/50-asset-resize-global

name: 50-asset-resize-global
description: "Use when one master design has to become every size a campaign needs — feed, story, reel, cover, and ad placements: the standard size matrix, three strategies of scale-and-crop, re-compose, or rebuild, safe-zone rules, platform crop behavior, and file naming. Trigger on 'resize this design', 'all the sizes', 'adapt to other placements', 'safe zone', 'standard size chart', 'the text gets cut off in stories'. Also use when one visual exists and six placements are waiting on it. Not for — the original concept brief, see `42-image-brief-global`; production steps in Canva or Figma, see `45-design-tool-brief-global`; the full campaign asset list, see `41-campaign-asset-list-global`; an urgent new creative, see `48-quick-visual-brief-global`."
metadata:
  version: 1.0.1
  category: operations
license: MIT
triggers:
  - "resize asset"
  - "resize this design"
  - "all the sizes"
  - "adapt to other sizes"
  - "standard size chart"
  - "safe zone"
  - "repurpose the design"
output: "File .md — resize map by channel with a strategy and priority per size, re-composition rules, safe zones, naming and folders, final checklist. The designer finishes without a follow-up."
related:
  - product-marketing-context-global
  - 41-campaign-asset-list-global
  - 42-image-brief-global
  - 45-design-tool-brief-global
  - 46-brand-guideline-global
  - 48-quick-visual-brief-global
  - 21-ads-audit-global

Asset Resize (Global)

Resizing is not stretching. Every ratio needs re-composition so the hierarchy still works. One good master becomes 10+ variants — the single biggest time saver in design production, and the first job after a campaign ends when winners get repurposed at D+2.

Information gathering

Read the asset list (`41-campaign-asset-list-global`) if available. If information is missing, ask up to 4 questions:

1. **What is the master?** Link to the source file (Canva, Figma, Adobe Express), plus its original size and channel. 2. **Which channels and sizes are needed?** List them all, or pull them from the asset list. 3. **Which elements cannot be lost?** Text, CTA, logo, faces, product — is anything sitting close to an edge? 4. **Is cropping content allowed,** or must everything stay in frame?

Principles

1. **Always resize from the master.** Never resize an already-resized file — quality degrades each pass. 2. **Critical elements are never cropped at any size** — focal point, CTA, and logo stay intact. 3. **Each ratio needs its own strategy.** One approach does not fit all. 4. **If the content will not fit, escalate to the lead** to decide what to drop. Do not decide unilaterally. 5. **Repurpose winners immediately after the campaign (D+2)** — context fades fast. 6. **Update the status in the asset list** as each size is completed.

Workflow

1. Analyze the master

Identify the focal point; the safe distance of each element (text, CTA, logo) from the edges; and what CAN be cropped (background, texture) versus what CANNOT (message, faces, product, CTA).

2. Pick a strategy per target size

| Strategy | When | How | |----------|------|-----| | Scale and crop | Close ratios (1:1 to 4:5, 16:9 to 1.91:1) | Keep the layout, trim background | | Re-compose | Moderately different ratios (1:1 to 16:9, landscape to cover) | Move elements to fit the new frame, preserving hierarchy | | Rebuild | Very different ratios (1:1 to 9:16, feed to email) | Build fresh on the new canvas, keeping concept, colors, and copy |

3. Resize in priority order

Do the primary channel size first (usually 1:1 feed), then work down the priority column of the resize map.

4. Check, name, upload, update

Run each file against the final checklist, name it to convention, upload it to the right subfolder, and update the asset list status.

Standard size matrix

Social

| Type | Dimensions | Ratio | Channel | Note | |------|-----------|-------|---------|------| | Square feed | 1080x1080 | 1:1 | Facebook, Instagram | Build this first | | Portrait feed | 1080x1350 | 4:5 | Instagram, Facebook | Occupies more of the mobile screen | | Story / Reels | 1080x1920 | 9:16 | Meta Story, Reels | Safe zone 250px top and bottom | | TikTok video / cover | 1080x1920 | 9:16 | TikTok | Safe zone 150px top / 300px bottom, ~140px right | | YouTube Shorts | 1080x1920 | 9:16 | YouTube | Same safe zones as Reels | | Facebook cover | 820x312 | ~2.6:1 | Facebook Page | Cropped on both sides on mobile — keep content centered | | LinkedIn post | 1200x627 | ~1.91:1 | LinkedIn | Also accepts 1080x1080 | | LinkedIn document | 1080x1080 or 1200x1500 | 1:1 or 4:5 | LinkedIn | Exported as PDF | | Pinterest pin | 1000x1500 | 2:3 | Pinterest | Vertical only; taller pins get truncated | | YouTube thumbnail | 1280x720 | 16:9 | YouTube | Keep the bottom-right clear for the duration overlay | | X post image | 1200x675 | 16:9 | X | Center-crops in timeline previews |

Ads (Meta)

| Type | Dimensions | Note | |------|-----------|------| | Feed ads | 1080x1080 | Serves both Facebook and Instagram | | Story / Reels ads | 1080x1920 | Keep content roughly 14% off the top and bottom edges | | Carousel | 1080x1080 | 2 to 10 cards | | Link banner | 1200x628 | Right-column and audience-network placements |

Email and web

| Type | Dimensions | Ratio | Typical strategy | |------|-----------|-------|------------------| | Email header | 600x200 | 3:1 | Rebuild | | Email hero | 600x400 | 3:2 | Scale and crop | | Website hero desktop | 1440x600 | 2.4:1 | Re-compose | | Website hero mobile | 375x300 | 5:4 | Rebuild | | Blog featured image | 1200x630 | 1.91:1 | Scale and crop (also serves Open Graph) |

Documents

| Type | Dimensions | Use for | |------|-----------|---------| | Slide deck 16:9 | 1920x1080 | Presentations, pitch decks | | A4 portrait / landscape | 210x297mm / 297x210mm | Printed reports and proposals | | US Letter | 8.5x11in | US print deliverables |

Safe zones and platform crop be