How to Size Your Artwork in the Most Popular Design Programs (Without Losing Your Mind)

If you’ve ever tried sizing your artwork for custom apparel and found yourself zooming in and out more than a DJ spinning a house remix, you’re not alone. Whether you’re trying to perfectly place your design on a t-shirt, hoodie, or tote bag, knowing how to size your artwork in different design programs is key to not turning your masterpiece into a pixelated blob.

So, let’s take a witty dive into how to properly size your artwork using three of the most popular design programs: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Canva. And because we love you (and your sanity), we’ll throw in a few illustrated examples along the way.

1. Adobe Illustrator: The Vector King

Adobe Illustrator is the GOAT for vector designs, which means your artwork will stay crispy no matter how big or small you make it. But how do you size it right for printing?

Step-by-Step:

• Set your artboard size first – Go to File > New and enter the dimensions for your apparel. Standard t-shirt design dimensions? Go with 12" x 12" as a safe zone.
• Scale proportionally – Use the Selection Tool (V), grab the corner of your artwork, and hold down Shift as you resize. This keeps your artwork proportional and stops your design from looking like it had too much pizza last night.
• Align it perfectly – Use Align to Artboard to center your design, so it’s not awkwardly hanging out on one side of your t-shirt.

Illustrated Example: Picture a sassy llama graphic. If you want this llama to cover the front of a t-shirt without looking like a postage stamp, make sure it's sized up to 12" x 16", centered, and scaled proportionally.

2. Adobe Photoshop: A Pixel Paradise

Photoshop is perfect for those high-detail, pixel-based designs. But pixels can be tricky, especially if your artwork ends up looking like a Minecraft character when it’s printed. Let’s avoid that, shall we?

Step-by-Step:

• Set your canvas size – Create a new document with File > New and set it to the desired print size. Use 300 PPI (pixels per inch) to keep things sharp.
• Convert your design to a smart object – If you're resizing multiple times, convert your artwork to a Smart Object before scaling. This keeps the design quality intact.
• Free Transform like a pro – Hit Ctrl + T (or Cmd + T on a Mac) and hold Shift to maintain your proportions while resizing. Trust me, you don’t want to mess with this—unless you like stretched logos!

Illustrated Example: Imagine a fierce tiger graphic for a hoodie. With a canvas size of 12" x 12" and the design as a Smart Object, you can scale it without losing that sharp, fierce look. Rawr.

3. Canva: The Easy-Peasy Design Tool

Canva is great for beginners and quick projects, but don’t sleep on its power! You can totally create print-ready designs here—just follow these steps to avoid ending up with something the size of a business card on your tee.

Step-by-Step:

• Custom canvas dimensions – Start with Create a Design > Custom Size and enter the dimensions for your product. For example, use 3600 x 4800 pixels (that’s 12" x 12" at 300 PPI).
• Lock your proportions – Click on the corners of your design and hold down Shift while resizing. No one likes a squashed graphic.
• Download in high quality – Always export as a PNG at 300 DPI for the best print results.

Illustrated Example: Let’s say you’re designing a motivational quote with a fancy font for a tote bag. Make sure it’s sized to 12" x 12", and the text isn’t so small that people need binoculars to read it.

Pro Tips:

• Always mock it up – Use product mockups to see how your design will look on the actual product. Nothing’s worse than realizing your graphic looks weirdly tiny or massively out of proportion once it’s printed.
• Stay within the “safe zone” – For apparel, keep key design elements within the top 10-12 inches of the canvas. It’ll ensure your design doesn’t end up on someone’s belly or awkwardly near the armpit.
• Don’t go too crazy with size – While big designs are great, don’t go overboard. Keep it proportional to the item of clothing so it complements rather than overwhelms.

Final Thoughts

Sizing your artwork in design programs doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With a few simple tips (and a lot of patience), you can ensure your designs look just as amazing printed as they do on screen. And remember, whether you’re using Illustrator, Photoshop, or Canva, it’s all about proportion, quality, and making sure your design doesn’t look like it’s been through the wash before it’s even printed!

Now, go forth and design like a boss. And if you need help bringing those designs to life, you know where to find us at Lee’s Treasure Chest!