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Jripy
Participant
June 20, 2022
Answered

Why is every PSD document smaller on my MacBook Pro than on my MacBook Air?

  • June 20, 2022
  • 6 replies
  • 1146 views

Hi,

 

I have this very annoying issue that it seems Adobe Support was not abloe to help with, and I spoke with 2 different people.

 

When I work on a PSD file on my macbook air everything looks fine and the 100% zoom size is perfect, but then I open the exact same PSD file on my macbook pro and the Document looks smaller. the 100% zoom sire is not perfect. The entire thing looks smaller on my macbook pro than it does on my macbook air.

 

I have attached two images so you can see what I am talking about exactly.

Any help on how to resolve this or why it is occuring would be great.

 

PLEASE NOTE

 

MacBook Air - Specs;

Size: 13.3in (1440 x 900)

MacOS: Monterey V12.4
PHOTO: https://shared-assets.adobe.com/link/c8df5da1-b3d0-483b-6aa9-d3876b4c4680

 

MacBook Pro - Specs;

Size: 15.4in (2880 x 1800)

MacOS: Monterey V12.4

PHOTO: https://shared-assets.adobe.com/link/0afc1499-4462-42b3-6e0f-0fe5da1d41f6

Correct answer Conrad_C
@Jripy wrote:

MacBook Air - Specs;

Size: 13.3in (1440 x 900)

 

MacBook Pro - Specs;

Size: 15.4in (2880 x 1800)

 

Your specs tell the entire story. The height and width of the MacBook Pro display, in pixels, are both twice as much as the MacBook Air.

 

The definition of 100% view, in not just Photoshop but just about all image editing applications*, is one image pixel to one screen pixel.

 

The physical size of the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro display is not twice as wide as the display on the Air, so having twice as many pixels along each dimension means the pixels on the Pro are going to be almost half as large as on the Air — roughly double the pixel density. Higher, closer-to-print pixel density is part of what makes Retina the feature that it is (same as HiDPI in Windows). But that is also why 100% view on the Pro is about half the apparent size compared to the Air. The commonly accepted definition of 100% says that is how it should be.

 

If you want the document to look about the same size on both displays, try using the View > Actual Size command instead of View > 100%. Actual Size takes screen pixel density into account, while 100% does not.

 

*If you think Photoshop is wrong about this, so you switch to a different photo editor by a completely different company, you will probably find that the other photo editor treats 100% view the same way as Photoshop.

6 replies

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 20, 2022
@Jripy wrote:

MacBook Air - Specs;

Size: 13.3in (1440 x 900)

 

MacBook Pro - Specs;

Size: 15.4in (2880 x 1800)

 

Your specs tell the entire story. The height and width of the MacBook Pro display, in pixels, are both twice as much as the MacBook Air.

 

The definition of 100% view, in not just Photoshop but just about all image editing applications*, is one image pixel to one screen pixel.

 

The physical size of the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro display is not twice as wide as the display on the Air, so having twice as many pixels along each dimension means the pixels on the Pro are going to be almost half as large as on the Air — roughly double the pixel density. Higher, closer-to-print pixel density is part of what makes Retina the feature that it is (same as HiDPI in Windows). But that is also why 100% view on the Pro is about half the apparent size compared to the Air. The commonly accepted definition of 100% says that is how it should be.

 

If you want the document to look about the same size on both displays, try using the View > Actual Size command instead of View > 100%. Actual Size takes screen pixel density into account, while 100% does not.

 

*If you think Photoshop is wrong about this, so you switch to a different photo editor by a completely different company, you will probably find that the other photo editor treats 100% view the same way as Photoshop.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2022

    As Dave says. It's important to understand that Photoshop displays correctly here. Your other applications don't. It's not Photoshop, it's your retina screen.

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2022

    "Is there no way of fixing this?"

    There is not really an issue to fix. 100% zoom is working correctly on both screens - i.e. using 1 screen pixel to display 1 image pixel. It is the pixels that are a different size on each screen.

     

    If you want Photoshop to do what many browsers will do with high pixel density screens, and scale to 200% - then just use View 200% in which case 4 screen pixels will be used to display 1 image pixel.

     

    Dave

     

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 20, 2022

      This is what you get with a retina screen. There are more pixels, so each pixel is smaller, so the image gets smaller.

       

      Consumer-oriented image viewers and web browsers scale up when they detect a high resolution screen, so that it displays at roughly the same screen size as people are used to from standard screens. This is the industry standard workaround to ensure that the same material can be used regardless of screen technology.

       

      Photoshop doesn't do this. It always displays accurately, pixel for pixel. 100% in Photoshop has nothing to do with size - it means one image pixel is represented by one physical screen pixel.

       

      In short, there is nothing wrong and nothing to fix. This is just the way it is.

        davescm
        Community Expert
        davescmCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        June 20, 2022

        100% zoom in Photoshop is not a physical size. It simply means 1 image pixel is mapped onto 1 screen pixel. So if your new screen has a higher pixel density (i.e. more pixels in a given area) then the image at 100% zoom will be take up a smaller physical size.

         

        Dave

          J
          JripyAuthor
          Participant
          June 20, 2022

          Is there no way of fixing this? Or am I stuck with it showing up smaller on my macbook pro?

          TheDigitalDog
          TheDigitalDog
          Inspiring
          June 20, 2022

          You can alter the display resolution yes. 
          What's the goal, both Macs match at 100%? Doable when so set to match.

          Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
          TheDigitalDog
          TheDigitalDog
          Inspiring
          June 20, 2022

          Different display resolution set?

          Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
          J
          JripyAuthor
          Participant
          June 20, 2022

          Are you talking about display resolution for my macbooks or is that something within Photoshop?

          TheDigitalDog
          TheDigitalDog
          Inspiring
          June 20, 2022

          The display resolution (system prefs) which affects the size previews at 100%. 

          Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
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