Canvas Size Converter

Convert between inches, centimeters, and pixels for different DPI settings. Perfect for planning digital artwork, print preparations, and understanding canvas dimensions.

Input Dimensions

Width

Height

Unit

DPI (for pixel conversion)

Ready to Convert

Enter dimensions to see conversions between units

Standard Canvas Sizes

Conversion Tips

DPI Guidelines:

• 72 DPI: Standard web resolution
• 150 DPI: Basic print quality
• 300 DPI: Photo quality printing
• 600 DPI: Professional printing

Common Uses:

• Digital Art: Start with pixels, convert to inches
• Print Design: Work in inches/cm at 300 DPI
• Web Design: Use pixels at 72-96 DPI
• Large Format: Lower DPI acceptable for viewing distance

Why Canvas Size Conversion Is Essential for Artists

Artists regularly work across physical and digital mediums, and each medium uses different measurement systems. A traditional painter thinks in inches or centimeters when selecting a canvas from an art supply store, while a digital artist works in pixels within their software. When translating a physical painting into a digital reproduction, or when preparing a digital design for physical printing, accurate unit conversion is critical. A single miscalculation can result in artwork that is cropped incorrectly, printed at the wrong scale, or displayed with unexpected proportions. This converter eliminates that risk by providing precise conversions between inches, centimeters, and pixels at any DPI setting you specify.

Understanding DPI in the Context of Canvas Sizing

DPI acts as the bridge between physical measurements and pixel counts. At 72 DPI, which is the standard for web display, an 8-inch-wide canvas translates to just 576 pixels. At 300 DPI, the standard for print, that same 8-inch canvas requires 2400 pixels to maintain full quality. This means that an image created for screen viewing at 72 DPI will appear extremely small and pixelated if printed at its native resolution. Conversely, a high-resolution print file at 300 DPI contains far more data than needed for web display and should be resized down to reduce file size and loading times. Understanding these relationships allows you to create artwork at the correct resolution for its intended output from the very beginning of your project.

Common Conversion Scenarios

The most frequent use case for canvas size conversion is preparing digital artwork for physical printing. If a client requests a 16x20 inch print at 300 DPI, you need to know that your digital canvas must be at least 4800x6000 pixels. Another common scenario is converting between metric and imperial measurements when purchasing canvases internationally or following tutorials that use a different measurement system than you are accustomed to. Photographers converting RAW files to specific print dimensions, graphic designers preparing assets for both web and print campaigns, and illustrators scaling artwork between different publication formats all benefit from having a reliable conversion tool that handles the arithmetic precisely and instantly.

Tips for Working with Multiple Canvas Sizes

When planning a series of artworks or preparing files for multiple output formats, establish your largest required size first and work downward. It is always better to create at a higher resolution and scale down than to attempt upscaling a low-resolution file. Keep a reference document listing the pixel dimensions for every standard canvas size you commonly use at your preferred DPI. Many professional artists maintain template files in their digital painting software with pre-configured canvas sizes for their most frequent projects, saving setup time and ensuring consistency across their body of work.

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