If you’ve ever wondered how big is a 5×7 photo is, we’re here to tell you that it is not too big or small. 5×7 photos are commonly used in black and white photography and can be highly versatile, thanks to their size.
Photo print sizes can be very confusing, so we’re here to clear the fog. Let’s get it on!
The dimensions of a 5×7 photo are approximately 5 inches by 7 inches or 4 29⁄32″ x 6 15⁄16″ (13 x 18cm / 127 x 178 mm), to be precise. 5×7 format describes vertical (portrait) orientation and the 7×5 horizontal (landscape) one.
How Big Is a 5×7 Photo in Centimeters?
13 x 18cm
Generally, the size of a photo is measured in inches. So to figure out how big is a 5×7 picture in centimeters, we first have to know how many centimeters are in an inch.
There are 2.54 centimeters in an inch. Therefore, we have to multiply the photo’s length and height by 2.54 to determine the size in cm (and then round it up).
5 x 2.54 = 13
7 x 2.54 = 18
How Big Is a 5×7 Photo in Millimeters?
127 x 178 mm
We can do a similar calculation here. There are 25.4 millimeters in an inch. Therefore we would have to multiply the width and height of the photo by 25.4 – like so:
5 x 25.4 = 127
7 x 25.4 = 178
What size is 5×7 in Pixels?
As it turns out, there are a few different ways to figure out the pixel dimension of a 5×7 image, depending on the resolution of the image. For example:
- At 72 dpi screen resolution (that’s 72 dots per inch), then the pixel dimensions of your 5 x 7 image would be 360 x 504 pixels.
- At 150 dpi medium resolution, your 5 x 7 image would have 750 x 1050 pixels
- At 300 dpi high resolution like most people do these days, then your 5 x 7 photo will have 1500×2100 pixels
- At 125dpi, you’ll have 625×875 pixels
- At 100dpi, the photo will have 600×400 pixels
The Origins of the 5×7 Print Size
The 5×7 was initially developed with 35mm cameras in mind – they’re basically indistinguishable. So if you love shooting with a 35mm, then you will find this format very familiar and pleasing to the eye.
This format was meant to be an easy-to-use alternative to the smaller 4×5-inch format, which means that the print quality will be significantly better. It’s also not as big as the 8×10 format, which can be cumbersome because of the difficulty of seeing the final printer image.
5×7 was the most popular size for black and white photos, and it hasn’t fallen out of vogue with the decline of film cameras. It’s always been a popular option because it simply looks great on contact prints.
What is the Best Resolution for Printing 5×7 Photos?
It depends on what kind of printing service you’re using and how much detail you want in your final product.
The short answer is “150dpi or 750×1050.” That’s what most online printing services recommend as the ideal resolution for their services. But if you’re looking to send your photos off to high-end offset printing services, you might need to go higher than 150dpi.
If you need more quality, we recommend 1500×2100 pixels as the minimum required resolution – particularly if your picture contains lots of fine details like hair or fur (which tends to disappear when printed at lower resolutions).
You can pick whichever option fits your need, but remember that 750×1050 is the minimum requirement.
What Aspect Ratio is a 5×7 Photo?
The aspect ratio of a 5×7 image is 3.5:2.5 or 5:7
The aspect ratio is usually expressed as two numbers separated by a colon – and it defines the shape of an image. More specifically, an aspect ratio refers to the relationship between the width and height of an image.
How to Print a 5×7 Photo
On most cameras, the original aspect ratio of a photo is 3×2 or 4×3. But to be able to print a 5×7 photo, you first have to change the aspect ratio and crop it in post.
How to change the aspect ratio in Lightroom:
- Pick the photo you want to crop.
- In the Develop module in Lightroom, go to the “Crop Overlay ( R )” icon.
- From the “Aspect” tab, you can pick the 5×7 aspect ratio from the dropdown menu
- No you can crop the photo to conform it to 5×7 aspect ratio
How Big Is a 5×7 Photo? | Final Thoughts
The 5×7 photo size is the perfect medium printing size. It’s also incredibly versatile and allows photographers to take a wide range of photos – from landscapes to portraits. Not to mention it looks beautiful on contact prints.
Given the information outlined above, you should be able to determine the size of your 5×7 photo easily. In addition, you will have a good idea about how to print it. With this information, consider printing your favorite pictures and bringing them on display for everyone to see. Or just to take pride in your creations.
