Skip to main content
I
In Color Design
Participating Frequently
May 31, 2018
Question

Previous screenshot images displaying too small

  • May 31, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 903 views

PS CC2018

iMac 27" with retina display

I just got a new iMac with the retina display (not because I wanted too, I had too) and my old files and new files open smaller than my previous iMac. I should say they display smaller on the new iMac monitor. A 500px x 500px 72ppi file is still 500px x 500px, it just displays like it's 200px x 200px.

I understand the retina display native resolution and the PPI of the screen/display and how it correlates to the PPI in the image. Which is what's causing the problem (in Bridge and AI too...but that's another topic).

Is there a setting to make PS adapt to the new higher pixel count of the retina display, and display files on the monitor at their correct dimensions?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    Sebastian Bleak
    Community Expert
    Sebastian BleakCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 31, 2018

    Hi In Color Design

    I ran into this when I switched to a similar display. Unfortunately I haven’t found a setting that detects this automatically. I did get Retna DisplayMenu (RDM) to easily change between several resolution options.

    Attached is a screenshot of the program incase you’d like to check it out:

    Hope you find this helpful

    -Sebastian

    Per Berntsen
    Community Expert
    Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 31, 2018
    I understand the retina display native resolution and the PPI of the screen/display and how it correlates to the PPI in the image.

    This has everything to do with the ppi of the display, and nothing to do with the ppi of the image.

    Image ppi only comes into play when the image is printed - on screen it will display according to its pixel dimensions.

    And since you have a retina display with physically much smaller pixels than a regular display, the image will display smaller.

    Other applications (like web browsers) will scale images to 200% when detecting a retina display (using four screen pixels to display one image pixel), but Photoshop has to display them correctly - i.e. displaying one image pixel with one screen pixel at 100% view.

    So this is expected behavior with a Retina display. If you want to view images larger in Photoshop, use View > 200%.

    On non-Retina displays, your images will display larger, because the pixels are larger.

      I
      In Color DesignAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      May 31, 2018

      Thanks. I understand everything you noted. And there is a correlation between screen resolution and file resolution.

      What I'm looking for is a setting that detects and automatically compensates for the higher pixel count in the 5k monitor and displays a file at the same size I see it in other applications, like web browsers, without needing to zoom in.

      Per Berntsen
      Community Expert
      Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 31, 2018

      There is no way to set Photoshop to automatically open files at 200%, except possibly by scripting.

      But you can create a keyboard shortcut for View > 200%.

      Another option – I don't use a Mac, but I believe you can set an application to run with reduced resolution.

      This is not something I'd recommend, because modern displays are designed to run at their native resolution, and quality will suffer if you reduce the resolution. I have limited experience with Retina/HiDpi displays, but I suspect that a regular display at its native resolution would display with higher quality than a Retina display with reduced resolution. So it kind of defeats the purpose of having a Retina display.

      Apart from the cost, I am reluctant to getting a Retina/HiDpi display, because evaluating sharpness is difficult, due to the small pixels. Everything looks sharp, and you really need to go to 200% view to evaluate sharpness.

      I have a Fuji GFX 51 MP camera, and the LCD screen on the back will not let you view magnifications higher than 100%. At this magnification, it's impossible to tell slightly unsharp from sharp. I figured out that the LCD screen has a pixel density of around 360 ppi. So high resolution displays have their disadvantages, and I'm quite happy with my 24" 1920 x 1200 display.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices