Print Designers' FAQ

I designed an image to be 8" wide. Why does it come out at different sizes on different computers?

There is no such thing as "inches" on a computer screen. There are only pixels. A pixel is a valid unit of measurement...the kicker is that a pixels are different sizes on different screens. As a designer, you unfortunately have to relinquish control over the exact physical dimensions of the image you design (requiring your design, of course, to be a bit more flexible).

Everyone's screen has a different number of pixels. Most people have a screen that is 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels tall (which is the size that most websites are designed for). The screen itself may be 13" wide or it may 20"...but the number of pixels are the same, making the actual dimensions of the image change.

If the software you are using requires that you choose some inch and dpi measurement for export, would multiply the numbers to get the number of pixels. (Example: An image 8 inches wide * 72 dots per inch = 576 pixel-wide image).

More Questions?

Check out 'Designing for the Web' for a basic guide. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.