| Size (in) | Square inches | Shape | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6 | 24 | 3:2 | Albums, wallets, scrapbooks |
| 5 x 7 | 35 | 7:5 | Cards, small frames |
| 8 x 10 | 80 | 5:4 | Standard frames |
| 13 x 19 | 247 | about 3:2 | Wall art, portfolio prints |
| 17 x 22 | 374 | about 4:3 | Exhibition and sales |
Aspect ratio is the sneaky part
A camera frame is about 3:2, the same shape as 4 x 6; a phone frame is usually 4:3. An 8 x 10 is 5:4, so a 3:2 photo loses a strip on the long side. 13 x 19 is a little shorter than 3:2 and crops very little. Check the crop before you print, and before you buy the frame.
How big is big enough
Phone photos hold up well to 8 x 10 and are fine at 13 x 19 on a wall seen from a few feet away. Cameras with more resolution make 17 x 22 comfortable. A printer’s quoted dpi doesn’t change the pixels your image has.
Printers by maximum size
- 4 x 6 only: Canon SELPHY CP1500, HP Sprocket Studio Plus, Kodak Dock Plus, Liene M100.
- Up to 5 x 7: Epson PictureMate PM-400.
- Letter and legal: Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500, Epson XP-8700, Canon PIXMA G620.
- 13 x 19: Canon PIXMA PRO-200S, Canon PRO-310, Epson ET-8550, Epson XP-15000.
- 17 x 22: Canon PRO-1100, Epson P900.