Digital art print guide
Print size, pixels and PPI for a digital pet portrait
Calculate from the delivered file’s pixels and the actual print dimensions. Kaptola’s standard custom portrait is a 4800 × 6000 px, 4:5 PNG; a 300-DPI metadata label is not the effective PPI at every size.
Inch-based print sizes
Divide each pixel dimension by its matching print dimension in inches. At 16 × 20 inches, 4800 ÷ 16 = 300 and 6000 ÷ 20 = 300 PPI. These 4:5 examples need no aspect-ratio crop.
| Print size | Effective PPI |
|---|---|
| 8 × 10 in | 600 |
| 16 × 20 in | 300 |
| 20 × 25 in | 240 |
Metric frame and poster sizes
Convert centimetres to inches before dividing: inches = cm ÷ 2.54. At 40 × 50 cm, 4800 ÷ (40 ÷ 2.54) = 304.8 PPI on both sides, or approximately 305 PPI without a ratio crop. It is a practical metric choice, not an exact conversion of 16 × 20 inches. Check that your chosen frame or print service offers the exact size.
| Print size | Effective PPI |
|---|---|
| 20 × 25 cm | ≈ 610 |
| 40 × 50 cm | ≈ 305 |
When a different ratio needs cropping
30 × 40 cm, 50 × 70 cm and A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) do not match 4:5. To fill a 30 × 40 cm print, crop the source width from 4800 to 4500 px while keeping 6000 px in height; the cropped image is 4500 ÷ (30 ÷ 2.54) = 381 PPI, not 406 PPI from the uncropped width. Filling 50 × 70 cm by cropping gives about 218 PPI from the 6000 px height. Borders preserve the full image instead; a specially prepared layout is another option. See the crop and border choices, and inspect the printer’s preview.
What does “300 DPI” mean?
PPI is the image pixels per inch at the chosen physical size. Printer DPI describes ink dots; a 300-DPI number stored in a PNG is metadata, not extra image detail. Changing that label cannot turn a 240 PPI print at 20 × 25 inches into 300 PPI.
Check the print service
These numbers describe pixel density, not guaranteed appearance. Paper, print process, viewing distance and the service’s file requirements all matter, especially at larger sizes. A gallery-wrapped canvas may put part of the image around its edges. Check the printer’s crop or bleed preview before ordering. Kaptola currently supplies digital files, not shipped prints or canvases; check the selected Etsy listing for the file supplied.