In design, units of measurement help you maintain precision, consistency, and professional quality. Different units are used depending on whether your work is for digital screens, print, or large-format media.
Below is a breakdown of each unit, how they compare, and where they are typically used.
1. Pixels (px)
What it is:
A pixel is the smallest unit of a digital image. All screen-based designs—websites, UI, apps, social media—are measured in pixels.
Relationship:
Pixels are not a fixed physical size
They depend on screen resolution (PPI/DPI)
Higher PPI = smaller pixels; lower PPI = larger pixels
Usage in Graphic Design:
Social media posts
UI/UX design
Website banners
Icons, thumbnails
All raster-based designs
Pixels dominate the digital world because screens display images pixel-by-pixel.
2. Points (pt)
What it is:
A typographic unit used mainly for font sizes and text layout.
Relationship:
1 point = 1/72 inch
12 points = 1 pica
Usage:
Font sizes (e.g., 12 pt text)
Paragraph spacing
Professional typography
Print layout (posters, flyers, books)
Points give consistent text sizing across different print materials.
3. Picas (pc)
What it is:
Another traditional print measurement system used in publishing.
Relationship:
1 pica = 12 points
6 picas = 1 inch
Usage:
Page layout for newspapers, magazines
Column width
Baseline grid systems
Picas are popular in editorial design because they provide a clean, grid-friendly structure.
4. Inches (in)
What it is:
A standard physical measurement primarily used in printing.
Relationship:
1 inch = 72 points
1 inch = 6 picas
1 inch = 25.4 mm
Usage:
Print documents
Posters, flyers
Business cards and stationery
Packaging
Physical product design
Inches help maintain real-world size accuracy when printing.
5. Feet (ft) & Feet & Inches
What it is:
Larger physical measurement units.
Relationship:
1 foot = 12 inches
Used when your design is larger than typical print sizes
Usage:
Signboards
Banners
Billboards
Storefront graphics
Large exhibition designs
Feet are essential for large-format printing where inches are too small to manage.
6. Yards (yd)
What it is:
Even larger physical unit.
Relationship:
1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches
Usage:
Vehicle wraps
Large outdoor banners
Stadium advertisements
Trade show backgrounds
Perfect for extremely large prints where feet are still too small for measurement clarity.
7. Millimeters (mm)
What it is:
A metric system measurement used for precision layout.
Relationship:
10 mm = 1 cm25.4 mm = 1 inch
Usage:
Packaging design
Die-cut templates
Business cards
Brochures
Print bleed and margins
Product mockups
Millimeters give extremely precise control, important for detailed print work.
8. Centimeters (cm)
What it is:
A metric unit commonly used outside the US.
Relationship:
1 cm = 10 mm
2.54 cm = 1 inch
Usage:
Posters
A4, A3, A2 layouts
Print dimensions
Book covers
Centimeters are widely used in international printing because the metric system is standard globally.
9. Meters (m)
What it is:
A metric large-measurement unit.
Relationship:
1 meter = 100 cm = 1000 mm
Usage:
Billboards
Stage backdrops
Building signage
Large banners
Exhibition booth walls
Meters are essential in architectural-scale graphics and industrial design.
How All Units Relate in Summary
| Unit | Equivalent
| ------ | -------------------------
| 1 inch | 72 pt / 6 pc / 25.4 mm
| 1 pica | 12 pt
| 1 cm | 10 mm
| 1 foot | 12 inches
| 1 yard | 3 feet
| Pixels | Vary by screen resolution
Which Units to Use in Which Design Area:
Digital / Screen Design — Use Pixels
Social media graphics
Websites
Mobile apps
Icons
Thumbnails
Print Design — Use Inches, Millimeters, Points, Picas
Flyers, posters, business cards (inches/mm)
Typography (points)
Magazine layout (picas + points)
Large Format Printing — Use Feet, Yards, Meters
Billboards
Banners
Storefront signage
Event backdrops
Vehicle wraps
Conclusion
Understanding these unit systems—and choosing the right one based on the type of
design—will make your work more accurate, professional, and print-ready. Mastering
units also improves communication with printers, clients, and production teams.
Comments
Post a Comment