Size Guide for iPad Wallpapers

  • Category: Blog
  • Published: February 10, 2015

    • There are now six different iPad models. Four generations of the basic iPad and two generations of the iPad air. The first two iPad generations have screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and perfect wallpaper size for these models is 1024 x 1024 pixels. The later models and generations feature the Retina screen that has resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels and the optimal wallpaper size of 2048 x 2048.

    Now, you may ask why is the optimal wallpaper size bigger than the actual screen resolution? This has to do with screen rotation of the iPad. Every time you change the iPad’s rotation from portrait mode to landscape the wallpaper turns with the screen. This is obviously done to keep the background right way and not sideways or upside down. When the iPad is turned the visible screen size changes from 2048 x 1536 to 1536 x 2048. This means that the background image is cut accordingly. Parts of the wallpaper are not shown depending on the rotation of the device. To demonstrate this, here is a picture:

     

    ipad wallpaper templateThis template shows how the wallpaper will be cropped depenging on the orientation of the screen. The white corners wont be visible in any situation.

    When looking for a background to your iPad or other tablet it’s important to consider the rotation. Otherwise you might end up with a image that looks great in one way but when turned crucial parts of the image will be cropped and not shown.

    So wallpaper should be focused in a way that fits to the template. Main parts of the image in the middle and nothing between the cropping lines. This way the image will always look great.
     

     

     
    The second part of a great iPad wallpaper is the resolution itself. Especially the newer iPad models that have high resolution and pixel density need sharp high resolution images. Bad quality or low resolution images will look horrible and wont compliment the great iPad screen. The resolution should be 2048 x 2048 or higher but with the same aspect ratio.

    With these steps in mind you can make your own perfect iPad wallpapers. Or just choose one from our selection. Any problems or issues let us know in the comments below.