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How many pixels do you need for an 8 × 10 print?
Published by Print Frame Notes
At a target of 300 pixels per inch, an 8 × 10 inch print needs 2400 × 3000 pixels after cropping. At 240 PPI it needs 1920 × 2400. Ask the lab which target applies to your chosen product.
Count the pixels that will reach the paper
Open the file you intend to upload and read its pixel width and height. A thumbnail downloaded from a messaging conversation can have the same composition as the original while giving you far fewer pixels. For a landscape print, write the paper size as 10 inches wide and 8 inches high before doing the division.
Imagine your landscape file is 3200 × 2200. Width gives 320 pixels per inch and height gives 275. The smaller figure governs an edge-to-edge print. At 275 PPI you keep 2750 × 2200 pixels, so you still need to trim 450 pixels from the width. Checking the width alone would give a misleading answer.
What if the file falls short?
At 275 PPI this example misses a 300 PPI target but clears a 240 PPI target. If your lab accepts the lower value, examine a proof at your intended viewing distance. If it specifically needs 300 PPI, look for the full-resolution original or choose a smaller size that fits the subject.
Look at the eyes or another point of fine detail before paying for a larger print. A well-focused file and a motion-blurred file can both measure 275 PPI. The pixel calculation cannot tell them apart. Keep the original and save a separate copy for the lab.