What is Aspect Ratio? 

Aspect Ratio is a concept that has an impact on how your design or artwork will appear in print, especially when working with different sizes and formats. Whether you're designing a small flyer or a massive billboard - understanding aspect ratio is important to ensure your designs turn out the way you envisioned them. Aspect Ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image or printed piece. It is expressed as two numbers separated by a colon (like 4:3, 16:9, or 1:1) The first number represents the width, while the second number represents the height. 

When it Comes to Printing

For printed materials, maintaining the correct aspect ratio (along with many other details) ensures that your design fits perfectly within your printable area without distortion or cropping. Imagine designing a stunning brochure with perfectly balanced text and images, only to have it printed on a larger poster where everything looks out of proportion. It would most likely be because the aspect ratio of your brochure design doesnt match the apsect ratio of your larger poster!

Common Apsect Ratios in Small and Large Format Printing

Small format printing, such as business cards, typically involves predefined sizes. For example, a 3.5" x 2" business card will have a very specific aspect ratio (1.75:1). In that case, it is easy to keep everything proportional, as the design is relatively compact. With large format printing - like banners and posters - the concept of aspect ratio becomes even more important as large prints are often designed to be seen from a distance. When scaling a design for large format prints, you should consider how it will be viewed and what size your artwork will be stretched to. Have a look at our aspect ratio chart below, which includes our most popular print sizes and what they will scale up to proportionally.

Nuances and Other Considerations

Whether you’re designing a small postcard or a large bannerstand, aspect ratio is an essential piece in the printing process - and there are a few other things to consider while working with this kind of information.

• Resolution: A low resolution design will look pixelated no matter the aspect ratio
• Scaling Distortion: Stretching art to a new aspect ratio tends to invite pixelation and distortion
• Vector Art: Vector files can scale without losing quality, but can feel off-balance and misaligned if dimensions are changed after designing to a particular aspect ratio.
• The End In Mind: Start with the end in mind, know your print size and design around that!

Lets Get Started

AlphaGraphics in Wood Dale is here to support you whether you need assistance with Aspect Ratio or just want to have prints made to a size of your preference. Give us a call or simply send us a file to get a quote or call us for more information on your project.

Learn more about our print, signs, and marketing services if you aren’t quite ready to get started. At AlphaGraphics Wood Dale, we provide great choices at great prices. Remember, a free quote is just a click away. Give us a call at 630-595-6800. We are conveniently located at 165 Hansen Court, Suite 111 in Wood Dale, Illinois.

AlphaGraphics Wood Dale is proud to be recognized as the “Regional Center of the Year,” Great Lakes, 2022, for the best-run business in the Great Lakes Region—awarded by the entire AlphaGraphics network. We want to thank our amazing community for supporting our business—you continually inspire us to be our best.