Exit
  • Global community
    • Language:
      • Deutsch
      • English
      • Español
      • Français
      • Português
  • 日本語コミュニティ
  • 한국 커뮤니티
0

Difference between units of measurement (when to use each)

New Here ,
Feb 22, 2021 Feb 22, 2021

Hello, I have a question. 
When to use each unit of measurement in Illustrator, (I have read  that for digital, px is used/ while for print is used pt). 
How about the other units? picas/inches/millimeters/centimeters? 

6.1K
Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines

correct answers 2 Correct answers

Community Expert , Feb 22, 2021 Feb 22, 2021

A pica is a unit used in typesetting, rarely in other contexts. It is simply 12 points.

You would use metric or imperial units if your media is commonly specified that way in your country. For example, in Europe, you would commonly use ISO-defined paper sizes in millimetres. In the USA, sizes in inches are more common.

 

A pixel is the odd one out, not being an actual unit of measurement (a pixel's 'size' is arbitrary). Within Illustrator, pixels are treated as equivalent to points.

Translate
Community Expert , Feb 22, 2021 Feb 22, 2021

For anything will be viewed on digital screens ( Laptop, desktop, smartphones, tablet, .. ) use pixels to specify the dimensions ( width + height )

 

 

for anything will be used for print, you can use any unit you are most comfortable with ( Inch, mm, cm )

 

 

One last note: pt is the default unit to specify the font size in All application.

Translate
Adobe
Community Expert ,
Feb 22, 2021 Feb 22, 2021

A pica is a unit used in typesetting, rarely in other contexts. It is simply 12 points.

You would use metric or imperial units if your media is commonly specified that way in your country. For example, in Europe, you would commonly use ISO-defined paper sizes in millimetres. In the USA, sizes in inches are more common.

 

A pixel is the odd one out, not being an actual unit of measurement (a pixel's 'size' is arbitrary). Within Illustrator, pixels are treated as equivalent to points.

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
Feb 22, 2021 Feb 22, 2021
LATEST

For anything will be viewed on digital screens ( Laptop, desktop, smartphones, tablet, .. ) use pixels to specify the dimensions ( width + height )

 

 

for anything will be used for print, you can use any unit you are most comfortable with ( Inch, mm, cm )

 

 

One last note: pt is the default unit to specify the font size in All application.

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines