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Heirloom Bob
Inspiring
March 23, 2023
Answered

Image size changes when dragging to a new document

  • March 23, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 1163 views

I have a 5" x 7" image in PS (24.2.1 and Windows 10). I created a new 8.5" x 11" document and when I drag the 5" x 7" image onto the letter size document, it is significantly larger than 5" x 7".

 

On the otherhand, if I Place a saved version of the 5" x 7" onto the letter size document, it is the correct size.

Why does a saved document maintain dimensions yet a drag and drop does not?

 

Bob

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer D Fosse

Photoshop doesn't work with sizes. It only works with pixels. A digital image file doesn't have a size.

 

The size is calculated later, using the ppi number stored with the file. Pixels per inch. Read that literally; it means exactly what it says. It explains itself.

 

Except when you make Smart Objects! Smart objects by design honor physical size, not pixels. That's in direct contradiction of how Photoshop "really" works; so the ppi calculation is performed behind the scenes and the image resized/resampled automatically.

 

If the two ppi numbers are the same, the result of that calculation = 1, so nothing happens. In other words, if you want smart objects to retain their true pixel size when placed; make sure the ppi numbers are the same.

2 replies

Participant
March 17, 2024

No, I am having same problem with suddenly , whatever I drag into my workspace is quadrupled in size. I have to decrease my workspace and drag the handles to get it to the size it always has opened in normaly. This is not a pixel size thing. This is a program gone wacky thing. Please tell me how to fix. 

Semaphoric
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 23, 2023

What are the PPI of your two images?

Heirloom Bob
Inspiring
March 23, 2023

The 5" x 7"is 600 and the letter sized document is 300.

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 23, 2023

Photoshop doesn't work with sizes. It only works with pixels. A digital image file doesn't have a size.

 

The size is calculated later, using the ppi number stored with the file. Pixels per inch. Read that literally; it means exactly what it says. It explains itself.

 

Except when you make Smart Objects! Smart objects by design honor physical size, not pixels. That's in direct contradiction of how Photoshop "really" works; so the ppi calculation is performed behind the scenes and the image resized/resampled automatically.

 

If the two ppi numbers are the same, the result of that calculation = 1, so nothing happens. In other words, if you want smart objects to retain their true pixel size when placed; make sure the ppi numbers are the same.