seem to figure out how I convert the two...can someone throw me a life line?
    When ever you need to convert anything just go to google

    Just type the keyword "inches to pixels" the outcome is on top
    of Google!

    You can convert almost everything with google so remember that

    Hope it helps!

    Ebbi
    p.s. also photoshop has everything btw
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    • Profile picture of the author Rich Blondi
      Ok, I've done that in GIMP with the settings for 300DPI and it's HUGE..WAY bigger than 2.25 inches. What am I doing wrong here?
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      • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
        Your screen is much lower than 300dpi. Probably 72dpi.

        So it will look much bigger on screen.

        You need to trust the numbers. Remember you're producing this for a different device - not your screen.

        Cheers,

        Neil
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        • Profile picture of the author Rich Blondi
          Oh Lord.
          If I print it out can I see it how it will look in the mag?
          I don't trust myself to do this right if I can't see it.

          Much appreciated.
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          • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
            In your graphics software, set it to the resolution of your own printer.

            Then print it out.

            Set it back to the resolution the publisher wants before you send it to them.

            Cheers,

            Neil
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  • Profile picture of the author amariel
    With a resolution of 72 px/in, 2.25 is 162 pixels and 9.625 is 693 pixels. For an ad, I would imagine you need a higher resolution, probably 300. Multiply your px/in (300) by the inches.
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  • Profile picture of the author .cg.
    It appears larger then 2.25 inches because your monitor will only be displaying 72dpi (majority of mainstream monitors). Printers can output much finer detail then your monitor and therefore people usually recommend 300dpi for print. The printer will be able to capture all of this detail in a 2.25 inch image, while your monitor cannot.

    Try it out for yourself. Write some text, or create a simple design in 72dpi and 300dpi formats. Next, print out both of these images at the identical size. You'll be able to see the difference with the 300dpi image being much sharper.

    have-camera-will-travel.com/field_reports/the_300_dpi_print_myth.html

    Checkout the above link for a great comparison of different dpi outputs for print. You might be surprised at the results.

    And yes, Linda is correct, 300dpi at that size will be 675x2888 pixels.
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  • Profile picture of the author Eric Reed
    2.25 by 9.625 inches.

    The conversion you want is 180px X 693px

    Hope this helps!

    Eric
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  • Profile picture of the author blokh
    Just open up Adobe Photoshop ...

    Create a NEW file and it asks you for the size and resolution ... enter the size and select "inches" in the dropdown ... for the resolution enter 300 .... now you have the file that will go in the magazine just fine ... and yes, you can print this one too ...

    Done ads a lot for newspapers, magazines, banners, bill boards ... the same theory works. No need of mathematical calculations.

    Jut note that the actual pixel view on photoshop will show you view in pixels and Print size view shows you the actual print size. When you print this document on 100% zoom, it shows you the exact print that will come out.

    Also most magazines and printing agencies prefer you send them a PDF of the graphic ... in Photoshop you can save an image as a Photoshop PDF too.

    Hope this helped.
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  • Profile picture of the author .cg.
    Eric, you posted the 72dpi conversion. The original poster is using this for print, at 300dpi, and therefore should be designing his ad at 675x2888px.
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  • Profile picture of the author e-mail2u
    rich,

    How to change from pixel to inches using gimp.

    1. click on image in the top tool bar.
    2. Then click on scale image.
    3. in the pop up dialogue box change the pixel to inches then adjust your size width/height.
    4. adjust the resolution to what is required.
    5. click on the scale button.

    That's it..
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