Hi, I would like to make some printables for sale online, but am currently confused as to how to set the size for a drawing in Inkscape.

For example, a seller might say that a purchase includes 20 different sizes such as:
- 4x6"
- 4x6" with crop marks for easy trimming
- 5x7"
- 5x7" with crop marks for easy trimming
- 8x10"
- 8.5x11"
- 11x14"
- 11x17"
- 12x18"
- 16x20"
- 18x24"
- 20x24"
- 24x36"
- A5
- A5 with crop marks for easy trimming
- A4
- A3
- A2
- A1
- A0

One of the many questions I have is that I think I know that if I want an 8x10", I set that size at the beginning of the drawing before I make it. However, when I go to print it, there seems to be options to change the size to anything I want except I don't think I could make it bigger without pixellating the final print.

Could someone enlighten me on this dilemma?
Thanks!

So if I understand you correctly, you're preparing images that can be sold via that shop, and will later be available in those sizes you listed?

If that's the case, I think this depends on the kind of file the shop accepts.
Do they want a separate file for each?
Or do they use one file, then scale it?
Do they accept vector images? Do they accept only raster images?
Do all the formats have the same width/height ratio? (didn't check now)

May I ask you how you sell printables?
I'd say readjusting an existing graphic to a layout is the way easier part.

Hi Moini - I just want to list some printable images for the public as instant digital downloads, so no, I am not selling to a particular shop.

Lazur, just by listing the image on Amazon and elsewhere, if someone likes what they see, they pay for it and download the file. But I just don't understand how to preset a size, specially if I initially set it at 8x10"

In the document's setting you can set up the page size and the base units (Shift+Ctrl+D).
Other than that it depends on the output format. Like, if you want to produce an edge to edge print to be 8x10", you need to add a bleed around your image and make the page size larger.

For example here is a template for an SRA3 print, to be trimmed to A3 after printing. Check the layers in the file (Shift+Ctrl+L), hope it's self-explanatory.

For art prints on a canvas you cannot be that exact as the fabic is elastic and you can just estimate the stretching -around 1%? Can't recall an exact value. Not mentioning those giclée printers can mess up the print dimensions a slight bit. And that you probably would need graphic content on the sides of the canvas frame.

Lazar, So, if I made an image that is 8x10", just go back to the setup and change the settings to 5x7", then save it, and keep changing it to whatever I need?

I'm not printing it out for the customer, they have to do that, I doubt they would be trying to print on canvas, they're just small prints they would normally slip into a frame like an 8x10 or whatever they choose.

I'm not familiar with print sale sites prepressing policies as I'm not at any of them currently. My guess would be they can deal with adding bleeds but extending the image through the trim marks is another thing. Some may even need files with cmyk colour profiles which is not a well maintained part of inkscape. (Haven't tried that myself, most times using scribus is suggested.)
Could only find guidelines for books on amazon.

They should know best what format they accept, if you need to add bleed&crop marks or not.

Ok thanks Lazar

@maisie: if you export the images to png, and don't upload them as svg or pdf, then you can also just export at the pixel size you need.

If you export to pdf, then you'll need to set the document size, and also resize the contents (Switch to selection tool, select all in all layers: Ctrl+Shift+A, lock width/height ratio by clicking on the lock icon in the tool controls bar, enter a value for width or height, relocate the image on the page using the Align + Distribute dialog, probably centering both horizontally and vertically in relation to 'Page').