Photo size for Watch Face

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Level 10

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Photo size for Watch Face

I have been experimenting with using a photo for a watch face. While I'm not thrilled there is no way to do any complication customizing with the created face, I've been trying to find the best size for the photo to be so I can display as much of it as possible on the face.

Has anyone experimented any more than I may have, since I've only had my watch for a month, to see what size a photo needs to be in order to have it fully display on the watch face? I'm not looking for something with small detail, but if I wanted to post the photo of my dog for instance, if I wanted to see all of its face, or its entire body, what pixel dimensions would I use? I've created a special folder to save these photos to and sync directly to the phone/watch.

Apple Watch, watchOS 2.2

Posted on May 8, 2016 6:47 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,859 points

May 8, 2016 9:33 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Hi Chris

It is not necessary to manually resize a photo to the pixel dimensions used by Apple Watch.

Instead, in order to ensure that your photo watch face features your preferred content displayed in full, use a photo with a 4:5 aspect ratio. Pan and zoom this as desired, then sync it to your watch. The image will be resized automatically (in terms of pixels).

For example, when adding a photo from your iPhone:

When using a portrait format photo:

Tap on Edit (upper-right).
Select the Crop tool, then choose the option for the 4:5 crop ratio (the screen ratio for Apple Watch).
Pan and zoom to position the image as you wish it to appear on the watch face, keeping in mind that the watch will display the time in the upper-right area of the watch face.
Tap on Done.
Add the photo to your watch via your Synced Album (it will be resized automatically on your watch in terms of pixels, whilst retaining the full content that you selected).
Select the photo for use as a Photo watch face.

If starting with a landscape format photo, first crop it into a portrait format before following the same steps (as the 4:5 crop ratio option will not otherwise be offered).

More information:

http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iph96b1e322

http://www.cultofmac.com/390111/prep-photos-perfectly-for-your-custom-apple-watc h-face/

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Answer 2

Oct 8, 2017 5:41 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

What about the alignment? I’d like the text on this example to be perfectly centered on the watch face, yet even with the right 4:5 aspect ratio the alignment gets messed up. Screenshot from iOS Photos app after scropping to 4:5 and then how it looks on the watch face:

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203 Author

Level 10

230,588 points

May 8, 2016 9:32 PM in response to Jonathan UK

As always, thank you. I didn't realize that was what was needed. I can try that tomorrow, since I've already gotten things closed down for the night. Early day at the college tomorrow, final exam week too. I do know that with the original photo that I worked with, I was able to do a little zoom with the digital crown too, so that could also make a difference. I'll let you know tomorrow how it works. 🙂

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Answer 4

mack5ive

Level 1

4 points

Nov 30, 2016 7:32 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Try using 312x390 pixels

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Answer 5

ChrisJ4203 Author

Level 10

230,588 points

Dec 1, 2016 7:21 AM in response to mack5ive

Thank you, but the information that Jonathan UK provided back in May was the correct method to address the issue.

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