Preview display proper 100% pixel to pixel

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hgfdy54654 Author

Level 1

4 points

Preview display proper 100% pixel to pixel

I'm a graphic designer so seeing the final output in a proper 1x1 form would be very helpful.

Is there a way to get Preview to actually display items as a proper 100% pixel to pixel?

It seems to basically default to just filling most of the screen, regardless of the size of the image I'm viewing.

Even when you toggle "actual size" on the View menu, it still doesn't follow.

I'm currently on Sequoia 15.4.1

Also, if this isn't possible, as I'm getting the impressions of, what Preview alternative are people using to view things properly?

Thanks,

Mac Studio, macOS 15.4

Posted on Jul 16, 2025 11:42 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 16, 2025 12:33 PM in response to hgfdy54654

"Actual Size" is dimmed when it is already selected.

You could change the size and then it should be available again.

Your 5K screen is probably not set to 5K - that would make everything in your interface tiny.

Check System Settings->Displays and see what is selected.

For example, my MBP has a hardware resolution of 3024x1964 but the default is 1512x982.

An image with 1512 width at "Actual Size" fills the whole width of the screen.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

135,737 points

Jul 16, 2025 12:48 PM in response to hgfdy54654

Try open System Settings, then press and hold the Option key, then click on Displays.

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Answer 3

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,478 points

Jul 16, 2025 11:53 AM in response to hgfdy54654

From the menu bar, choose View > Actual Size. Or, press Command+0 (zero).

That gives you a 1:1 view, not print size.

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Answer 4

Jul 16, 2025 1:30 PM in response to hgfdy54654

If you click on the "Advanced..." button seen at the bottom of your screenshot, there is an option to "Show Resolutions as List":

Also, there is this somewhat confusing thing called "HiDPI".

For example, my screen is physically 3024x1964, but is set at half in each direction, 1512x982.

HD video is 1920x1080, so it would appear that I cannot see it pixel per pixel, right?

And yet, applications like Final Cut Pro DO just that, and can show the video in full pixel per pixel, using the underlying full hardware resolution, so I can not just see the full video but all the FCP interface on my screen. Complicated, yes...

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Answer 5

hgfdy54654 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 16, 2025 1:02 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

This is not how I am experienceing this.

Preview on my end looks like this (see pic below).

The "actual size" is greyed out, so I can't change it. It's set to "on" it appears, but that functionality is not occurring at all.

To clarify I am working with GIFs and Jpegs that do not really have an imbedded dpi, or anything like that.

So I completely understand the difference between print size and screen size.

But preview is absolutely not displaying these images at 1x1 pixels.

I open up a 600 pixel wide image, and it is stretched 3 times wider than that across my 5k wide apple studio display.

See pic below showing my menu bar in preview.

Any suggestions welcome, thanks

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 6

hgfdy54654 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 16, 2025 1:04 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Very much appreciate your feedback.

As far as I can tell, gone are the days when I could actually tell my apple monitor be a specific resolution.

This is what my display settings looks like.

It seems to me it is simply asking how to size the text and boxes. Is there a way in this settings to see what my monitor is actually displaying?

Again, thank you very much for your help.

Any suggestions are welcome, thanks you.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 7

hgfdy54654 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 16, 2025 12:51 PM in response to hgfdy54654

Also to add some confusion to your point. I work in video quite a lot.

So for instance, in After Effects I can view 4k footage on my computer at a 1x1 pixel output no problem. And I can tell you from my eye I am seeing a 1x1 4k image in that little screen.

The same would be true for photoshop.

so I'm not really clear how what you are saying syncs up with that. How can I be seeing a 4k image in photoshop, premiere, after effects, etc, but then when I hide that application magically my monitor is shifting down to a much lower resolution, but with my eye seeing the shift?

Again, thanks for any feedback I appreciate it

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Answer 8

hgfdy54654 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 16, 2025 12:54 PM in response to dialabrain

I am not seeing anything different, is there something I should be looking for?

To clarify, I have two apple monitor. One is my older Thunderbolt Display from like ten years. That Monitor does allow me to select resolutions.

My Apllye Studio Display, only about 2 years old, does not seem to allow it.

Suggestions welcome, and thanks.

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Answer 9

hgfdy54654 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 16, 2025 2:32 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Ah that is interesting. So that is how all the Mac OS GUI can be only half the potential resolution of my monitor, but the preview window in (let's say) FCP can be "higher packed" resolution than what is around it? So that one little preview window is essentiality a higher resolution than what is around it?

Just repeating what you said I think, wanting to make sure I get it.

again really appreciate the time and knowledge today!

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Answer 10

dialabrain

Level 10

135,737 points

Jul 16, 2025 4:18 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

If you click on the "Advanced..." button seen at the bottom of your screenshot, there is an option to "Show Resolutions as List":

That's the second time this year I'd forgotten the way to select the display resolution had changed. I need to eat more fish. 🤔

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Answer 11

Jul 17, 2025 1:55 AM in response to hgfdy54654

hgfdy54654 wrote:

Ah that is interesting. So that is how all the Mac OS GUI can be only half the potential resolution of my monitor, but the preview window in (let's say) FCP can be "higher packed" resolution than what is around it? So that one little preview window is essentiality a higher resolution than what is around it?

Just repeating what you said I think, wanting to make sure I get it.

again really appreciate the time and knowledge today!

It’s more or less that, but saying “lower resolution” kind of sends the wrong idea: this affects the size at which text is displayed (so that for example your menus are super tiny); but the text rendering engine is aware of the extra pixels, to render smoother text. This is very much noticeable when you have a ”retina” display next to a plain 1080p display. The difference in how smooth the text is is very obvious.

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