Render resolution calculator
Find the pixel size to render for a printed catalogue, poster or card, or check how large an existing render will print at a given DPI. Switch between inches and centimetres and use the presets for common print sizes.
Result
DPI only affects printing. On websites and in apps, images are shown by their pixel size, so the DPI value stored in a file makes no difference on screen.
How to use the calculator
Choose Pixels for a print size when you know how big the print will be. Enter the width and height, pick inches or centimetres and choose a DPI. The calculator shows the pixel size to render, the megapixels and the long side in pixels. The presets fill in common sizes, such as an A4 page, a US Letter page or a business card.
Choose Print size from pixels when you already have an image. Enter its width and height in pixels and a DPI, and the calculator shows how large it will print in inches and centimetres.
Pixels, DPI and print size
A digital image has a fixed number of pixels. DPI, short for dots per inch, describes how tightly those pixels are packed when the image is printed. The relationship is simple:
- Pixels = print size in inches × DPI
- Print size in inches = pixels ÷ DPI
One inch is 2.54 centimetres, so for metric sizes divide the centimetres by 2.54 first. An A4 page is 21 × 29.7 cm, which is about 8.27 × 11.69 inches. At 300 DPI it needs about 2,480 × 3,508 pixels.
Which DPI to choose
- 300 DPI is the usual target for printed catalogues, brochures and product cards viewed up close.
- 150 DPI is often enough for large posters and shop window graphics viewed from a distance.
- 600 DPI is sometimes requested for very fine detail or small, high quality prints.
- 72 or 96 DPI are traditional screen values. They have no effect on how an image looks on a screen.
When in doubt, ask your printer which resolution they expect, and render a little larger than the minimum so you have room to crop.
DPI does not matter on screen
Websites, marketplaces and social apps display images by their pixel size. A 2,000 × 2,000 pixel image looks the same online whether its file says 72 or 300 DPI. Only the pixel count matters. For online sizes, use the marketplace image size guide instead.
Matching renders to print sizes
In RenderMyJewels, still images export at four presets, measured on the long edge. 1K is 1,024 pixels, 2K is 2,048, 4K is 4,096 and 8K is 8,192. You can also set a custom width and height in pixels. At 300 DPI, the long side of the print works out like this:
| Preset | Long edge | Long side of the print at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1K | 1,024 px | about 3.4 in (8.7 cm) |
| 2K | 2,048 px | about 6.8 in (17.3 cm) |
| 4K | 4,096 px | about 13.7 in (34.7 cm) |
| 8K | 8,192 px | about 27.3 in (69.4 cm) |
These figures are simple pixel arithmetic, not a promise of print detail. RenderMyJewels draws each export from the live studio view and resizes it to the preset you pick, rather than rendering natively at 4K or 8K, so a bigger preset gives a bigger file, not finer detail in prongs, milgrain or stone facets. Work with the studio window as large as your screen allows, check each file at its final printed size and order a test print before a long catalogue run. The pixel size is what counts, and the DPI value is set in your layout or printing software when you place the image.
Tips for print
- Ask your printer for their preferred colour profile and bleed, and add the bleed to the print size before you calculate. A bleed of 3 mm or 1/8 inch on each side is common.
- Leave space around the piece so a layout designer can crop for different page shapes.
- Keep a PNG master for the highest quality, then make compressed copies for proofs and email.
For a full print workflow, see the jewelry catalogue production guide.