If I take screenshots under Win7 (e.g. size 600x600 pixels) and paste it into various applications they will appear with a size of ca. 15.8x15.8 cm. Because, apparently, the Windows system or the applications assume a pixel density of 96 DPI. In those applications I need an image size of 7.9x7.9 cm. So, of course, I could scale all images manually down by 50%. However, is there any possibility to directly copy the screenshot automatically in the desired size? This means, can I set somewhere that the pixel density for screenshots should be 192 DPI?
Some other suggestions (here on SuperUser and others...) Well, I can copy&paste the image to an image viewer and set (or change) the DPI to 192 and paste it to the application. However, this intermediate step and using an extra program is not very practical. Also changing the DPI value of the whole Windows system back and forth everytime is not considered as a practicable solution.
102 Answers
Well, based on the comments, it looks like it can't be done with just some settings in Windows or with older Versions of MSOffice or LibreOffice etc. Even with MSOffice2016, only a few predefined DPI values would be possible. Hence, a "separate" application seems to be necessary. Since the framework of my project will be in Python, Python does not really count as additional program. With a minor issue, the solution for my question seems to be:
The applications that can actually deal with DPI settings should allow you to specify the DPI when it converts.
DPI is nothing more than a conversion from pixels to physical size.
You do not specify what image editor you are using, but I know Photoshop has this setting.
You usually set this at the document resize screen. You can choose to change the DPI setting but keep the resolution in pixels the same. You may have to calculate what the width and height will become in CM using the new DPI setting for it to scale properly, but it will keep all the pixels the same.
What I usually do is this: On the image resize screen, I first copy the width of the amount of pixels I already have, then I change the DPI setting. The width changes. I paste back the old value, and now the CM measures change. I hit OK. The image dimensions change, but the amount of pixels stay the same. And the DPI has also changed.
That said, do note that if you don't alter the DPI setting in anyway and not resize the image, the same scaling automatically happen when you print out the image.
Also note, that if you keep the amount of pixels the same, and you increase the DPI, the physical size becomes smaller. The image will be sharper when printed, but also smaller. If you decrease the DPI, the physical dimensions increase, but the image becomes pixellated.
If you want a bigger image with more DPI, you need more pixels.
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