HiDPI and Apple's Retina Displays allow more pixels to be displayed on your screen. The result is that your images display sharper; however, your images could display smaller. If this issue occurs, view your images at 200% in Photoshop (choose View > 200%).
Photoshop CC 2017 releases (versions 19.x) offer a full range of choices for UI scaling—from 100% through 400% in 25% increments—on Windows 10 Creators Update and later versions. This enhancement makes the Photoshop user interface looks crisp and sharp regardless of the pixel density of your monitor. Photoshop automatically adjusts its resolution based on your Windows settings.
In addition, you can adjust per-monitor scaling across monitors with different scaling factors. This flexibility ensures that a high resolution (HiDPI) laptop works seamlessly alongside a lower-resolution desktop monitor, or vice versa. For example, one of your monitors can have a scale factor of 175%, while another monitor can have a scale factor of 400%. So, you can choose either the highest-end 13-inch laptops with 4k screens, the more affordable 1080p models, or tap into 8k desktop monitors, and still have an uncompromised experience within Photoshop.
In Windows, select Start > Settings > System > Display. Now, under Scale And Layout, choose a scaling factor for each of your displays.
Note:
On Windows 10 Creators Update and later versions, the UI Scaling setting in Photoshop (Preferences > Interface > UI Scaling) still applies to some components, such as the File Info and Camera Raw dialogs. On earlier versions of Windows, this preference applies to all Photoshop components. When the UI Scaling option is set to Auto, scaling defaults to the value closest to the primary monitor's OS scaling factor—100 or 200.
In Photoshop CC versions released in 2015 and 2016, HiDPI support on Windows is no longer an Experimental Feature (now called Technology Previews). This feature is enabled by default, but you can revert to the pre-HiDPI support look by following these steps:
- Choose Edit > Preferences > Interface.
- In the Text section, for the UI Scaling drop-down box, select 100%.
- Restart Photoshop.
Photoshop CC (2014) adds HiDPI support to Windows as an Experimental Feature. This feature is not production-ready yet, so exercise discretion while using it. Do the following to enable it:
- Choose Preferences > Experimental Features.
- Select Scale the UI 200% for High-density Displays, and click OK.
- Restart Photoshop.
What's new in Photoshop CC regarding HiDPI support?
The following features now support HiDPI in Photoshop CC in Mac OS:
- Liquify
- Save for Web
- Merge to HDR
- DICOM
- JPEG2000
- Vanishing Point
- Filter Gallery
- Camera Raw 8.1
- Bridge CC
HiDPI support is added to Photoshop 13.1 (Membership Edition) and 13.0.2 for Mac OS perpetual license customers. Camera Raw 8.1 adds HiDPI support under Photoshop CS6 as well.
Besides a higher-resolution user interface and image display, what changes can I expect?
Several notable changes in commands, shortcuts, and behaviors are outlined below:
New or changed commands
- Actual Pixels is now 100% in the View menu, Zoom Tool Options panel, and Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.
- The View menu now contains 200%.
New shortcuts
- Cmd + double-click (Mac OS) or Ctrl + double-click (Win) the Zoom tool icon to zoom the current window to 200%.
- Shift + Cmd + double-click (Mac OS) or Shift + Ctrl + double-click (Win) the Zoom tool icon to zoom all windows to 200%.
- Canvas context menu now includes 200% when using the Zoom tool or Hand tool.
- You can assign a custom shortcut to View > 200% by choosing Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts to open the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog box.
New behaviors
- In multi-monitor environments, dragging a window from a HiDPI screen to a non-HiDPI monitor automatically adjusts the window zooming to a reasonable amount. The behavior helps avoid an overly large window and avoid excessive redraw.
What operating systems does Photoshop CS6 support for native HiDPI?
Current versions of Mac OS are supported for use with HiDPI hardware, including the Retina Display available on the new MacBook Pros. HiDIPI support is expected to be available in the future on additional operating systems and devices.
Is HiDPI support provided for versions of Photoshop earlier than Photoshop CS6?
No, there are no plans to provide HiDPI support for versions of Photoshop earlier than Photoshop CS6.
Is Camera Raw HiDPI compatible?
In Camera Raw 8.7 and later, when you use Photoshop CC 2014.2 and enable its option to scale the interface 200%, Camera Raw is also scaled.
Contact third-party plug-in vendors for HiDPI compatibility updates for their specific plug-ins.
Does Bridge provide HiDPI support?
Bridge CC includes support for HiDPI displays.
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