What are the standard pixel, inches and megabyte sizes for fine art photography?

Question

I know that 6x4 inch photos were popularized by 35mm cameras, which were then superseded by 4x3 aspect ratio in digital cameras, while 16x9 has taken precedence in general because of widescreen displays.

With this history in mind, what are the current prevailing conventions for fine art photography sizes in both pixels and inches, that would be both compatible in a gallery setting, large market printers, as well as for finding consumer frames for?

Equally important is the standard megabyte storage space these conventional sizes are approximated to consume?

This question is likely to be answered with opinions rather than facts and citations. It should be updated so it will lead to fact-based answers. — Romeo Ninov, Dec 25 '21 at 20:17
Strong, high-consensus opinions are in many ways fact-based answers. People vote for best answers? Sizes of some recent examples in the fine art world, digital file size included, would be helpful — user610620, Dec 25 '21 at 20:17
"Fine art" photography is still meant to be printed/framed, so the usual paper sizes apply. A 20Mpx Jpeg at Q97, such as what my DSLR produces, is sufficient for most purposes and "weighs" 7-8MB. — xenoid, Dec 25 '21 at 20:33
An answer with top 3 examples of pixel + inch + mb size combinations used in fine art photography would be helpful. Megapixels is a quality measure and seems irrelevant, assuming we're restricted to web-viewable versions of the artworks with 50mb max storage each. — user610620, Dec 25 '21 at 20:55
@user610620 This seems like it might be an X→Y problem. What specific problem are you trying to solve? Do you want to know what files size, ppi, print size, aspect ratio, etc. would make your own work more marketable? Are you looking to build a storage facility for fine art "investments" and want to know what would be the most efficient use of the space, in terms of the dimensions of individual storage cells, in such a facility? Something else? — Michael C, Dec 25 '21 at 23:34
Standards. Conventions. What do galleries, museums, etc expect or recommend in pixel size to photographers in order to comply with some admissions criteria for 4:3 aspect ratio, and for 16:9 for starters. — user610620, Dec 26 '21 at 08:27
@user610620, again: there is no such standard. Take a look on the famous paintings and you will see extreme diversity. — Romeo Ninov, Dec 26 '21 at 08:35
Of the two suppliers I use for my canvases, one has a selection of stock sizes & won't touch 16:9, the other will print anything you send them, any size, any quality - even send proofs first… but they charge a small fortune for that. So, usually the first company gets the work & I make sure I'm sending >150dpi. After that, they deal with it. — Tetsujin, Dec 26 '21 at 08:57
Does this answer your question? Is there a general formula for image size vs. print size? — Michael C, Dec 26 '21 at 10:21
Also related: How do I generate high quality prints with an ink jet printer? Be aware, though, that many galleries will expect conventional prints to be on photo paper (that is, photosensitive paper that is chemically developed), not inkjet prints. Prints of digital files on photo paper are generally done by using colored lasers to expose the paper before developing it. — Michael C, Dec 26 '21 at 10:23
Also related: How to calculate viewing distance for a print size? and At how many megapixels should I render my image for a quality A1 print? and What are the pixel needs for huge prints? and How can I upscale a low-res image to make it appear higher-res? — Michael C, Dec 26 '21 at 10:45

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 25 '21 at 23:31

4

There is no single standardized file size, ppi, aspect ratio, nor physical dimension in the field of fine art photography. Works can range from square postage stamp sized pieces (or even smaller) to displays occupying large billboards, entire sides of large buildings or other structures, with everything in between.

It may be the case that a large majority of fine art prints use one among any of the several standardized paper sizes, but there are also many works that use non-conventional aspect ratios and print sizes. They're literally all over the place.

answered Dec 25 '21 at 23:31

Michael C

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Alright, but for the 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, there must be definitive pixel sizes that fine art photographers adhere to? – user610620 Dec 26 '21 at 08:25
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Pixels don't have sizes. They are a dimensionless number. I think what you are trying to ask is how many pixels does an image need to be printed at a specific size? The general convention is around 300 ppi for prints intended to be viewed from a distance of about one foot/25 cm. Since larger works are intended to viewed from greater distances, that number goes down as size increases. But I think most galleries are more concerned with the size and proportions of the matting around a photo than they are the number of ppi in a fine art print. That, and the actual content of the image. – Michael C Dec 26 '21 at 10:19

What are the standard pixel, inches and megabyte sizes for fine art photography?

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