How Big Is a 4×6 Photo?

 

A really common image size would be the 4 x 6, bet you have seen it at least once in your lifetime.

You’ve landed in the right place if you’re wondering how big it is and what its exact dimensions are.

In today’s article, we’ll learn more about the 4×6 photo format and how large it is.

Let’s get right to the point without wasting time further.

How Big Is a 4×6 Photo?

The 4×6 print size is the usual photo print size because it matches the aspect ratio of most cameras’ viewfinders. Although this is true mostly for digital cameras, the aspect ratio of a smartphone is slightly different.

The smartphones have a 4:3 aspect ratio, the photo corners must be cropped in order to fit into the 4×6 format, so yeah we are dealing with a cropped image here.

If you’re still wondering how big the 4×6 is, it’s 4 inches by 6 inches, as the name says. An example can be found below.

How Big Is a 4×6 Photo in Centimeters?

Centimeters are another metric unit that is used to measure small distances mostly.

1 Inch means 2.56 Centimeters.

So, in centimeters, the 4×6 format is 10.16 x 15.24 cm (10×15).

How Big Is a 4×6 Photo in Millimeters?

Millimeters are metric units for measuring very short distances and lengths on a visible scale.

1 Inch means 25.4 millimeters.

So, in millimeters, the 4×6 format is 101.6 x 152.4 mm.

What size is 4×6 in Pixels?

On a computer display or in a computer image, a pixel is the basic unit of programmable color.

The minimum image resolution should be 640 x 480 pixels in order for the picture to be printable.

What is Aspect Ratio

Above, I mentioned that smartphones had a different aspect ratio, if you are wondering what aspect ratio is, basically, the Aspect ratio measures the relationship between the width and height of a display, sensor, or image.

For example, a common aspect ratio is 16:9, which means it’s 16 units wide and 9 units high.

The 4:3 aspect ratio is another popular choice. To put it in an easy example, the 4:3 format is the squared one we saw on the old TVs we grew up with, but the 16:9 format is the “modern” one, which is far wider.

What’s the Aspect Ratio of 4×6?

Neither of the above-mentioned popular aspect ratios is the 4×6 format’s aspect ratio.

The 4×6 format has a 3:2 aspect ratio, that is if the image is vertically oriented, or a 2:3 aspect ratio if it is horizontally oriented.

An illustration of the shape of those aspect ratios is shown below. 

Which format is better 4×6 or 5×7?

Both are great formats in the photofinishing industry and are the most used ones. But In the end, it all boils down to personal preference. If you have a 4×6 frame, you’ll almost certainly want a 4×6 photo and vice versa.

There are also factors like the price that you might want to consider, being smaller and more standardized it is understandable that 4×6 is cheaper.

If you have a highly detailed picture, such as a landscape view, the 5×7 photo format may be preferable over the 4×6. This is due to the fact that the 4×6 photo may not be quite clear when viewed from afar. A 5×7, on the other hand, covers a larger frame/area.

Nevertheless, all formats are great, and there’s nothing groundbreaking at fault; choose the one that you think would best fit your needs.

What You Should Know When Printing Photos

Nearly all photo printers cut an extra 3mm (about 0.12′′) around the edges of your image. It happens right after your images are printed when the photo machine cuts them. it sure is not fun to receive your photos with some “head cut.”

What’s worse is that most photo printing providers,  do not inform you of this when you upload your photos.

To keep this annoyance minimal, make sure faces and other vital items aren’t too close to the edges of your photo when snapping it, or use a different crop to guarantee nothing is cut off.

Final Thoughts:

Since the introduction of 35mm film, the 4×6  photo has been the most popular image format. Stuf like photo albums, wallets, photo reels, small art pieces, and more can all benefit from the 4×6 photo format otherwise known as 101.6 x 152.4 mm.

However, I prefer to use it for postcards; otherwise, the 4×6 format is referred to as postcard size.

If you want to print photos on t-shirts or other materials, you should get a sublimation printer. We wrote an article about the best beginner sublimation printers you can get, so i recommend you read that too!

This concludes my thoughts; perhaps I was helpful and was able to provide you with some information.