Image tools for social media

Get images into the shapes platforms want, so nothing important gets cropped, and check what else you are sharing before you post.

The right shape

Platforms crop images that do not match their frame, usually from the centre.

Crop imageCrop deliberately to 1:1, 4:5, 16:9 or 9:16 so you choose what stays.
Make image squareFit a wide photo into a square post with white, coloured or blurred borders.
Circle cropPreview how a profile photo will look in a circle before uploading.

Carousels and grids

Multi-image posts can tell a story or make one wide image swipeable.

Split image into gridCut a panorama into square tiles that join up as people swipe.
Combine imagesPut before and after shots side by side in one image.
GIF makerTurn a handful of shots into a short looping animation.
APNG makerAnimated stickers with full colour and soft transparent edges.

Before you post

A quick check can save regret later.

Remove EXIF dataStrip location data, especially from photos taken at home.
Blur or pixelate imagePixelate faces of other people’s children, number plates and house numbers.
Add watermarkPut your handle on artwork and photography you do not want reposted uncredited.

Shapes that have stayed stable

Recommended pixel sizes change often, but the underlying shapes have been steady: 1:1 squares, 4:5 portrait posts, 16:9 landscape video and link cards around 1.91:1, and 9:16 for stories and short video. Crop to the shape first, then resize to the platform's current recommended width.

For stories and reels, keep text and faces away from the top and bottom of the frame, where profile names, captions and buttons are drawn over the image.

More on why crops go wrong, and how much of a photo each shape keeps, in aspect ratios and bad crops.

Questions people ask

What is the best size for a portrait post?

4:5, typically 1080 × 1350 px.

Do social networks remove location data?

Many large ones strip it from public posts, but not every platform or sharing route does. Removing it yourself is the reliable option.

How do I post a panorama as a carousel?

Crop it to 3:1, then split it into one row of three squares.