Standard Ratios
Golden ratio, aspect ratios, and paper dimensions
Aspect Ratio
Golden Ratio (φ)
Paper Dimensions
210×297mm
297×420mm
216×279mm
85×55mm
Artwork Safe Zones
Every format has safe zones: areas where text, logos, and critical content must stay. Social media crops differently on mobile vs. desktop. Print requires bleed (3-5mm beyond trim). Logos need clear space equal to their cap-height. Hashtags and captions have their own placement rules per platform.
Social Media Dimensions
Instagram: Post 1080×1080, Story 1080×1920, Reel 1080×1920. LinkedIn: Post 1200×1200, Banner 1584×396. X/Twitter: Post 1600×900, Header 1500×500. YouTube: Thumbnail 1280×720, Banner 2560×1440. Behance: Project 1400px wide. Always design at 2x for retina displays.
Print & Environmental Sizes
Standard print: A4 (210×297mm), A3 (297×420mm), Letter (216×279mm). Large format: Billboards (3×6m, 4×3m), banners, vehicle wraps. Environmental: Wayfinding signs read from 3-30m — scale typography and contrast accordingly. Standard viewing distances determine minimum text size and safe areas.
Resizing Dos & Don'ts
Do: Design at the largest size first, then adapt down. Maintain aspect ratio. Use vector for logos. Rebuild small sizes — don't just shrink. Don't: Stretch or squash. Upscale raster images. Assume one layout works everywhere. Ignore platform-specific crops and safe zones. Always test final output at actual viewing size.