How to Resize Your Poster Files

🖼️ How to Resize Your Poster Files

If you're selling wall art on Etsy and using PrintShrimp for fulfillment, making sure your design files match the correct poster aspect ratios is essential. Do it right, and your artwork prints perfectly at every size. Do it wrong, and you'll end up with cropping, white borders, or unhappy customers.

This guide walks you through how to resize your poster designs using Canva and other tools, how to simplify your workflow, and why PrintShrimp makes everything easier.

🎯 Why Poster Aspect Ratios Matter

At PrintShrimp, we print across a wide range of sizes, but they all fall into just a handful of aspect ratios. That means you don’t need to create a separate file for every size — you just need one high-quality design per aspect ratio.

Here are the main aspect ratios we support:

• 2:3 — Common sizes: 12x18", 16x24", 20x30", 24x36". US poster standard.
• 3:4 — Common sizes: A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0. Popular in UK/Europe.
• 4:5 — Common sizes: 8x10", 16x20". Fits US photo frames.
• 1:1 — Common sizes: 10x10", 12x12", 16x16", 20x20". Square, modern, minimalist style.

🛠️ Step-by-Step: Creating the Right Canvas in Canva

✅ 1. Open Canva and Create a New Design

• Click “Create a design” → choose “Custom Size”.
• Change the units from pixels (px) to inches.
• Enter your desired canvas size (for example, 24x36 inches for a 2:3 ratio).

📌 Pro tip: Always design using the largest size in the aspect ratio — this gives you better resolution and flexibility. For 2:3 designs, use 24x36 inches; for A-series, go with A0 (33.1 x 46.8 in).

✅ 2. Enable Guides and Stay Within Safe Zones

• Go to File → View settings → Show rulers and guides.
• Make sure key elements (like text or important details) are not too close to the edge to avoid accidental cropping.

✅ 3. Export Settings

• Format: JPG (preferred for Etsy uploads)
• Quality: High
• Size: Keep it full size — do not downscale unless preparing for sale

🧠 When to Resize Your Files

One of the biggest mistakes new sellers make is trying to export every single poster size before they’ve made a sale. This leads to clutter and wasted effort.

❌ Don’t: resize everything up front.

✅ Do this instead:

• Design your poster once in each of the main aspect ratios (or just one if you're starting).
• Only create additional ratios when you make a sale in that format.

This reduces your upfront work and keeps your shop agile.

🗂️ Start with the A-Series

We recommend all sellers start by designing in the A-Series format (A4, A3, A2, A1, A0) which is:

• The most popular in the UK & Europe
• Easy to scale
• Well-known among Etsy buyers

When a customer orders a size from a different ratio (e.g., 2:3), you can duplicate the A-series design, adjust the canvas size, reposition elements, and export. This takes 2–5 minutes and keeps your workflow lean.

🔁 How to Repurpose Designs for Multiple Sizes

Let’s say you created a 24x36" (2:3) poster. From this one design, you can easily export:

• 12x18"
• 16x24"
• 20x30"

Same for other ratios.

You’ll only need 4–5 base designs:

• One for 2:3
• One for 3:4 (A-series)
• One for 4:5
• One for square (1:1)

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Designing to a random size: You can’t stretch a 12x18" to 16x20" — it warps the design.
• Not using high enough resolution: Canva handles DPI based on dimensions — aim for 5000–7000 pixels on the long side.
• Ignoring safe zones: Always keep a margin between your design and the canvas edge.
• Cluttered folders: Don't export every size in advance. Wait for sales, then export the needed sizes.

🦐 Why PrintShrimp Makes It Easy

PrintShrimp is built specifically for poster sellers. You handle the design, we handle the rest.

What makes PrintShrimp the perfect POD partner?

• ✅ Global shipping – UK, US, EU, AUS
• ✅ Fast fulfillment – Orders dispatched quickly with tracking
• ✅ Top-tier print quality – Premium paper and inks
• ✅ Automated workflow – Upload your files, connect your Etsy, and go
• ✅ Best-in-class pricing – Massive margins compared to other suppliers

📈 A single 20x30" print can earn you £25+ profit on one order.

🎨 Final Thoughts

Designing for print-on-demand doesn’t have to be a nightmare. By designing once per aspect ratio, starting with A-series formats, and resizing only when needed, you’ll build a smarter, more profitable workflow.

And with PrintShrimp, you don’t need to worry about fulfillment, shipping, or juggling 10 tools. Just focus on creating great art — we’ll take care of the rest.

👉 View PrintShrimp Pricing & Sizes