By Fitz Shops / Pixel Zoodle · Updated October 22, 2026
What happens to a 3000 × 2000 photo on 10 × 8 paper?
The source ratio is 3:2, while the paper ratio is 5:4. To fill that paper without stretching, the retained crop is 2500 × 2000 pixels: 250 pixels are removed from each side. That leaves 83.33% of the source area and 250 PPI across the print.
To retain every pixel, the same photograph fits at 10 × 6.67 inches, with about 0.67 inches of border above and below. Its density is 300 PPI. A higher PPI target does not create pixels; it changes the standard you compare against.
How the planner calculates each choice
First, centimeter measurements are divided by 2.54 to get inches. For a fill crop, effective PPI is the smaller of pixel width ÷ print width and pixel height ÷ print height. Multiplying that PPI by each print dimension gives the portion of the original image that fits.
For whole-image fitting, use the larger of those two density values. Divide each pixel dimension by that value to get the printed image size. Subtract the image size from the paper size and divide by two to get each centered border. Fractional crop pixels are planning estimates; an image editor must choose actual pixel boundaries.
Resolution is only one part of a good print
Use the PPI requested by your print service. A result above that target confirms the numerical density, not sharp focus, clean compression, accurate color or a suitable crop. Inspect the original, especially faces and fine text. A screenshot enlarged to a large pixel count can still contain very little useful detail.
Before you place the order
- Check the final crop in the printer’s preview. This planner assumes centered cropping; you may prefer to move the crop to protect the subject.
- Confirm borderless support, bleed and safe areas. These are separate production requirements.
- Make sure a mat or frame opening does not cover important details.
- Ask for a proof when color or small text matters.
This tool calculates dimensions and exports notes. It does not crop, resize, inspect or upload a photograph. To resize pixels while keeping the whole image, use the image desk. For a simple PPI conversion, use the print-size calculator.