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Finding the ideal NFT image size for your artwork.
Making a piece of NFT art is all about utilising your creativity to conjure up something truly unique. But before you get started, there are a few key things to consider - such as what’s the best size for your NFT art.
From the ideal dimensions for your piece, to the necessary specifications, we’ll guide you through what to do and how to do it when it comes to creating NFT art or converting existing artwork into an NFT.
NFT image size - an overview.
NFT art dimensions matter because they can affect the overall resolution, shape and composition of your creation. Put simply, the more pixels an image has, the higher the resolution and the better the detail. Less pixels, contrastingly, mean less detail.
That said, while a smaller file size may be lower in quality, it will improve loading and uploading times when sharing your work.
You should also keep in mind that different sharing platforms will have different file size and pixel limits for NFT artwork - so it is always sensible to check these.
How are NFTs measured?
NFT sizes are measured in pixels, usually written as ‘px’. This can range from anywhere around 300px x 300px, up to lengths and widths of 4000px or more.
The best NFT art is usually minted with a horizontal resolution of 4000px, as this ensures 4K HD resolution, making it easier to share at full quality across platforms. Around 1920 x 1080px is classed as ‘regular’ HD quality.
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What are some typical sizes of NFT art?
The average NFT artwork size is often around 1080px, for an HD display - but many artists prefer their NFT art with a horizontal resolution of 4000px. This higher pixel amount ensures that they can be accessed and shared across most devices while retaining their resolution.
Regarding file size, the maximum across sharing platforms is often around 100 MB. However, you should always check before uploading to see whether your file size is compatible, as some are as low as 10 MB and others as high as 200. Also, don’t forget that the size will depend on what works best for you and your art.
What is the best size for NFT art?
When deciding on the best size for your NFT art, the most important thing is to think about how you’d like others to use and view your creations. Your vision should always come first and shouldn’t be compromised.
You should consider:
What the purpose of the artwork is and how it will be displayed - where and how will the people you share your work with be using and viewing it? For example, is it a small piece of digital art, a moving animation or is it made to be viewed as a large wall piece?
What format it will be created in - how you make your NFT art is also important to the dimensions it takes on. For example, small pieces of mascot art may take on a reduced pixel size, while a game or animation will naturally pack more pixels!
Where it will be uploaded - keep in mind that different NFT design sharing platforms have different pixel limits and maximum file sizes. Because of this, it’s a good idea to do your research before you create and upload your work.
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Best NFT JPEG size vs Best NFT PNG size.
Whether finalising your work in JPEG or PNG format, it’s the individual requirements of each platform (and your own work) that should first be considered.
In general, both JPEGs and PNGs should aim for HD quality as outlined above, but try to keep file sizes to a respectable limit to avoid upload and sharing issues. 50 MB is often considered a good ‘rule of thumb’. PNG still images can often retain quality better than JPEGs as well.
Learn how to create and make NFT art.
Create NFT Art from scratch or turn your artwork into an NFT.
NFT sizing and dimensions - a step-by-step guide.
There are a few methods by which you can go about resizing your visual compositions, including multiple platforms where you’re able to resize your images.
Changing NFT dimensions on Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is one of the more popular platforms to create NFT art - and resizing your creations is quick and easy. Let’s explore the options:
Resizing the canvas
A straightforward way to choose your NFT dimensions is by resizing the Photoshop canvas. To do this, simply:
- Navigate to ‘Image’
- Click ‘Canvas Size’
- Enter the width and length of your canvas (in px).
Adjust the image size
Similar to resizing the digital canvas, by adjusting the existing NFT image size in Photoshop, you can alter the dimensions of an existing piece. All you need to do is:
- Go to ‘Image’
- Click ‘Image Size’
- Enter the desired number of pixels in the width and length boxes.
Don’t forget to consider the purpose and resolution of your piece.
Trim, Reveal All and Crop
These three functions do not require you to actually resize your art, rather they add or take away pixels to change the dimensions.
Trim (found under ‘Image’) - removes transparent pixels or pixels of a specific colour. It’s a useful tool for getting rid of unwanted excess around the edges of your artwork
Reveal All (found under ‘Image’) - reveals any pixels that go outside of the boundaries of your canvas by resizing your work
Crop (CTRL+C) - this tool allows you to drag and adjust the edges of the crop border to resize and re-shape your art.
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Changing NFT dimensions on Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is an amazing design platform created specifically for digital artists. What’s more, you can resize your NFT artwork in just a few steps:
Use the Selection tool
The Selection Tool is the go-to option for resizing your art on Illustrator. Plus, it’s really simple to use:
- Once your canvas/art is open in Illustrator, navigate to ‘Tools’
- Click ‘Selection tool’
- You should see transformation handles (squares) on the corners of your work, drag them to reshape and resize
- Experiment with the handles to change the size, shape and orientation of your image.
Use the Transform tool
Rather than allowing you to drag and resize your image, the Transform tool lets you input numerical values to change the width and length of your work. Simply:
- Navigate to ‘Window’
- Select ‘Transform’ (you can also press SHIFT+F8 on a Windows PC or CTRL+T on a Mac)
- Input the desired pixel amount to change the image dimensions. You can also Rotate and Shear in this window too.
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Create colourful NFT artwork or amazing digital pieces with Adobe Photoshop.
Unleash your vision with Adobe Illustrator. From character design to logo creation, the NFT possibilities are endless.
Make exciting and interactive pages and documents with Adobe InDesign. Re-define the definitions of traditional NFTs with eye-catching postures and more.
Bring worlds to life with Adobe Animate. Create short films, video games and more with Animate’s collection of tools and endless possibilities.
From branding to social media and web design, Adobe XD is your one-stop shop for UI and UX design.
Capture the perfect shot after you’ve snapped the shutter with Adobe Stager 3D. Explore lighting, effects and more in our fully virtual studio.
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NFT artwork size: FAQs.
Is there an NFT size limit?
There is no hard or ideal NFT size limit, but each sharing platform will have its own limits as to what you can upload onto their site. You should take some time to research the max pixel amount and MB file sizes for your chosen platform before you create and upload your artwork.
What size should I make my NFT art?
Aim for an HD quality display if possible (minimum 1080px), but the dimensions you choose for your NFT art should depend on a few things:
The purpose of your piece - where and how is it being shared?
Where your artwork will be displayed - is it meant to be purely digital and viewed on-screen or printed and displayed?
Your chosen NFT platform’s size allowances - each platform will have different limits for MB file size and pixel amounts.
Should NFTs be JPG or PNG?
This all depends on the intended purpose of your NFT art. That said, PNGs are often recommended for digital NFTs, as they are more easily displayed across all platforms and devices and retain their quality to a higher standard, in comparison to JPEGs.