The size of your file is a helpful measurement to determine how large we can make a print without it becoming distorted or pixelated.
Below are the recommended file requirements in order to produce a high-resolution print with good clarity.
Size guidelines for some of our standard sizes
(These are general size guidelines, please note that if the image is out of focus, grainy, or low-resolution files where the resolution has been manually increased the image may not work.)
Canvas Size | Min File Size | Min Pixels |
8 x 10 |
100kb |
640 x 800 |
11 x 14 |
200kb |
720 x 960 |
16 x 20 |
1Mb |
641 x 960 |
20 x 24 |
1.4Mb |
1080 x 1920 |
24 x 36 |
1.5Mb |
1448 x 2170 |
30 x 40 |
3Mb |
1200 x 1600 |
40 x 60 |
4.5Mb |
3456 x 5184 |
Can I increase the resolution of my small file?
We have found that increasing the resolution of a small file does not typically enable us to successfully enlarge the image. Our experience is that the file is still soft or pixelated when we attempt to enlarge a file where the resolution has been manually increased to the desired canvas size.
Your best bet is to investigate if you have the largest file available. If you do have the largest size available, your options are adjusting to a smaller canvas or sending a new image.
How do I check my file size?
Knowing your file size will help to troubleshoot whether or not your image file is the optimal size for enlarging onto canvas. File size can help indicate whether or not you have the largest version of your file available.
Android Phones
- Open up the app, Photos, or Gallery.
- Select the photo with a single tap
- Tap on the “I” icon at the bottom of the screen to bring up the image’s info
- Right below the file name (usually a string of numbers with .jpg at the end) it will list three sets of numbers: The first set will be the megapixels (example: 12.2MP). The second will be the dimensions in pixels (example: 3024x4032). The third is the file size (example: 3.2MB)
Windows Computer
- Locate the image file through Windows Explorer
- Right-click on the image and select Properties.
- The first tab displayed, General will show the file size of the image, as Size, right below Location.
- To find the pixels, first, click on the Details tab.
- Under the Image heading, the Dimensions will be listed in pixels.
Mac OSX
- If you have a 2-button mouse, right-click on the image file. If you have a single-button mouse, “control-click” on the image. This will bring up a menu box.
- Click on “Get Info”.
- The file size will be listed in the top-right of the box.
- Pixel size will be listed under the “More Info” section as “Dimensions”.
iPhone
To check the file size on your iPhone you will need to do a little bit of a workaround, as there is no quick and easy way that we have found to check the file size.
- Click on the “photos” app
- Select “Photos” at the bottom left of the screen
- Scroll through and choose your desired photo
- Click the square box that has an up arrow located in the bottom left corner
- Choose to mail your image
- Compose an email to yourself (please note that you will not actually need to email your image)
- A pop-up menu will appear, listing the options for how to send the image. Look for the “actual size” listing, this gives you the size of the file!
- Once you have the file information you can cancel the email. You will need to select cancel on the size pop-up and cancel on the new message. You may need to delete the draft as well, and then cancel sharing your photo in order to get back to the main screen of the photo app.
You can also install a third-party app to check the size for you. Please note we are in no way affiliated with this third-party app and are citing it as an alternate way to check your file size. If you choose to install this app then you will be agreeing to their terms and conditions which are separate from ours.
- Open up the App Store and search for a free app, Photo Investigator and install it.
- Launch the program, and allow it access to your photos.
- Tap the photo library icon at the lower-left corner of the screen to bring up your photo albums.
- Select the photo album that contains the photo.
- Tap on the photo for which you’re wanting to find details.
- A page will come up with the photo’s details, including File Size, and the pixel size for width and height.