Creating a new document is the very first step in any design journey—whether you’re crafting a poster, social media graphic, website layout, or even starting a digital painting. And in Photoshop 2025, Adobe has made this process smarter, faster, and more tailored to your needs.
Let’s break it down step by step and help you set up a perfect new canvas every time.
Step 1: Open the New Document Dialog Box
- Open Photoshop.
- Click on “Create New…” from the welcome screen.
- Or go to File → New (Shortcut:
Ctrl + NorCmd + N).
You’ll now see the New Document window—a modern, organized space with tons of presets and settings.
Step 2: Choose a Document Preset
Photoshop offers preset categories for common design types:
| Category | Example Use | Preset Name |
|---|---|---|
| Recent | Your most used sizes | – |
| Saved | Custom sizes you’ve saved | – |
| Photo | Digital or print photography | 4x6 in, 1920x1080 px |
| Brochures, flyers, posters | A4, Letter, Tabloid | |
| Art & Illustration | Sketches, paintings | 12x12 in, 300 ppi |
| Web | Webpages, UI layouts | 1366x768, 1920x1080 |
| Mobile | App mockups, mobile UI | iPhone 14, Android |
| Film & Video | Video thumbnails or overlays | 1920x1080, 4K UHD |
Choose a category or enter custom dimensions manually.
Step 3: Set Your Document Size
In the right-hand panel, adjust the following:
- Width & Height – You can switch between pixels, inches, cm, etc.
- Orientation – Portrait or landscape
- Resolution – This is super important!
Step 4: Choose the Right Resolution
| Resolution | Best For |
|---|---|
| 72 ppi | Web, screens, digital use |
| 150 ppi | Medium-quality prints (flyers) |
| 300 ppi | High-quality prints (magazines, brochures) |
| 600+ ppi | Ultra-HD or large format print |
Tip: For Instagram posts or YouTube thumbnails, stick to 72 ppi to keep file sizes small and load times fast.
Step 5: Select the Correct Color Mode
Photoshop offers several color modes, but here’s what you need to know:
| Color Mode | Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | Digital designs, screens | Red-Green-Blue light format |
| CMYK | Print designs | Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black ink model |
| Grayscale | Black & white or minimal artwork | Reduces file size |
| Bitmap | High-contrast black/white only | For engraving or vinyl cuts |
RGB = for screens. CMYK = for print. Simple rule, powerful results.
Step 6: Background Contents
Choose how you want your background layer to appear:
- White – Default blank canvas
- Black – Easier on eyes for some artists
- Transparent – Great for logos or PNG exports
You can change this later, but it helps to plan ahead!
Step 7: Name and Save Your Preset (Optional)
If you’ll be using this size often (say, for Instagram posts or product labels):
- Click the “Save Preset” icon in the upper-right corner of the new document window.
- Name your preset, and it’ll appear under “Saved” next time!
Summary Checklist
✔ Choose your document size (pixels, inches, etc.)
✔ Set the correct resolution (72 for web, 300 for print)
✔ Pick RGB or CMYK depending on output
✔ Choose background content
✔ Save the preset if needed
Pro Tip: Start Small, Expand Later
Don’t overthink it. Start with what you need now—you can always adjust canvas size, resolution, or color settings later using:
- Image → Image Size
- Image → Mode
- Canvas Size (to add margins, extend areas, etc.)
