Understanding Resize Modes
When to use Fill, Fit, Stretch, and No-Resize for perfect design placement every time.
Resize modes control how your PNG design is scaled to fit inside the smart object in your mockup template. Choosing the right mode ensures your design looks exactly how you want it – no unexpected cropping, stretching, or gaps.
The Four Resize Modes
Stretch
Scales your design to exactly match the smart object dimensions, stretching or compressing as needed.
✓ Use when:
- Your PNG has a transparent footprint that matches the product's print area
- You've exported designs from your production files
- You want 100% predictable, perfect placement
✗ Avoid when:
- Your design has a different aspect ratio to the smart object
- You haven't prepared designs with the correct footprint
💡 Pro tip: Stretch is our recommended mode. When you export designs from your production files with a transparent footprint, Stretch will place them perfectly every single time. No cropping, no gaps, no guesswork.
Fill
Scales your design to completely fill the smart object, maintaining aspect ratio. Parts of your design may be cropped if the aspect ratios don't match.
✓ Use when:
- You want edge-to-edge coverage with no gaps
- Your design is a pattern or has bleed area
- Losing some edges is acceptable
✗ Avoid when:
- Your design has important content near the edges
- Text or logos could be cropped
- You need exact placement
Fit
Scales your design to fit entirely inside the smart object, maintaining aspect ratio. You'll see your whole design, but there may be empty space if the aspect ratios don't match.
✓ Use when:
- You need to see your entire design with nothing cropped
- Your design doesn't need to fill the whole area
- You're testing how a design looks before adjusting
✗ Avoid when:
- You need edge-to-edge coverage
- Empty space around the design would look wrong
- The design needs to fill a specific area
No-Resize
Places your design at its original pixel dimensions, centred in the smart object. No scaling is applied.
✓ Use when:
- Your PNG is already the exact pixel size of the smart object
- You've precisely prepared designs for specific templates
- You need pixel-perfect control
✗ Avoid when:
- You don't know the exact smart object dimensions
- You're using the same designs across different templates
- Your designs vary in size
The Transparent Footprint Secret
The key to perfect mockups every time is using transparent footprint designs with Stretch mode.
What is a transparent footprint?
A transparent footprint means your design sits within a transparent canvas that matches the exact shape and proportions of your product's print area.
When you export designs from your production files (the same files you send to your laser or printer), they already have this footprint built in. The design is positioned correctly within a canvas that represents the printable area.
Why this works so well:
- Your production file canvas matches your product's print area
- The smart object in your mockup also represents the print area
- Stretch mode makes your canvas fill the smart object exactly
- Result: Your design appears in exactly the same position as it will on the real product
✓ This is our recommended workflow: Export PNGs from your production files → Use Stretch mode → Get perfect placement every time, across every template.
Quick Reference
| Mode | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stretch ⭐ | Matches smart object exactly | Transparent footprint designs |
| Fill | Fills area, may crop | Patterns, designs with bleed |
| Fit | Shows all, may leave gaps | Seeing entire design |
| No-Resize | Uses original size | Pixel-perfect prepared designs |
Troubleshooting
Design looks squashed or stretched
You're using Stretch mode but your PNG doesn't have the correct footprint. Either prepare your designs with the right transparent footprint, or switch to Fill or Fit mode.
Design is being cropped
You're using Fill mode and your design has a different aspect ratio to the smart object. Switch to Fit mode to see the whole design, or adjust your design to include bleed area.
There's empty space around my design
You're using Fit mode and your design has a different aspect ratio. Switch to Fill mode for edge-to-edge coverage (some cropping may occur), or use Stretch with a properly prepared transparent footprint design.
Design is too small or too large
You're using No-Resize mode and your PNG dimensions don't match the smart object. Switch to one of the other modes, or resize your PNG to match the smart object dimensions exactly.
Still stuck? Contact us at support@bulkmade.com and we'll help you get your designs looking perfect.
Next Steps
Now you understand resize modes, learn how to prepare your designs for the best results.