Print-on-Demand Seller Guide
Etsy vs Redbubble vs Society6: Print File Requirements Compared
Short answer: the same artwork file often needs to be exported differently for each marketplace — they don't share one universal spec. Uploading the same file everywhere is the most common cause of a listing that looks fine on your screen but prints soft, cropped, or rejected on one specific platform.
Last updated: July 31, 2026. Specs below are general guidance based on each marketplace's published seller documentation at the time of writing — marketplaces change file requirements without much notice, so confirm the current spec on each platform's own seller help pages before a bulk upload.
Why this trips sellers up: a file prepared for one marketplace's spec (say, Etsy's digital-download pixel chart) can be under-sized, over-sized, or in the wrong color mode for another (Redbubble and Society6 have their own separate minimums and file-type rules). "It worked on Etsy" doesn't mean it's ready for the next platform.
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What differs between platforms
| Requirement | Why it varies |
|---|
| Minimum pixel dimensions | Each platform sets its own floor based on the largest product size it prints from your file |
| Accepted file types | Some platforms restrict to JPEG/PNG only; others also accept PDF or TIFF |
| Color mode (RGB vs CMYK) | Web-native platforms typically want RGB; some print-production workflows ask for CMYK source art before converting |
| File size cap (MB) | Upload limits vary, which matters more at higher pixel counts and PNG (vs JPEG) file sizes |
Exact numbers change by platform and over time — see the "check before you upload" section below for where to verify the current figure on each site.
The practical workflow: prepare once, export per platform
Rather than trying to find one file size that satisfies every platform's minimum simultaneously (which usually means over-preparing for all of them, wasting storage and upload time), the more reliable approach is:
- Keep one high-resolution master file of your artwork — larger than any single platform's minimum.
- Before uploading to a specific marketplace, check that platform's current minimum pixel dimensions and accepted file type on its own seller help pages (linked below).
- Export a copy sized and formatted for that specific platform, rather than reusing one export everywhere.
PrintPack Local generates the standard 2:3 print-size family (4x6 through 20x30) from one master image, checking your source resolution honestly against each size before including it — so you always know which sizes your file safely covers before you export for any platform.
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Where to check the current spec on each platform
- Etsy (for digital-download listings): Etsy's own seller help center publishes current pixel-dimension guidance per print size and file-size caps — check under Etsy's digital-file listing help section before a bulk upload.
- Redbubble: Redbubble's artist resource pages publish a current minimum resolution and accepted file-type list, which has changed over time as the product range has grown.
- Society6: Society6's artist help pages publish separate minimum pixel dimensions for horizontal, vertical, and square artwork, plus its own accepted file-type and color-mode guidance.
Because these figures are controlled entirely by each marketplace and can change, this page intentionally doesn't quote a single fixed number for each — check the platform's own current page linked from its seller help center before uploading in bulk.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use the same file for Etsy, Redbubble, and Society6?
- Not reliably. Each platform sets its own minimum pixel dimensions, accepted file types, and (in some cases) color-mode guidance. A file that clears one platform's bar may fall short of, or be an unsupported format for, another.
- What's the most common mistake sellers make with print files across platforms?
- Uploading the exact same export to every marketplace, prepared for whichever platform's requirement they checked first — rather than re-checking each platform's current spec before that specific upload.
- Does PrintPack Local check marketplace-specific requirements?
- PrintPack Local checks your image's resolution against the standard 2:3 print-size family (4x6 through 20x30) and generates that pack for you. It doesn't currently auto-check a specific marketplace's file-type or color-mode rules — those still need a quick check on that platform's own current help pages.
What this page doesn't cover
- It doesn't quote specific current pixel/MB figures per platform, since those are controlled by each marketplace and change over time — check each platform's own seller help pages for the current number.
- It doesn't cover non-2:3 ratio sizing decisions — see the standard wall art print sizes guide for that.
- It doesn't cover whether your source resolution is technically sufficient — see what DPI you actually need for wall art prints for that separate question.
This page provides general guidance for wall art sellers preparing files for print-on-demand marketplaces. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Etsy, Redbubble, Society6, or any other marketplace. Marketplace requirements change — confirm the current spec directly with the platform before a bulk upload.