26 Comments

Set up a high resolution file with Sketchbook Pro |TIP5

Additionnal details and definition
Add details
Quick rough
Zoom in (low resolution document)

Even if I have spent quite some time on that sketch, I am not really fan of it.
I was trying too hard hiding my mistakes by overloading it of details. I guess I blind myself and didn’t realize early enough that the sketch base was not right. It naturally gives a clumsy result.

  1. The glass area really lack of dynamism.
  2. I forgot to change the resolution of the document. Big mistake !
    The sketch having a lot of small details. The picture is blurred when I zoom in.

TIP 5 High resolution file

sketchbookpro-resolution-setupPlan a high resolution document FROM START.

On the menu: EDIT/PREFERENCES/Canvas

For these kind of sketches, I recommend to rise the resolution of Sketchbook Pro by default from 72 to 200dpi.

SketchBook Pro – Resolution set up

And you, which resolution do you work with ? 
Simply write in the box below.

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About The Author

Chou-Tac

Hello! My name is Chou-Tac. I am a Product Designer from France. If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your design goal as a student or professional. My aim to help you all along with your design projects and journey. Anytime, feel free to leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

26 Comments

  • jeam

    Reply Reply August 24, 2020

    hello there, i was wondering if you too have the problem of quality loss when you resize drawing lines, for some reason they become pixelated and lose their opacity. if somehow someone here know how to actually fix that, it would be great.

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply August 24, 2020

      Hello Jeam, if you lose opacity, I guess you might be facing a bug. Try to reinstal Sketchbook Pro on your device. Hope it will solve the issue.

      Worst case scenario, what I personnaly do is to do a back up and resintal my whole system.

  • Kate

    Reply Reply September 21, 2018

    hi
    i want to work with an unusual size canvas but have a 300dpi. it is much taller than wide. i cannot seem get the size and dpi wanted (beginner here) not sure if you know how? in real life it needs to measure about 34×170 and have ok quality.

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply September 21, 2018

      Hello Kate,

      For an ok quality, keep the dimensions you need, and use 150 dpi.

      I recommend 200 though for extra margin. It gives you opportunity to zoom in your documents for adding details with precision.

      For info :
      For screen, best is 72dpi.
      For print, best is 300dpi.

  • Jamie

    Reply Reply April 28, 2018

    Hi! is there a way to change the resolution using my samsung galaxy tablet?

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply September 21, 2018

      Yes, you can change inside your software Sketchbook Pro itself. 🙂

  • Anjela

    Reply Reply November 12, 2017

    Hello!
    I’m wondering if it’s possible to change the resolution on the tablet?

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply November 12, 2017

      Hello Anjela,

      How are you doing ?

      When you have a screen tablet such as Wacom Cintiq, you can basically change the resolution of your screen in the parameter of your computer.

      So the icon and interface will appear smaller, and give more space to your working canvas.

      Hope it helps !
      Cheers,
      Chou-Tac

  • alina matsa

    Reply Reply October 27, 2017

    Hi,I have my resolution to 300 dpi but when i save my work and start again, work gets pixelated when i zoom.
    What am i doing wrong??

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply October 27, 2017

      Hello Alina,

      You may have saved your file in a compressed format eventually in Jpeg.

      To make sure you keep your original set up, save with the orignal file of your software.

      TIFF for Sketchbook Pro or PSD for Photoshop. 🙂

  • Manal

    Reply Reply January 20, 2017

    Hi Can I change the resolution for a drawing that was made with Autodesk SketchBook with low resolution?

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply January 20, 2017

      Hello Manal,

      I guess you mean if you can increase the resolution.
      Unfortunately it’s not possible. If you do so, your picture will become pixelated.

  • Amanda

    Reply Reply October 19, 2016

    I actually prefer working at 72 dpi with “extreme” zoom (300+) I get a little anxious when it’s clear at 100+ and obvious that my lines are not perfect/messy. My question is, will working at lower resolution translate to blurry prints? I’m mostly doing digital paintings with less emphasis on crispness and more on blending…

    help appreciated!

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply October 19, 2016

      Hello Amanda,

      I would recommend you to work with a minimum of 200dpi. The printing resolution is actually 300dpi.

      By rising your resolution, you will avoid some quality issues and also you will be able to scale up your pattern. 🙂

  • Luke

    Reply Reply July 11, 2016

    Hi Chou-Tac,

    When you choose to “Use width and height of window” (as in your screenshot), what difference does changing the ‘Resolution’ value make?

    Since our digital canvas is made up of pixels (where 100% zoom is 1:1 pixels) this only seems relevant when you specify the width and height in mm/cm/inches.

    Working zoomed out seems to me like the only way to avoid the problem you described here.

    I’ve been experimenting with sketching on a 8000×5000 pixel canvas at 50% zoom on my Cintiq 13HD. This allows me ample space for an ideation board with the ability to zoom in and add details when they’re needed.

    Regards,
    Luke

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply July 11, 2016

      Hello Luke,

      Yes working with a high resolution is convenient to add more sketches in one board. It’s very cool for doing research so you can expose ideas side by side.

      It also allows you to go in small details with good quality (not pixelated) if you need. So you can zoom in in a button and draw a nice icon on this button for example. (if you draw at 72dpi which is the screen resolution with a 100% zoom, you won’t be able to zoom in much. Do you see what I mean?)

      The benefit will also be be appreciated if you need to print your sketches bigger for your portfolio or presentation board!

      Hope it helps!

      • Luke

        Reply Reply July 11, 2016

        Your such a champion. Thanks for the reply!

  • Engineerista

    Reply Reply August 3, 2015

    Does this apply to Windows 10 on the Surface 3?

    • Chou-Tac

      Reply Reply August 11, 2015

      It all depends of your drawing style. If you want to draw some small details in your sketch, I say yes.

  • AmirHossein Alesheikh

    Reply Reply November 29, 2014

    I use 2000x 2000 and 300 dpi as my default. I send my works to instagram, So an square canvas is preferable for me. And Also I have a history with printing some of my works, So I prefer 300dpi. Also I found that Because of my tendency to zoom, It’s a good idea to have 2000pixel canvas. The down side is that Some of copic pens won’t increase size to a visible radios.
    Maybe if I try increasing dpi instead of picture, It would solve the problem. Let me check!

  • Carlos T

    Reply Reply August 26, 2014

    I’ve been playing with Sketchbook Pro for a while and I’m always interested in knowing what settings different designers use. Do you use custom pens? Any SBP tips?
    PS. Great website!!!

  • Renata

    Reply Reply August 26, 2014

    Interesting with a lot of GoPro’s on the top?
    J’aime les tracés!

    • Chou-Tac Chung

      Reply Reply August 26, 2014

      Ahah yeah, Then he could record videos like how a spider see. Which could be a cool video to make!

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