How do I match my traditional brush size digitally?

Measure your real brush stroke width in millimetres. Enter your canvas dimensions (real and pixel). The calculator converts the brush width to an equivalent pixel size that produces the same proportional stroke on your digital canvas.

Why do brush sizes feel different at different resolutions?

A 10 px brush on a 1000 px canvas covers 1% of the width. The same 10 px brush on a 5000 px canvas covers only 0.2%. The physical size equivalent changes with resolution — this calculator helps you find the right pixel size.

What canvas size should I work at?

For A4 print at 300 DPI, work at 3508 x 2480 px. For larger prints, scale up. The canvas should match your intended output to ensure brush strokes have the right weight and texture when printed.

Do all digital art apps measure brushes the same way?

Most apps measure brush size in pixels as the diameter of the brush tip. However, brush opacity, flow and texture settings also affect the apparent stroke width. This calculator gives the geometric pixel diameter.

What about pressure sensitivity?

With pressure sensitivity enabled, the maximum brush size is what you set. Light pressure produces a thinner stroke. Set your brush size to match the maximum stroke width you want for that tool.

ArtCalcs

Brush Size Calculator — Real Brush to Pixel Size

Convert real-world brush sizes to pixel equivalents at your working resolution.

Real Brush Width

Measure your brush stroke width

Canvas Width (physical)

Canvas Width (pixels)

DPI (reference)

For information only

How We Calculate This

How Brush Size Conversion Works

Brush pixels = Real brush mm x (Canvas pixels / Canvas mm)

The calculator finds the scale factor between your physical canvas and digital canvas. Multiplying the real brush width in mm by this scale gives the equivalent pixel size. The common brush table shows equivalents for standard brush sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Print Resolution Calculator

Calculate the maximum print size from your digital art image resolution at 72, 150, 300 and 360 DPI. Find out how large you can print.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.