For best results on ArtStation Prints, we need:
- JPG (lossless, 100%) or PNG
- RGB only - Don't convert your files to CMYK
- Use sRGB color profile (important, please read below)
- 300 pixels per inch (see below if upscaling images).
- Maximum file size 100MB
- Avoid unnecessary texts and letterboxing on the image (see below)
Color management
We work with a variety of print manufacturers with their own printers. Because of this, we need general consistency in colors.
We recommend using sRGB (Standard RGB), which is a widely used color space supported by most software, monitors and printers.
Do not use "Adobe RGB", which may cause printed and display colors to appear dull compared to what you see on screen
Do not convert to CMYK.
How to calculate resolutions
The formula:
PPI (Pixels Per Inch) x Length in inches
Our prints require 300 pixels per inch.
Therefore, a 10 inch x 8 inch print requires:
- Width: 300 ppi x 10 inches = 3000px
- Height: 300 ppi x 8 inches = 2400px
There! Now you know how to calculate print sizes!
See below for upscaling images if your works are too small.
Below are the specs for each aspect ratio and size.
Note: Don't confuse PPI (Pixels Per Inch) with DPI (Dots Per Inch), which refers to the approximate number of ink droplets the printer heads spray onto the media. Although the PPI is 300, the printers themselves operate at a much higher DPI (Dots Per Inch) up to 2400x1200dpi and potentially even higher in the future to achieve amazing quality.
Canvas Prints Sizes & Resolutions
Square Aspect
- 8x8: 2400x2400
- 10x10: 3000x3000
- 12x12: 3600x3600
- 16x16: 4800x4800
- 20x20: 6000x6000
- 24x24: 7200x7200
- 30x30: 9000x9000
- 36x36: 10800x10800
4:5 / 5:4 Aspect
Portrait
- 8x10: 2400x3000
- 16x20: 4800x6000
- 24x30: 7200x9000
Landscape
- 10x8: 3000x2400
- 20x16: 6000x4800
- 30x24: 9000x7200
3:4 / 4:3 Aspect
Portrait
- 12x16: 3600x4800
- 18x24: 5400x7200
- 30x40: 9000x12000
Landscape
- 16x12: 4800x3600
- 24x18: 7200x5400
- 40x30: 12000x9000
2:3 / 3:2 Aspect
Portrait
- 12x18: 3600x5400
- 16x24: 4800x7200
- 20x30: 6000x9000
- 24x36: 7200x10800
- 32x48: 9600x14400
Landscape
- 18x12: 5400x3600
- 24x16: 7200x4800
- 30x20: 9000x6000
- 36x24: 10800x7200
- 48x32: 14400x9600
1:2 / 2:1 Aspect
Portrait
- 10x20: 3000x6000
Landscape
- 20x10: 6000x3000
Upscaling images
While we recommend working at a higher resolution right from the start, it's understandable that many artists are working predominantly for screen rez, so your works are a tad small for prints. If re-rendering the works at a higher resolution isn't possible, you can upscale images (within reason of course) and obtain reasonably good quality, especially with the new upscaling algorithms in Photoshop. Wall prints are typically viewed from a distance and unless the viewer really goes right up close to the print with the intention to examine the quality, most imperfections aren't noticeable.
If you have Photoshop CC 2018 and higher, we recommend that you check out the "Preserve Details 2.0" setting, which uses AI assisted upscaling to preserve details. Please check out this tutorial here:
https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/upscale-images-photoshop-cc-2018/
After upscaling, if you feel the need to, you can continue to work on the image to paint/render back in the details to make the work pristine at higher resolutions.
Avoid unnecessary texts and letterboxing on the image
You want your customers to have the best experience with your art and to be proud of showing your work in their home and office. We recommend to avoid letterboxing images and unnecessary texts on prints, as it may hurt your sales.
Letterboxing
Letterboxing is where you add strips of a black/white to make the print fit into an aspect ratio. It doesn't look great, and we recommend against doing this.
Note: Letterboxing is different from framing, which is where a decorative border is added on all four sides and looks good.
Texts on prints
We know a lot of artists want to ensure that they have some credit or mark on their artworks. While adding a signature or a logo symbol is great, we recommend against adding texts like a URL to your website.
Remember, this is an artwork that people will actually BUY and hang in their home or office. It's not an ad or promotional piece for you. When uploading to your portfolio on ArtStation, by all means add the texts and URLs all you want. But on a print that you are selling, we feel that it may hurt your sales.