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Which unit does Adobe XD use for pixel sizing?

New Here ,
Apr 14, 2016 Apr 14, 2016

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Hello,

is Adobe XD using dp, px, pt? I can´t find this information in the gui.

Is there a option to change between units now?

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correct answers 2 Correct answers

Adobe Employee , Apr 14, 2016 Apr 14, 2016

Hi!

XD currently uses a virtual pixel for most of its measurements (including font size), which should be the same unit of measure as a CSS pixel, or most measurements in iOS. It's roughly equal to 1 physical pixel on a 72 dpi monitor (and, incidentally, a point).

I'm afraid there's no option to change the unit currently. Which units would you find useful?

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Adobe Employee , Aug 24, 2017 Aug 24, 2017

Hello there,

The pttopx converter you linked is using the conversion of number of pixels = number of points * (pixels per inch / points per inch), where the pixels per inch (or DPI) can change, and 72 is the typical number of points per inch. This whole problem of converting design units to a physical size is tricky, and so, at least for now, XD kind of sidesteps it.

It's easiest to think of XD as unit-less, kind of like a vector graphic, and focus instead on the relationships between elements. Le

...

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New Here ,
Apr 20, 2020 Apr 20, 2020

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I don't have access to the above forum. Can you post an update here and let us know an ETA on when this will be fixed? Its been a year since the original post and I still don't see this on the known issues page (https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/xd/kb/known-issues.html)

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Community Beginner ,
Dec 20, 2020 Dec 20, 2020

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This is corporate gaslighting. aka dark patterns.

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Community Expert ,
Dec 20, 2020 Dec 20, 2020

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No, it's not. Font size issues are a delicate matter.

Sketch is also having difficulties explaining it to users.

https://twitter.com/sketch/status/897049898977157120

Quote: "We are looking into providing a more detailed explanation of this as it can be quite a complex matter!"

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Community Expert ,
Dec 20, 2020 Dec 20, 2020

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It's not about corporate gaslighting, it's just a terrible mess...

If you don't believe what I've been telling a year ago, read this guide: 

https://learnui.design/blog/ultimate-guide-font-sizes-ui-design.html

Yeah, I know, it's about Sketch. But they have the same problem.

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New Here ,
Jul 31, 2019 Jul 31, 2019

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Hello,

I am also facing the same problem with the Adobe XD design specs when handed off to developers.  When I'm designing in XD, unit measures are not the same as pixels indicated on the version for Developers.  This is causing a problem for design hand off to developers.  Font size, icons, padding, line height, etc. are all different in the developers' CSS version in web browsers. 

I urge Adobe to fix this issue.  In the meantime, I will have to look into using a different tool.

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Explorer ,
Sep 12, 2019 Sep 12, 2019

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@harshika Can you please assign someone else instead of Abhishek, as he is irresponsive and it's not helpful. 

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Community Beginner ,
Nov 04, 2019 Nov 04, 2019

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Hi, did you get an answer for that issue? I encountered the same issue. evrything looks fine on the xd but looks huge when developing. How can we convert the points to pixels automatically?

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Explorer ,
Nov 04, 2019 Nov 04, 2019

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Hey, I didn't get the answer for this. So, I have moved to Sketch because of this.

 

I think Adobe XD is still not there and they are more focused on mobile apps design rather than desktop. Whereas, Sketch is far more sophisticated when it comes to designing for a mobile or desktop-based UI, which works perfectly for a designer like me. 

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Community Beginner ,
Dec 04, 2019 Dec 04, 2019

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this is crazy 

everyone i know left XD to figma or sketch because of this issue

why cant you solve it?

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Explorer ,
May 11, 2020 May 11, 2020

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I love xd, but I've just left xd for that same problem! I do not understand why the team does not work seriously on the basics ( fonts is a BASIC ) in place to add special featuring. I never received feedback from the team. 2 years that I'm still waiting, so...know I decide to work with Figma

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Community Beginner ,
Dec 10, 2019 Dec 10, 2019

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Having the same issue adobe xd display screens the size of everything by 75% thats why our current work around we need to convert all the font size, grid etc to 75 less which is so frustrating

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Community Beginner ,
Feb 04, 2020 Feb 04, 2020

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this has a solution 

go to http://howbigismybrowser.com/

check your browser

then in XD change your canvas size to that width & the veiwpoint to that hight

http://prntscr.com/qxqqj3

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New Here ,
Feb 19, 2020 Feb 19, 2020

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I dont get you solution it still does work out.

 

If you reduce your artboard, you pixel units will still say the same.

 

I have made a button on XD where the width is 217px and height 71px. When I code the button on the browser the button looks very large is comparison to what is displayed on XD. 

 

It seems to be that XD pixels units are not real pixels units are they?

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 04, 2020 Mar 04, 2020

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Has anyone figured out a resolution to this issue? The thread link offered by @karanpreet_chawla doesn't have the answer. 

ISSUE: The desktop designs on XD are sized correctly (fonts, icons, etc) all assets are correct in terms of XD design. However, when the developers try to export the designs into the staging sites fonts and icons look bigger than they are supposed to be. Inspecting the elemenets show they are sized at the same px size XD claims to be. In XD, fonts are measured in points, investigating the developer link shows that when you change the character style options from px/pt/dp the value stays the same. There should be some conversion. For example: 11.25pt should be 15px // this does not equate in XD. When will there be a fix?

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New Here ,
Mar 13, 2020 Mar 13, 2020

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This issue is boring , also from my experience , adobe meant to do this errors , not in font size only but in other options as well , such as Zooming and grids.....etc Worst UX ever

My office can't understand this problem and don't have time for it , thats why I had to move on  using Figma and InVision

I've read many questions in this adobe community , and I can't find a single correct answer.... useless platform

 

also one last thing , the Plugins ..... omg even words can't describe .

 

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Explorer ,
Apr 08, 2020 Apr 08, 2020

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It's appalling that almost a year in and this fundamental issue still hasn't been fixed. 

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New Here ,
Apr 15, 2020 Apr 15, 2020

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What? This is the only reason I went to Xd because it should be accurate. Ugh! How can comps even work if they are not accurate? How is this program even live if this is a known issue?

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 16, 2020 Apr 16, 2020

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I realized what the issue was. The mobile layouts are fine in development, it's the desktop layouts that have the issue. It is because of the preview. They are smaller than what they should be. Even if you look in the preview, and it is at 100% there  are still margins that shouldn't be there. The design doesn't change when you're looking through a 1920px monitor and a 1248px monitor.

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New Here ,
Apr 20, 2020 Apr 20, 2020

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I don't have access to the above forum. Can you post an update here and let us know an ETA on when this will be fixed?

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New Here ,
May 03, 2020 May 03, 2020

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This is not normal. I tried to move the 3rd time to adobe xd from figma seeing that you are slowly introducing paid subscription i thought that the product should be quite polished... this issue should have been solved 2 days after it was reported. I don't get it. 

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Explorer ,
May 05, 2020 May 05, 2020

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I do not have access to the link for the filed bug- are there any updates? has anyone found a solution to this?

Edit: How is this question considered solved when it is still an issue?

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New Here ,
Jun 09, 2020 Jun 09, 2020

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Any chance this is related to Windows default (Settings/System/Display/Scale and Layout) rendering everything at 200%. But because Adobe is "precise" software, it prevents Windows from adjusting how it gets rendered? I know that's been a problem for me in the past with other Adobe software.

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Community Beginner ,
Jun 01, 2020 Jun 01, 2020

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Has anyone have a solution to the font size issue on XD? A 15pt font size in XD is nearly 30% when the developer uses the same details to create the website because the value is 15px instead.

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Adobe Employee ,
Jun 02, 2020 Jun 02, 2020

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Hi there,

 

Thank you for reaching out. I have found that a similar issue has been discussed here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-xd/font-size-differs-in-web-browser-as-compared-to-xd/td-p/1053...

I am checking the status of the issue with the team and I will get back to you on this shortly.

 

Thanks,

Harshika

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Community Beginner ,
Jun 03, 2020 Jun 03, 2020

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Yes, i have seen that discussion but it has yet to oproduce any solution. The link to the bug forum is private so i can't see it either.

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