So you've purchased and downloaded a piece of digital art that you love. This is a great life choice by the way...supporting small business, reduced carbon footprint, you're gonna love it.

But, you open the folder and there's multiple files. Which one do you print? 

You're totally not alone, this is by far the most common question from people buying digital prints and printable art. So, don't stress it, this guide is your easy cheat sheet to nailing the perfect digital print size without the anxiety and worry of getting it wrong and wasting time and money at the printer. 

Why Poster Size and Aspect Ratio Matters (And How to Get The Printing Right)

Printing in the wrong size is like squeezing into jeans two sizes too small—things just get awkward in all the wrong places. Pick the right file in the right aspect ratio to print and your printable art will come out crisp, sharp, and ready to make your walls look amazing—just like it does on screen.

The trick here is to understand aspect ratio and which of the files you should be printing. Aspect Ratio is just a fancy way of describing the shape of your poster—the relationship between its width and height.

Different countries use different standard frame sizes, so if you use the wrong ratio, you could end up with awkward white borders or worse, or prints that just don't fit in the frames you have available to you. 

Here's how it works:

2:3 Ratio = the short side is 2 units, the long side is 3 units. This is your go-to for North America, perfect for popular sizes like 24x36, 20x30, 16x24 inches, etc.

4:5 Ratio = a squarer format, where the short side is 4 units, and the long side is 5 units. 4:5 is the ratio used for popular photo sizes like 8x10 inches, or 16x20 inch posters, and some smaller photo frames. You'll find 4:5 photo frames in most places around the world but the larger frame sizes tend be more popular in North America.

International ISO/A Sizes = the international standard (A1, A2, A3), used in NZ, UK, Australia, Europe Asia and most of Africa. This is the printing and framing standard for countries that use the metric system (cm, mm, meters etc.)

Why it matters:

✔️ Your print looks exactly like the original design.
✔️ No weird cropping or stretching.
✔️ You’ll easily find frames at your local shops without needing custom sizing.

Quick Tip: Always stick to the maximum print sizes listed in your download or product description, and your print will look studio-quality, even when you print big.

Example: If you're artwork says printable up to: 24x36" or printable up to A1, it was designed to be printed at this size. If you print any bigger than that, you'll start to get blurry images and text. Can you print smaller? Absolutely. You will never lose image quality by printing smaller, only if you go bigger than the maximum print size. 

Most Common Questions I Get (Answered!)

“Which file should I print?”

Quick rule of thumb: If you live in the US or Canada → Print the 2:3 or 4:5 depending on which you were supplied. If your download has both, pick that one that best matches the frame you like.

If you live in the UK, Europe, NZ, Australia, Asia or Africa → Print the 'International A' size files. Easy as. 

“Can I print smaller than A1 or 24x36?”

Absolutely. Everything stays high-quality when you size down. Just remember to stay within the same aspect ratio as your chosen file. This way, your print will stay true to the original design, and you’ll have a much easier time finding ready-made frames that fit—no awkward cropping, no resizing drama, just perfectly proportioned art on your wall.

Quick Aspect Ratio/Print/Size Cheat Sheet 📏

🎨 Ready to turn your walls into a reflection of you? Explore our exclusive collection of digital art prints—crafted for people who want their space to feel personal, bold, and unapologetically stylish. Find your next favourite piece here.