Print your digital star map yourself: file, paper and frame
If you need a personal gift at short notice or simply want to print it yourself, a digital star map is often the easiest solution. You’ll receive a print-ready PNG file by email just a few minutes after payment. You can print it at home, take it to a copy shop or use a photo printing service. What matters most is knowing what the file is designed for, which sizes work well and what to watch out for when printing. That’s exactly what this is about.
What exactly you get with the digital file
The file comes as a PNG with 5906 × 8268 pixels. It’s print-ready for 50 × 70 cm at 300 dpi. In practice, that means you don’t need to convert anything if you want to print in this size. The live preview in your browser matches the final print file exactly, because both are generated in the same way. So if you change the date before buying, adjust the text or switch from circle to heart, that exact version will be in your file later.
The sky is calculated exactly the same way as for every printed map: using the ESA’s Hipparcos catalogue, for your location and your local time. Before buying, you can show or hide constellation lines, the Milky Way and a coordinate grid, choose one of 12 colour styles, circle or heart, and up to three lines of text. Planets and the moon are not shown on the star map.
Which sizes work well from the same file
The file is designed for 50 × 70 cm, which means a 5:7 aspect ratio. That’s exactly why smaller sizes in the same ratio can be printed from it very easily. Anything smaller will usually look even sharper, because the available pixels are spread over less surface area. So if you’d prefer a more compact print for a gallery wall or a shelf, that’s no problem as long as the format keeps the 5:7 ratio.
Ideal if you want to download the file directly and print it yourself
Choosing paper: why matte is usually the best option
For printing it yourself, matte paper from 200 g/m² upwards is usually the best choice. Matte looks calmer on dark areas, reflects less light and usually makes the stars and fine lines look more pleasant than very glossy surfaces. That’s a real advantage for a star map, which often combines dark backgrounds with delicate details. If you’re printing at home, it’s also worth taking a quick look at your printer settings so the paper type and print quality match the paper you’re using.
Copy shop and frame: the two most important points
If you’re printing at a copy shop, the most important tip is this: print at original size and check that no automatic margin scaling is enabled. That setting can otherwise quickly change the format or slightly compress the design. It’s best to mention clearly that the file is set up for 50 × 70 cm. If you can get a test print or quickly check the print preview on site, do it. That way you’ll see straight away whether the design, text and margins are positioned correctly.
Finding a frame for 50 × 70 cm is pleasantly simple because it’s a standard size. That’s one of the practical reasons why this format is so popular. So if you want to avoid a custom-made frame, you’re on the safe side with it. At stellarto, framed star maps are also available directly in black or white in 30 × 40 and 50 × 70 cm. Each one is printed individually to order in the EU.
When printing with us makes more sense than printing it yourself
Printing it yourself is ideal if you need it quickly or want to stay as flexible as possible. But there are situations where a finished print is simply more practical. That’s especially true for canvas on a stretcher frame or larger formats like 60 × 90 or 80 × 100 cm, where material, finishing and shipping matter more than with a quick print for a standard frame. If you’d rather receive a gift that arrives ready to give, that can be the more relaxed option. If there’s a printing error or shipping damage, we’ll replace it free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
Can I also print the digital star map smaller than 50 × 70 cm?
Yes. The file is set up for 50 × 70 cm at 300 dpi, but you can easily print smaller formats in a 5:7 ratio from the same file. Smaller sizes usually look even sharper.
Can you see the moon and planets on the star map?
No. The star map shows the stars that were above the chosen place, regardless of clouds, city lights or time of day. Planets and the moon are not part of the star map. There is a separate moon phases poster for the moon.
How do I know the map is astronomically accurate?
The sky is calculated from the ESA's Hipparcos catalogue. Among other things, 8,870 stars up to magnitude 6.5 and the precession of the Earth's axis are taken into account, so the map is accurate for every year, even before 1900. You can check this with an astronomy app such as Stellarium.