Document setup (canvas, resolution, color profiles / color-management awareness)
Set canvas size, resolution, and color profiles to match a painting's final use across screens, print, and devices.
What it is
Document setup covers canvas size, pixel dimensions, resolution (DPI/PPI), and color profile. You match these settings to the brief before painting, such as 6000 × 4000 px at 300 DPI in CMYK for print, or 2560 × 1440 px in sRGB for a game launcher.
Choose pixel dimensions for the final use and required detail. Web and game work commonly use pixels and aspect ratios such as 16:9, 4:5, or square. Print work uses physical dimensions, such as A4 or 11 × 17 inches, with enough resolution for lines and type. Check file size so the document remains responsive and shareable.
Color-management awareness means knowing your file's profile, the profiles used by references, and the requirements for delivery. This can include assigning the correct profile, soft-proofing for print when needed, and checking exports for color shifts caused by incorrect or missing profiles.
Why it matters
Correct setup helps prevent late changes caused by a small canvas, the wrong aspect ratio, or a mismatched color mode. It also reduces differences between your screen, other devices, client tools, and printed output.
You can check it when
- ✓Choose canvas dimensions, resolution, and aspect ratio for a piece based on its final use, such as web, an in-game asset, or print.
- ✓State which color profile your working file uses and explain when sRGB or a print profile is required.
- ✓Check JPEG, PNG, TIFF, or PSD exports on other devices or in client tools for unexpected dullness, saturation, or color shifts.
- ✓Review finished files for setup problems that would require rebuilding, including insufficient canvas size, an incorrect aspect ratio, or a color mode that does not match the brief.