Sizes, image resolution and choosing the right export format

A good design can still fail if it is delivered at the wrong size or in the wrong format. Clients and employers notice blurry prints and cut-off posts quickly.

Sizing for platforms

Start each design at the size it will be used, rather than resizing at the end. Common sizes that have stayed stable include:

Square feed post      1080 x 1080 px  (1:1)
Portrait feed post    1080 x 1350 px  (4:5)
Story or vertical     1080 x 1920 px  (9:16)
Widescreen video      1920 x 1080 px  (16:9)
A4 print              210 x 297 mm

For stories and vertical video, keep key text away from the top and bottom edges, where platform buttons and captions often cover content. Platforms update their recommendations, so check the current guidance for anything unusual.

Image resolution

Screens need far fewer pixels than print. A photo that looks sharp on a phone can print blurry on a poster. For print, many printers ask for around 300 pixels per inch at the final size. For screen designs, use images at least as large as the design.

• Do not stretch small images to fill a large area.
• Use original photos rather than screenshots or images saved from messaging apps, which are often compressed.
• Check by zooming to 100% before exporting.

Choosing the export format

• JPG: photos and photo-heavy posts where small file size matters. No transparency.
• PNG: graphics with text, sharp edges or a transparent background, such as logos.
• PDF print: flyers, brochures and anything going to a printer. Add bleed if the printer asks for it.
• SVG: logos and icons that must scale to any size without losing sharpness.

A common mistake is sending a JPG logo with a white box around it for use on a coloured website header. A transparent PNG or an SVG solves this.

Before you send a file

1. Is the size correct for where it will be used?
2. Do images look sharp at 100% zoom?
3. Is the format right for photo, transparency, print or scaling?
4. Is the file named clearly, such as spring-sale-story-v2.png?