How to Resize MTG Card Images for Printing: Complete Guide

Getting the right size is crucial when printing MTG cards. Print them too small and text becomes unreadable. Print them too large and they won't fit in sleeves. This guide covers everything you need to know about resizing card images for perfect printing results.

Standard MTG Card Dimensions

Magic: The Gathering cards have specific dimensions:

• Width: 2.5 inches (63.5mm)
• Height: 3.5 inches (88.9mm)
• Aspect Ratio: 5:7 (approximately 0.714)

These dimensions are consistent across all Magic cards, so your proxies should match exactly.

Understanding Resolution and DPI

What is DPI?

DPI (Dots Per Inch) determines print quality:

• 72 DPI - Screen quality, too low for printing
• 150 DPI - Acceptable for printing, may look slightly soft
• 300 DPI - Professional print quality (recommended)
• 600 DPI - Very high quality, large file sizes

Calculating Image Dimensions

For 300 DPI printing:

• Width: 2.5" × 300 = 750 pixels
• Height: 3.5" × 300 = 1050 pixels
• Total: 750 × 1050 pixels

Method 1: Using Online Tools

TCGCustom Export

The easiest method - TCGCustom handles sizing automatically:

1. Design your card in the editor
2. Click "Export" or "Download"
3. Select "Print Quality" or "300 DPI"
4. The exported image is already correctly sized

Other Online Resizers

If you have an existing image:

• ResizeImage.net - Simple web-based resizer
• ILoveIMG - Free image resizing tool
• Photopea - Free Photoshop alternative in browser

Steps:

1. Upload your card image
2. Set dimensions to 750 × 1050 pixels (for 300 DPI)
3. Maintain aspect ratio
4. Download resized image

Method 2: Using Image Editing Software

Photoshop

1. Open your card image
2. Go to Image > Image Size
3. Uncheck "Resample" if changing DPI only
4. Set resolution to 300 pixels/inch
5. Set width to 2.5 inches and height to 3.5 inches
6. If resampling, use Bicubic Smoother for upscaling

GIMP (Free Alternative)

1. Open your card image
2. Go to Image > Scale Image
3. Set resolution to 300 pixels/inch
4. Set width to 2.5 inches and height to 3.5 inches
5. Use Cubic interpolation for best quality
6. Click "Scale"

Preview (Mac)

1. Open image in Preview
2. Go to Tools > Adjust Size
3. Set resolution to 300 pixels/inch
4. Set width to 2.5 inches
5. Height will adjust automatically
6. Click "OK"

Method 3: Command Line Tools

ImageMagick

For batch processing multiple cards:

Common Resizing Scenarios

Scenario 1: Image is Too Small

Problem: Your image is 500 × 700 pixels (too small for 300 DPI)

Solution:

• Upscale to 750 × 1050 using Bicubic Smoother (Photoshop) or Cubic (GIMP)
• Expect some quality loss - start with highest resolution possible
• Consider using AI upscaling tools for better results

Scenario 2: Image is Too Large

Problem: Your image is 2000 × 2800 pixels (larger than needed)

Solution:

• Downscale to 750 × 1050 using Bicubic Sharper (Photoshop)
• Larger images downscale better than small images upscale
• No quality concerns when downscaling

Scenario 3: Wrong Aspect Ratio

Problem: Image is 800 × 1000 (wrong proportions)

Solution:

• Crop to correct aspect ratio first (5:7)
• Then resize to target dimensions
• Or add borders/padding to maintain full image

Maintaining Quality

Upscaling Tips

• Start with highest resolution - Always begin with the best source
• Use quality algorithms - Bicubic Smoother, Lanczos, or AI upscaling
• Avoid multiple resizes - Resize once to final size
• Check sharpness - Text should remain crisp

Downscaling Tips

• Use sharpening - Apply slight sharpening after downscaling
• Check text readability - Ensure text is still clear
• Maintain aspect ratio - Don't stretch or squash

Printer Settings

After resizing, configure your printer:

1. Disable "Fit to Page" - This will distort your carefully sized image
2. Use "Actual Size" or 100% scaling
3. Set print quality to "Best" or "High"
4. Verify paper size - Use Letter or A4 paper

Testing Your Size

Before printing many cards:

1. Print a test card first
2. Measure with a ruler - Should be exactly 2.5" × 3.5"
3. Check in a sleeve - Should fit standard card sleeves
4. Verify text readability - All text should be clear

Batch Processing

If you have many cards to resize:

Using TCGCustom

• Export multiple cards at once
• All will be correctly sized automatically

Using ImageMagick

Using Photoshop Actions

1. Record an action for resizing one card
2. Apply to all cards in a folder
3. Batch process automatically

Troubleshooting

Cards Print Too Small

• Check printer scaling is set to 100%
• Verify image dimensions are 750 × 1050 pixels
• Ensure "Fit to Page" is disabled

Cards Print Too Large

• Same checks as above
• Verify you're printing at actual size
• Check printer paper size settings

Text Looks Blurry

• Increase source image resolution
• Use better upscaling algorithm
• Print at 300 DPI minimum

Cards Don't Fit in Sleeves

• Verify dimensions are exactly 2.5" × 3.5"
• Check for scaling issues
• Measure printed card with ruler

Best Practices

1. Start with high resolution - Better to downscale than upscale
2. Use 300 DPI - Standard for professional printing
3. Maintain aspect ratio - Never stretch or squash
4. Test first - Print one card before batch printing
5. Use proper tools - TCGCustom handles this automatically

Quick Reference

Target Dimensions for 300 DPI:

• Pixels: 750 × 1050
• Inches: 2.5 × 3.5
• Millimeters: 63.5 × 88.9
• Aspect Ratio: 5:7

File Formats:

• PNG - Best for cards with text (lossless)
• JPEG - Smaller files, slight quality loss
• PDF - Good for multiple cards on one page

Conclusion

Resizing MTG card images correctly ensures your proxies look professional and fit perfectly in sleeves. The easiest method is using TCGCustom, which handles all sizing automatically. For existing images, use image editing software with the dimensions and DPI settings outlined above.

Remember: Always test print one card first to verify sizing before printing many cards. With the right dimensions and printer settings, you'll get perfect results every time.