How to Select Export Size in Grid Tool

Grid Tool provides flexible export size options, allowing you to choose the most suitable resolution for your grid posters based on your specific use case. This article provides a detailed guide on how to select export sizes and understand the different options available.

What is Export Size Selection?

Export size selection is a feature that lets you choose the maximum dimension (width or height) of your exported grid poster before generating the final PNG image. The system automatically calculates the complete dimensions based on your grid's aspect ratio and orientation.

Export Size Features

Four preset sizes: 1980px, 1280px, 1024px, and 768px (maximum dimension)
Automatic calculation: Complete dimensions calculated based on aspect ratio
Orientation-aware: Different calculations for landscape and portrait layouts
Real-time preview: See the selected size before exporting
Quick selection: Easy dropdown interface for size selection

Available Export Sizes

Grid Tool offers four export size options:

Size Options

1980px (Maximum)
- Highest resolution option
- Best for: High-quality displays, printing, professional use
- Example: 1980 x 1320 (for 3:2 landscape)
1280px (High)
- High resolution option
- Best for: Desktop displays, large screens, detailed viewing
- Example: 1280 x 853 (for 3:2 landscape)
1024px (Medium)
- Medium resolution option
- Best for: Standard displays, web sharing, general use
- Example: 1024 x 683 (for 3:2 landscape)
768px (Standard)
- Standard resolution option
- Best for: Mobile displays, quick sharing, smaller file sizes
- Example: 768 x 512 (for 3:2 landscape)

How Dimensions Are Calculated

The export size represents the maximum dimension (width for landscape, height for portrait). The other dimension is automatically calculated to maintain the grid's aspect ratio:

Landscape orientation: Width = selected size, Height = width ÷ aspect ratio
Portrait orientation: Height = selected size, Width = height × aspect ratio

How to Select Export Size

Step-by-Step Guide

Locate the size selector: Find the export size dropdown in the top right of the preview area
Click the dropdown: Click on the current size display (e.g., "1980 x 1320")
Choose a size: Select from the available options in the dropdown menu
Confirm selection: The selected size is immediately applied
Export: Click the "Export PNG" button to generate the image at the selected size

Visual Indicators

Current selection: The selected size is displayed in the dropdown trigger
Dropdown menu: Shows all available sizes with calculated dimensions
Checkmark: The currently selected size is marked with a checkmark
Size format: Displays as "Width x Height" (e.g., "1980 x 1320")

Understanding Size Calculations

Example Calculations

For a 3:2 aspect ratio in landscape orientation:

1980px: 1980 x 1320 pixels
1280px: 1280 x 853 pixels
1024px: 1024 x 683 pixels
768px: 768 x 512 pixels

For a 3:2 aspect ratio in portrait orientation:

1980px: 1320 x 1980 pixels
1280px: 853 x 1280 pixels
1024px: 683 x 1024 pixels
768px: 512 x 768 pixels

Different Aspect Ratios

The actual dimensions vary based on your grid's aspect ratio setting:

16:9 (HD): Wider format, more pixels in width
4:3 (TV): More square format
1:1 (Square): Equal width and height
21:9 (Ultrawide): Very wide format

Use Cases

Scenario 1: High-Quality Display

Use case: Creating posters for high-resolution displays, professional presentations, or printing.

Recommended size: 1980px

Why: Maximum resolution ensures crisp details and professional quality suitable for large displays or print media.

Use case: Sharing posters on websites, social media, or embedding in web pages.

Recommended size: 1024px or 1280px

Why: Good balance between quality and file size, loads quickly while maintaining visual quality.

Scenario 3: Mobile Viewing

Use case: Posters primarily viewed on mobile devices or for quick sharing.

Recommended size: 768px

Why: Smaller file size for faster loading on mobile networks, sufficient quality for mobile screens.

Scenario 4: Storage Optimization

Use case: When storage space is a concern or you need many variations.

Recommended size: 768px or 1024px

Why: Smaller file sizes reduce storage requirements while maintaining acceptable quality.

Best Practices

Size Selection Tips

Consider your audience: Choose size based on where and how the poster will be viewed
Balance quality and size: Higher resolution means better quality but larger file sizes
Test different sizes: Export at different sizes to find the best balance for your needs
Default is maximum: The default 1980px is suitable for most professional use cases

Workflow Recommendations

Design first: Complete your grid design before selecting export size
Preview check: Review the preview to ensure everything looks good
Select size: Choose the appropriate size for your use case
Export: Generate the final PNG image
Verify: Check the exported image quality and dimensions

File Size Considerations

1980px: Typically 500KB - 2MB depending on content
1280px: Typically 300KB - 1MB
1024px: Typically 200KB - 800KB
768px: Typically 100KB - 500KB

Note: Actual file sizes vary based on image content, cell count, and compression.

Export Size vs. Display Quality

Resolution Guidelines

Retina/High-DPI displays: Use 1980px or 1280px for best results
Standard displays: 1024px is usually sufficient
Mobile displays: 768px provides good quality with smaller file size
Print media: Use 1980px for best print quality

Quality vs. Performance

Higher resolution: Better quality, larger file size, slower loading
Lower resolution: Smaller file size, faster loading, slightly lower quality
Sweet spot: 1024px-1280px often provides the best balance

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I export at a custom size?
A: Currently, Grid Tool offers four preset sizes. For custom sizes, you can export at the maximum size and resize using image editing software.

Q: Does export size affect the preview?
A: No. The preview always shows the full design. Export size only affects the final exported PNG file.

Q: Can I change the export size after designing?
A: Yes. You can change the export size at any time before clicking the export button. The size selection doesn't affect your design.

Q: Which size should I use for Jellyfin/Emby?
A: For media libraries, 1280px or 1980px are recommended for best quality. Most media libraries can handle these sizes well.

Q: Will changing the size affect image quality?
A: The exported image quality is always high. Higher sizes provide more detail, while lower sizes may have slightly less detail but are still high quality.

Q: Can I export the same design at multiple sizes?
A: Yes. You can export multiple times with different size selections. Your design remains unchanged, only the export resolution changes.

Tips for Different Use Cases

For Media Libraries (Jellyfin, Emby, Plex)

Recommended: 1280px or 1980px
Reason: Media libraries benefit from higher resolution for better display quality
Note: Check your media library's recommended poster dimensions

Recommended: 1024px
Reason: Good balance of quality and file size for social platforms
Note: Some platforms may resize automatically, but starting with good quality helps

For Web Embedding

Recommended: 1024px or 1280px
Reason: Fast loading with good visual quality
Note: Consider using responsive images for different screen sizes

Recommended: 768px
Reason: Small file size for quick uploads and sharing
Note: Quality is still good for most viewing scenarios

Conclusion

Export size selection is a simple but important feature that helps you optimize your grid posters for different use cases. By understanding the available sizes and their best use cases, you can choose the perfect resolution for your needs. Remember, you can always export at the maximum size first and resize later if needed, but selecting the right size from the start saves time and storage space.