Screen resolution for 4K animation

[Lynn1985]

Hi there,

I am about to design some background assets for an animation in 4K. Am I right in thinking that all I have to do is set the size at 3840 x 2160, and the resolution/ raster effects setting does not matter at all when it comes to designing for screens? I.e whether it's 72ppi, 300 or whatever, it won't make a difference?

Thanks,

L

[D Fosse]

That's right. On screen, ppi is utterly irrelevant. It's just pixels - document pixels align 1:1 to screen pixels.

[Lynn1985]

That's great, thank you. 

I always feel I need to double check that as it was drummed into us in college about ppi for screen/ dpi for print! This was about 10 years ago though.

Thank you!

[D Fosse]

Actually it's ppi for print / dpi for printers. There's a subtle, but significant, difference.

The file is pixels (ppi), but the printer prints dots on the paper (dpi).

On screen the resolution is already given: the screen pixel grid. There is no place, or need, for a secondary resolution setting. Paper doesn't have a pixel grid, so one has to be invented: that's ppi, pixels per inch.

[Lynn1985]

That is great to know, thank you.