If you sell AI-generated digital downloads on Etsy, image resolution is your biggest quality challenge. Buyers expect 300 DPI files suitable for printing at standard frame sizes like 8×10, 11×14, or 16×20. But most AI art generators—including Midjourney, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion—output images at around 1024×1024 pixels. At 300 DPI, that’s only 3.4 inches on each side. Not enough for any standard print. You need an upscaler to bridge the gap between what AI generates and what your customers expect to receive.
Why Etsy Digital Downloads Need 300 DPI
DPI stands for dots per inch. To calculate the pixel dimensions you need, multiply the print size in inches by 300. Here are the most common Etsy print sizes and their required pixel dimensions:
- 5×7 inches — 1,500 × 2,100 pixels
- 8×10 inches — 2,400 × 3,000 pixels
- 11×14 inches — 3,300 × 4,200 pixels
- 16×20 inches — 4,800 × 6,000 pixels
A 1024px AI-generated image can’t meet any of these requirements at 300 DPI. Even the smallest common size—5×7—needs 1,500 pixels on its short side. Sellers who deliver undersized files get bad reviews, refund requests, and Etsy’s algorithm will push their listings down in search results. The math is unforgiving: if you want to sell printable art, you need to upscale first.
Comparison: 4 AI Image Upscalers for Etsy
We compared four popular upscaling tools on the criteria that matter most to Etsy sellers: price, ease of use, quality, and whether you need expensive hardware to run them.
| Feature | Topaz Gigapixel | Magnific AI | Let's Enhance | PixelMax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199/year | $39/month | $24/month | $1/image |
| Type | Desktop app | Web app | Web app | Web app |
| GPU Required | Yes | No | No | No |
| Max Upscale | 6× | 16× | 4× | 4× |
| AI Engine | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Real-ESRGAN |
| Best For | Power users | Creative control | Batch workflows | Occasional use |
Topaz Gigapixel
Topaz is the industry standard for desktop-based image upscaling. It delivers excellent quality and supports batch processing, making it ideal for high-volume workflows. The downside: it costs $199 per year, requires a powerful GPU to run smoothly, and is desktop-only. If you process hundreds of images each month and already have a capable machine, Topaz is hard to beat. For everyone else, it’s overkill.
Magnific AI
Magnific offers creative upscaling with granular style controls and can upscale up to 16×. It can reimagine and add detail to images in ways other tools can’t. However, the minimum plan is $39/month, and its creative tendencies can over-stylize images—not always desirable when buyers want a faithful reproduction of the preview they saw. Best for sellers who want artistic enhancement beyond simple sharpening and resolution boosting.
Let’s Enhance
Let’s Enhance is a solid web-based option with batch processing and smart presets for different use cases. At $24/month for 100 images, it makes sense for medium-volume sellers who want a predictable subscription workflow. The 4× upscale limit is enough for most Etsy print sizes when starting from 1024px source images.
PixelMax
PixelMax uses Real-ESRGAN, an open-source AI model known for clean, artifact-free upscaling. At $1 per image with no subscription, it’s built for sellers who don’t want a recurring bill. Upload your image, choose 4× upscale, and download the result in about 30 seconds. A 1024px source becomes roughly 4096px—enough for prints up to 13×13 inches at 300 DPI, or larger at 150 DPI.
Step-by-Step: Preparing Etsy Listings with PixelMax
- Generate your AI art using Midjourney, ChatGPT, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, or any generator you prefer.
- Upload to PixelMax and select the 4× upscale option.
- Download the high-res result—your 1024px image is now approximately 4096px on each side.
- Create size variants if needed by cropping to standard aspect ratios: 2:3 for 8×12, 4:5 for 8×10, 3:4 for 9×12, and 1:1 for square frames.
- Package as a ZIP with multiple sizes included. Buyers love getting a bundle of ready-to-print files in one download.
- Set your listing description with exact pixel dimensions and DPI for each included file so buyers know exactly what they’re getting.
Tips for Etsy Digital Download Sellers
- Always include pixel dimensions and DPI in your listing description. Buyers search for specific sizes, and clear specs build trust and reduce support messages.
- Offer multiple aspect ratios—2:3, 3:4, 4:5, and 1:1—to fit standard frames. A single design in four ratios increases perceived value without much extra work.
- Use watermarked previews in your listing images to prevent theft. Your actual download files should be unwatermarked, but what shows on Etsy should be protected.
- Price digital downloads between $3 and $15 depending on complexity, the number of included size variants, and your niche. Bundles with multiple sizes and ratios command higher prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What resolution should Etsy digital downloads be?
300 DPI at the target print size is the standard. For an 8×10 print, that means 2,400×3,000 pixels minimum. For 16×20, you need 4,800×6,000 pixels. Always offer the largest size possible—buyers appreciate having the flexibility to print at multiple sizes without quality loss.
Is $1 per upscale profitable for Etsy sellers?
Absolutely. If your digital downloads sell for $5–10 each, a single sale covers the upscaling cost of 5–10 images. Because PixelMax has no subscription, you only pay when you actually need to upscale. There’s no wasted monthly fee during slow periods or when you take a break from creating new listings.
Can Etsy buyers tell if art was AI-generated?
Etsy now requires sellers to disclose AI-generated content in their listings. Be transparent—it’s both policy and good practice. Upscaling doesn’t change whether the art is AI-generated; it simply makes it print-ready at the resolution buyers expect. Many successful Etsy shops sell AI art openly, and buyers are happy as long as the quality and resolution meet their needs.
Ready to make your Etsy listings print-ready?
PixelMax — $1 per image, 30 seconds, no subscription.