Everything you need to know about Scratch Canvas Size and how to manipulate it! Scratch, developed by MIT, is a graphical programming language designed primarily for children aged 8 and above. Any object in Scratch is drawn on a stage, and the size of this stage is known as the Scratch Canvas Size.
What is Scratch Canvas Size?
The Scratch Canvas Size is the area where we can draw our sprites or backdrops. The default Scratch canvas size is 480 pixels wide and 360 pixels tall. You can think of these pixels as the number of tiny dots that make up the Scratch canvas. Each pixel can be any color, and when combined, they create the images we see on the Scratch stage.
Changing Scratch Canvas Size
While the default size of the Scratch Canvas is 480×360, you might sometimes need to change the size of the canvas based on your project needs. But it’s important to note that Scratch does not provide a straightforward way to change the canvas size directly. However, there are ways to effectively increase or decrease the visible canvas size.
One such method is by manipulating the size of the sprites and the backdrops. For example, you can create a larger stage illusion by shrinking your sprites or create a smaller stage illusion by enlarging your sprites.
Creating the illusion of a larger stage
Creating the illusion of a larger stage can be achieved by reducing the size of your sprites. The code below illustrates how you can do this.
when green flag clicked <br>
set size to (50) %
In this code, the sprite’s size is set to 50% of its original size when the green flag is clicked. Thus, it appears as though the stage has become larger.
Creating the illusion of a smaller stage
On the other hand, you can create the illusion of a smaller stage by increasing the size of your sprites. The code below illustrates how you can do this.
when green flag clicked <br>
set size to (200) %
In this code, the sprite’s size is set to 200% of its original size when the green flag is clicked. Thus, it appears as though the stage has become smaller.
Conclusion
Understanding the Scratch Canvas Size and how to manipulate it can greatly enhance your Scratch projects. While Scratch may not provide a direct way to change the canvas size, using the techniques outlined above, you can effectively control the appearance of your stage size.