Setting The Correct Screen Resolution In Photoshop

In this post, I’ll walk you through the steps needed to properly set your screen resolution in Photoshop. This is important because it allows you to view your image files at their true physical size while editing.

One feature that often gets overlooked in Photoshop is View → Print Size. When selected, Photoshop displays the image on screen at its actual print dimensions. However, if your screen resolution isn’t correctly set for your monitor, the size you see won’t be accurate.

Let’s fix that!

View → Print Size

Step 1: Measure Your Monitor

Start by measuring the viewable width of your monitor.

Be careful not to include the bezel or trim — measure only the actual display area.

For example, my Asus ProArt monitor has a viewable width of 23.5 inches.

Write this number down.

Step 2: Find Your Monitor’s Native Resolution

Next, you’ll need the native pixel resolution of your display.

On Windows:

Right–click your desktop → select Display Settings → scroll to Display Resolution

Make note of the horizontal pixel value.

For example, my Asus ProArt monitor has a native width of 3840 pixels.

Step 3: Calculate Your Screen Resolution

Now we determine your monitor’s true pixels-per-inch (PPI).

Use this formula:

Screen Resolution ÷ Screen Width (in inches)

For my monitor:

3840 ÷ 23.5 = 163.404

You can round this slightly if you'd like — I use 163.4.

Step 4: Enter This Value in Photoshop

In Photoshop:

Go to Preferences → Units & Rulers

Enter your calculated value in the Screen Resolution field.

This ensures that when you use View → Print Size, Photoshop displays your image at an accurate real-world size.

Preferences → Units & Rulers

Screen Resolution

Once this is set, you’ll be able to evaluate sharpness, scale, and fine detail with far greater accuracy while editing. Instead of guessing how an image might translate to print, you’ll be seeing it at its true physical size. This makes it much easier to judge whether your sharpening is appropriate, if textures feel natural, and whether small elements hold up at the intended output size.

It also takes the uncertainty out of decisions around noise reduction, retouching, and local adjustments — all of which can look very different when viewed too large or too small on screen. When Photoshop is displaying your file correctly, you’re no longer editing based on an approximation — you’re editing based on reality.

Over time, this leads to more consistent print results and fewer surprises when your work leaves the screen and becomes a physical object.

Thanks for following along — and happy editing.