How to use this preset
- Add your photo; 1800 x 1200 px is preset.
- For a portrait print, swap the numbers to 1200 x 1800.
- Press Resize image; the photo is cropped to 3:2.
- Print at 4 x 6 with "fit to page" turned off.
4x6 passport photo sheets
A 4 x 6 inch print is the cheapest way to get passport photos: a pharmacy or kiosk print costs very little, and one sheet holds several copies. Don't resize a single passport photo to 4 x 6, because it would be printed far too big. Use the passport photo maker, which lays out 2 x 2 inch or 35 x 45 mm copies on a 4 x 6 sheet at the correct scale. Then print the sheet at 100%.
Some exam portals have also asked for a scanned postcard-size (4 x 6) photo. NEET 2022, for example, wanted one at 10-200 KB. That was an older cycle, so check the current bulletin. To reach a KB limit after resizing, use compress image to 200KB.
4 x 6 inches vs 4 x 6 cm
A 4 x 6 cm photo is much smaller: about 472 x 709 px at 300 dpi. Type those numbers into the boxes if your form asks for cm. 6 x 4 and 4 x 6 are the same size in different orientations.
- 300 dpi is ideal; around 200 dpi still looks fine at this size.
- Choosing your own crop? Do it with the 3:2 frame in crop image.
- Other inch sizes: resize image in inches.
Pixels, inches and DPI
Printers think in inches, screens in pixels. DPI (dots per inch) connects them: at 300 dpi, the standard for sharp photo prints, a 6 inch side needs 1800 pixels and a 4 inch side needs 1200. So 1800 x 1200 pixels gives a crisp 4 x 6 print. Higher-resolution files are fine too, but anything much smaller can look soft.
Why crop before printing
Phone photos are usually 4:3, while 4 x 6 prints are 3:2. If you send a 4:3 photo, the printer has to crop the top and bottom or add white borders, and it may cut off heads. Cropping to 3:2 yourself means the print shows exactly what you chose. Use the crop tool first if you want to pick the area rather than using the automatic center crop.
Other print sizes
For a 5 x 7 inch print use 2100 x 1500 pixels. For 8 x 10 inches use 3000 x 2400. A2 posters need about 4960 x 7016 pixels at 300 dpi, though large posters are viewed from further away and look fine at 150 dpi. Type any of these into the boxes above.
Enlarging small photos
If your original is smaller than the print size, enlarging it will add pixels but not detail. A photo of about 1200 pixels on its long side still prints acceptably at 4 x 6 inches at around 200 dpi. For bigger prints, start from the original camera file rather than a copy shared through a messaging app.
Printing at home
At home, choose the 4 x 6 paper size in your printer settings and turn off any "fit to page" or "borderless expansion" options that crop the image again. Use photo paper for the best colors. If the print looks too dark, increase the brightness slightly in your photo app before printing, as screens are usually brighter than paper.
Frequently asked questions
How many pixels is a 4x6 photo?
1800 x 1200 pixels at 300 dpi.
Does DPI matter for printing?
Yes. 300 dpi gives sharp prints; below 150 dpi may look soft.
Should I turn off fit to page?
Yes, if your image is already 4 x 6, so the printer does not crop it again.
How do I resize a photo to print 4x6?
Add it here (1800 x 1200 px is preset), press Resize image and print at 4 x 6 inches with scaling turned off.
How do I resize a photo to 4x6 cm?
Type 709 x 472 pixels (or 472 x 709 for portrait), which is 6 x 4 cm at 300 dpi.
How do I change a photo from 4x6 to 6x4?
Swap the width and height values. 1200 x 1800 is portrait and 1800 x 1200 is landscape.