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R
Richard Every
Participant
February 7, 2015
Answered

Photoshop 100% 72dpi is too small on Mac Retina Display

  • February 7, 2015
  • 12 replies
  • 24257 views

I see a lot of threads about this.

Well, the other day I actually had a tech from Adobe on the line, and after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, he admitted, "It's a Photoshop issue".

Apparently they are looking into it, just not quick enough. It is unfortunate because it seriously affects our ability to work effectively in Photoshop as you don't get the mostly accurate visual sizing.

We can only hope... Come on Adobe, FIX IT!!!

    Correct answer D Fosse

    The image is not "too small" - your screen has more pixels, therefore smaller pixels, therefore higher resolution. That's the whole point of a Retina display!

    100% simply means that one image pixel is represented by one screen pixel. 1:1. Now consider what that means.

    UI scaling, however, is a different matter. But that doesn't affect the image display.

    12 replies

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    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 7, 2015

    Come on Adobe, FIX IT!!!

    The PPI of an image is not considered when you view at 100% in PS. So these two images have the same pixel dimensions, but different PPIs—left 72ppi and right 300ppi. At 100% view they take up the same amount of screen space (1000 x 667 monitor pixels):

    R
    Richard EveryAuthor
    Participant
    February 9, 2015

    Oh my... everyone comes up with these explanations that are not relevant. Of course if you change the resolution with "resample" set at "off" the image will always be displayed the same size as the resolution and pixels remain proportional.

    Since forever, like the mid 90s, we have been able to work in Photoshop reasonably where image sizes could be viewed at similar visual sizes on the screen across most programs. Now, since RETINA display, the images in Photoshop are smaller. See below. The image at 72dpi - on the left is the size in Photoshop... On the right is the image at 72dpi in Chrome at 100%. So, Photoshop is the issue. We can not work with such tiny images. FIX IT ADOBE!

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 9, 2015

    You're not getting it.

    The retina screen has higher resolution. That means the screen pixels are smaller, because there are more of them. This is what Retina is all about, and what you paid good money for.

    And since screen pixels are smaller, the image displays smaller at 100%.

    100% means that one image pixel is represented by one screen pixel. Not more, not less.

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      February 7, 2015

      The image is not "too small" - your screen has more pixels, therefore smaller pixels, therefore higher resolution. That's the whole point of a Retina display!

      100% simply means that one image pixel is represented by one screen pixel. 1:1. Now consider what that means.

      UI scaling, however, is a different matter. But that doesn't affect the image display.

        schroef
        schroef
        Inspiring
        June 10, 2025

        Well it's not actually a display issue only, it's also an os "issue". I see the same on a none retina display. I have 27" monitor (2570x1440) which has a good 100% view using Windows, but when o attach it to a Mac mini and set it at  resolution to 2560x1440, images are view at 100% are shown 50 scaled down. I see the same in other apps. The os is pixel doubling no matter what monitor is attached. Is quite annoying actually. Just got an older m1 at work and cause couple hours to get a workaround. I've found an app which "fixes". It allows you to view 2560x1440 as real pixel and not applying hdp

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