Stock Creatives

Adobe's pages last updated Jun 11, 2026 · read on Oct 4, 2026

Adobe Stock minimum resolution: 4 megapixels, in real pixels

Adobe Stock's minimum image resolution is 4 megapixels (4 million pixels) and the maximum is 100 MP, with files up to 45 MB, as sRGB JPEG. In pixels, 4 MP is about 2000 × 2000, 2560 × 1600 or 2450 × 1633. Checked against Adobe's help pages on October 4, 2026.

Reach 4 MP with room to spare, then label and upload from the same app

  1. 1Create the image
  2. 2Own upscaler, up to 4x
  3. 3Title + keywords
  4. 4Upload to Adobe
Try it freePricing
  • Upscale to 2x, 3x or up to 4x
  • sRGB JPEG by default
  • 2 images + 2 upscales to try
  • No card to start

Plans from €49 a month, excluding VAT. Resolution is one of several things Adobe's reviewers check.

Last reviewed 2026-10-04

IMG_0421.jpg

Example
Camera
Canon EOS R5
Date taken
2026-09-18 10:42
Location
40.4168, -3.7038
Title
Remote worker typing on a laptop at a bright kitchen table
Keywords
remote work, laptop, kitchen, home office, freelancer…

Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

4 MP
is the minimum for photos, illustrations and PNGs on Adobe Stock
100 MP
is the maximum: 10,000 × 10,000 px, for example
45 MB
is the maximum file size for each of those types
sRGB
is the colour profile Adobe asks for in photos, illustrations and PNGs

What are Adobe Stock's image size requirements?

ContentResolutionMax. file sizeFormat and colour
Photos4–100 MP45 MBJPEG, sRGB. No watermarks, timestamps or branding
Illustrations4–100 MP (hand-drawn or scanned work: at least 300 ppi)45 MB“JPEG only”, sRGB
PNG with transparency4–100 MP45 MBPNG with a transparent background (not a solid colour), sRGB
AI imagesSame as photos or illustrations, depending on the content type you choose45 MBAdobe's upload page lists JPEG as the image format for generative AI
VideoNot an image rule: Adobe rejects upscaled videos (for example HD to 4K)-Submit video as shot

Source: Adobe Stock's technical requirements for photos, illustrations and PNGs, and its content upload guidelines (last updated Jun 11, 2026), read on October 4, 2026. Vectors have their own rule: Adobe's refusal page says the artboard should be at least 15 MP.

What is 4 megapixels in pixels?

A megapixel is one million pixels: multiply width by height and divide by 1,000,000. A 2000 × 2000 px image is exactly 4.0 MP. The same 4 MP can be many shapes, so the minimum size depends on your aspect ratio.

A note on Adobe's own wording: its upload page says to make sure an image is “at least 1,600x2,400 pixels (4MP)”. By strict arithmetic that is 3.84 million pixels. We don't rely on that rounding. Aim above 4,000,000 pixels, ideally with a margin for cropping.

Minimum size in pixels to reach 4 MP, by aspect ratio

Aspect ratioSize that reaches 4 MPMegapixelsTypical use
1:1 square2000 × 20004.00Icons, social posts
3:2 landscape2450 × 16334.00Standard photo
4:3 landscape2310 × 17324.00Compact camera, tablet
16:9 widescreen2667 × 15004.00Banners, video stills
16:10 widescreen2560 × 16004.10Laptop screens
2:3 portrait1633 × 24504.00Posters, vertical shots
9:16 vertical1500 × 26674.00Phone screens, stories
100 MP ceiling10000 × 10000100.00Adobe's maximum

Calculated as width × height / 1,000,000. Round up to be safe.

How big will my AI image be after upscaling?

Most AI generators output around 1 MP, under Adobe's minimum. These are examples of common output sizes, and what each scale gives:

Original sizeOriginal MPAfter 2xAfter 3xAfter 4x
1024 × 10241.052048 × 2048 (4.19 MP)3072 × 3072 (9.44 MP)4096 × 4096 (16.78 MP)
1536 × 10241.573072 × 2048 (6.29 MP)4608 × 3072 (14.16 MP)6144 × 4096 (25.17 MP)
1344 × 7681.032688 × 1536 (4.13 MP)4032 × 2304 (9.29 MP)5376 × 3072 (16.52 MP)

A 2x upscale of a 1 MP image only just clears 4 MP, with almost no room to crop. That's why Stock Creatives offers 3x for margin, and up to 4x.

How do I check the resolution of my image?

Read its pixel dimensions and multiply. Our free image resolution checker does the sum for you: drop in a file and it tells you whether it clears Adobe's 4 MP minimum, directly in your browser. You can also see what a file carries (dimensions, title and keywords) with the photo metadata viewer.

Check more than the megapixels. Adobe says files that are too small, excessively compressed, or that include borders or frames may be refused, and asks you to resize accurately to keep clarity and detail.

How do I reach the minimum without hurting quality?

Upscale with an AI upscaler, then inspect the result at 100%. Adobe doesn't forbid upscaling images. For AI content its FAQ asks you not to “increase resolution in ways that degrade quality”. In practice, reviewers reject over-sharpening, halos, artifacts and pixelation.

Stock Creatives is our product: its own upscaler works at 2x, 3x or up to 4x, with a Faithful mode that adds detail instead of stretching pixels, and exports sRGB JPEG. Read how to upscale an image for Adobe Stock or the general AI image upscaler page.

Adobe's 2023 generative AI tips suggested not going beyond 6 to 8 MP when enlarging. Its 2026 technical pages allow up to 100 MP and don't repeat that cap, so we treat it as older advice: stop when more resolution stops adding real detail.

Common size mistakes that get files refused

  • Uploading the raw generator output. About 1 MP is under the 4 MP minimum.
  • Cropping after upscaling to exactly 4 MP. The crop takes you below the minimum.
  • Saving as PNG without transparency. PNG is only for content with a transparent background.
  • Exporting as TIFF or WebP. Adobe's photo and illustration pages list JPEG.
  • Over-compressing the JPEG. Adobe may refuse files that are “excessively compressed”.
  • Exceeding 45 MB at very high resolutions: check the file size, not only the pixels.

Our own upscaler, up to 4x, built in-house for stock

Stock Creatives has its own upscaling technology, built for stock images: it adds real detail instead of just stretching pixels, and its Faithful mode keeps hands, faces and text in shape.

Choose 2x, 3x or up to 4x. For example, a 1500 × 1000 px photo (1.5 MP, under Adobe's 4 MP minimum) comes out at 4500 × 3000 px (13.5 MP) at 3x, or 6000 × 4000 px (24 MP) at 4x. Upscaling uses credits by scale (a 4x costs twice as much as a 2x), for the images you make in the app and for your own files.

  • Our own technology, not a third-party upscaler
  • Faithful mode: real detail, with hands and faces intact
  • 2x, 3x or 4x: you choose, one upscale each
1500 × 1000 px

1.5 MP · under Adobe's 4 MP minimum

4500 × 3000 px

13.5 MP · 9x the pixels, well above 4 MP

Or at 4x: 6000 × 4000 px · 24 MP

Faithful modesRGB JPEGQuality check

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum resolution for Adobe Stock?+

4 megapixels (4 million pixels) for photos, illustrations and PNGs. The maximum is 100 MP, and files can be up to 45 MB. In pixels, 4 MP is about 2000 × 2000 or 2560 × 1600.

Is 2000 × 2000 enough for Adobe Stock?+

Yes, it's exactly 4.0 MP, the minimum. It leaves no margin: a small crop takes it under. Aim a little above.

Is 1600 × 2400 enough for Adobe Stock?+

Adobe's upload page gives “1,600x2,400 pixels (4MP)” as an example, but strictly it is 3.84 MP. To be safe, make files larger than 4,000,000 pixels in total.

What is the maximum resolution and file size on Adobe Stock?+

100 MP and 45 MB for photos, illustrations and PNGs. You don't need to go near 100 MP: Adobe asks that you don't increase resolution in ways that degrade quality.

What file format does Adobe Stock require?+

Photos: JPEG with an sRGB profile. Illustrations: “JPEG only”. PNG is accepted only as a separate content type with a transparent background.

Can I upscale a low resolution image for Adobe Stock?+

Yes, if the result is clean. Adobe rejects upscaling that degrades quality, such as halos, pixelation and artifacts, and rejects upscaled video outright.

Does Adobe Stock check DPI or PPI?+

Not for ordinary photos, in the pages we read: the rule is in pixels (megapixels). The only PPI figure we found is 300 ppi minimum for hand-drawn or scanned illustrations.

Can I try Stock Creatives before paying?+

Yes. Sign up and confirm your email to get 2 images and 2 upscales to try. No card is needed. See the pricing for plans.

Sources

Keep reading

Get past 4 MP with room to spare

Upscale to 2x, 3x or up to 4x, check it, and get your title, keywords and CSV. 2 images and 2 upscales to try, no card needed. Adobe's reviewers decide acceptance.

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