Creating an Etsy Banner in Photoshop

An Etsy banner is always 760 pixels wide and 100 pixels high, so the first step is to create a new Image in Photoshop with the dimensions as 760x100 pixels in 72dpi. Next, under the image menu, choose "Image Size" and change the dpi to 300. Now your image is 3167x417. Why did we do that? Well, 300dpi will keep out banner sharp while we are making it and we didn't have to do any math. When we save the final version it will be 760x100 and 72dpi.


The next step is to decide on a background color. I am going to choose black. I click the foreground color box and then select the color from the color picker. I have selected web only colors. I can change that later if I want to alter a color slightly. I then go under the Edit menu and choose "Fill" and fill with the foreground color.


Now it is time to paste in my images. First, I need to be sure to put them in 300dpi as well. I then change the image size to get them in scale with the banner. For instance, the photo of the platter I chose to use was 18 inches high. Since I only wanted the rim, I cropped the photo and reduced it to only 4 inches high. Finally, I just selected the photo, and chose copy under the Edit menu, and then pasted into my banner. In Photoshop, the photo and background are now in separate layers and independently manipulatable. I want this platter to sit off kilter, so I rotate it using the Transform option under the Edit menu.


Now it is time for text. Choose the text tool and click on the banner where you want your cursor to appear. I usually start in the center of my text area. Choosing the font is the most time consuming part for me. Notice the text is in its own layer. This is helpful because I can create multiple layers of text and turn them on and off, allowing me to try out a number of fonts without losing the previous ones. I turn the layers off and on by clicking the eye that is next to the layer. If the eye is beside the layer, that layer is visible. Note: I chose a photo with a black background and made sure is was a true black like the banner background for seamless pasting.


Once I settle on a font and everything is perfect, it is time to flatten the image. Once you flatten the image, the layers are fused and editing becomes horrid so save a working copy before flattening. Click the little triangle icon on your Layers window and choose Flatten Image. This will merge all the layers into your background leaving only one layer. If you have invisible layers, Photoshop will ask if it is okay to discard them; the answer is yes.


Now under the file menu choose Save for Web. In the window that opens, in the Image section, now change your banner to 760x100 pixels. It will save your banner in a jpeg format perfect for the web and to Etsy's size specifications. Ta da! You are ready to upload to Etsy!

As a final aside, there are a hundred ways to get from point A to point B with Photoshop. This is by no means the only way and certainly not the correct way to make a banner. It is just the way that works for me. Have fun!