Create a feature for 1:1 scaling.

Forum|Forum|5 days ago
April 22, 2026
2 replies
31 views

Feature request: Quick 1:1 scale resizing using known measurements

It would be extremely useful if Photoshop had a simple, discoverable way to resize an image to true 1:1 scale based on a known real‑world measurement.

For example, a user could use the Ruler Tool (or similar) to measure a known object in the image (such as a physical ruler), manually enter the real‑world length, and have Photoshop automatically scale the image accordingly—either with resampling or by adjusting resolution only.

This would greatly improve workflows for digitisation, archival imaging, product photography, and technical documentation, where accurate physical scale is essential.

D Fosse

Community Expert

I do this for printing 1:1 all the time, and I have a very reliable method. Could it be done in a simpler way? Maybe, but this works very quickly for me.

Include a known measurement. It could be a ruler, or it could be, say, a colorchecker card.
Crop the image temporarily to a known (ruler) measurement in the image.
Go to Image Size. Uncheck resample. Set the measurement size. Copy the resulting ppi value you get in Image Size.
Go back to uncropped original, open Image Size again, still with resample unchecked. Paste the ppi value you copied.
Done. It will now print 1:1.

phaywardAuthor

Participant

That’s a nice workaround! Thanks for sharing.

I still feel like a solution could be implemented in the software easily enough.

Fingers crossed.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

How would you use such an image? How would it be displayed?

I am trying to think of how this would be useful?

phaywardAuthor

Participant

Hi Trevor,

The use case: Museums and archives often have high‑resolution images of artworks but no reliable record of the original physical dimensions.

If an image includes a measurement scale or colour target, users need a quick way to convert that known real‑world measurement into a true 1:1 output size for printing.

Currently this requires manual measurement, calculations, and resolution adjustments. A feature that lets users measure a known object, enter its real‑world size, and have Photoshop automatically scale the image (with or without resampling, and at a chosen print DPI) would greatly simplify accurate 1:1 reproduction workflows.

D Fosse

Community Expert

Yeah, that’s precisely what I use it for. I work at an art museum, and sometimes we have originals that are just too fragile to travel or to put on display. Then I make an exhibition copy on a large format printer. They look so good we always make sure to mark it as a copy and put up a notice to that effect ;-)

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