How to Resize Page Dimensions in InkScape

When you open InkScape, the entire space that appears on the screen is called the 'canvas'. InkScape allows you to use anywhere within that canvas as a workspace for anything; different versions, notes to yourself and so on.

However, not all of this workspace will appear in the final print job that you save as a png, PDF or other file. This is because the contents within the outline of the box pictured below is the only part of the canvas that will appear on print jobs. 

In that case, all of only the lower of the 2 rectangles pictured below will appear in the final rendition. 

You can change the dimensions of the print area in InkScape to popular or any customized dimensions for homepage slides, collection images, favicons and so on. Here is how. 

To set the page dimensions (before you start working) ... or to resize the page dimensions (after your project is done as pictured below)

You may want to make the page margins fit your work

• If you want to resize the page to fit content, you can either remove extraneous work from the workspace or be prepared to select only those elements that must be within the new page boundaries.
• File
• Select the 'page' tab
• Document Properties. (Sometimes, the dialog box for this option does not appear at this point. This is likely because a user on your computer has already pinned it on your dock for quick reference (by minimizing versus closing the window). You will find its link, usually written in vertical letters among your other pinned options in the upper right corner of your screen). If the dialog box appears but small and attached to the dock, you can disconnect it by hovering over the title bar until the pointer cursor turns to a hand. Drag the hand away from the dock at that point.  
• Note the highlighted places where you can alter the settings

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• The top section 'General' refers to the units displayed on your workspace ruler. As an option, change this to reflect the unit that is more significant to your project.
• In the 'page size' section, scroll through and select a preset dimension if one suits your project. Most people need custom sizes. Alternatively, look below that box. 
• Select the orientation (portrait or landscape)
• In the 'custom size' section; 
• select the measuring unit (like 'px' for pixels, 'in' for inches, etc. Pixels are suitable for onscreen projects. Inches and millimeters are for physical printed documents in the US and Europe respectively.)
• Manually enter the dimensions in figures. -- OR --
• If you want to resize the page to content, do the following.
• Click '+ Resize page to content'
  
• Click the button 'Resize page to drawing or selection'
  
• The change should happen instantaneously.
• Similarly, if the desired content extends beyond the page boundaries, select all the desired items with your mouse and  selected the 'resize page to content' button.
  
  
  
  
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CONTENT RELATED TO USING INKSCAPE

• How to give attribution for free material used under a creative commons license
• InkScape is a free downloadable program with functions that are comparable with Adobe Illustrator (AI). It is therefore a noteworthy alternative.