How to crop a photo for instagram profile pic


Instagram Profile Picture Size | Make Instagram Profile Pics Online

When designing your pic be sure to account for Instagram doing its own circle crop on your design (as seen above).

There’s no argument to be made against a brand taking advantage of the behemoth-sized opportunity that is creating stories, posts, and other social assets for Instagram. In fact, 71% of businesses already do so, and 51% of Instagrammers follow at least one business. If that business isn’t you, then it’s someone else. Maybe even a competitor?

You can build your Instagram account into a precious gem for followers to “ooh” and “ahh” over. It all starts with the perfect Instagram profile picture size and a well-designed profile. To help with this, we’ll show you how to create stunning profile pictures in PicMonkey, how to resize images so that they fit just right on Instagram, and leave you with a few design tips for making eye-catching Insta designs.


The correct Instagram profile picture size

The display size for your Instagram profile pic is 110 x 110 pixels. However, we recommend uploading your design at a higher resolution in order to maintain image quality. (PicMonkey's Instagram profile templates come pre-sized at 360 x 360 pixels.)

Remember that your Insta profile pic will show up in more places than just your profile page; your story feed, comments, and search results, just to name a few. For that reason, having the wrong IG profile pic size can impact your social media presence drastically.

Size your photo correctly to prevent it from looking funky wherever it appears. While it's true there's only one Instagram profile pic size, knowing the other Instagram photo dimensions can help clarify your design concept. These specs can help.

More Instagram image sizes for 2022

Social media image typeDimensions in pixels
Instagram Post1080 x 1080 (1:1 ratio)
Instagram Profile Photo110 x 110 (1:1 ratio)
Instagram Landscape Photo1080 x 608 (1. 91:1 ratio)
Instagram Portrait1080 x 1350 (4:5 ratio)
Instagram Story1080 x 1920 (9:16 ratio)
IGTV Cover Photo420 x 654 (1:1.55 ratio)

Crave more deets about each? We got you.

Instagram post

Instagram posts are the most common function of the platform. Post daily happenings, announcements, events, musings, or anything else you want your followers to see on your feed that represents who you are and what you offer.

Instagram profile photo

The reason we're all here, folks. Instagram profile pics can sport your pretty face, a business logo for professional pages, or whatever you want followers to see first. While faces are more popular, it can be strategic to use IG profile pics for brand development too. Whatever you choose, go for bright colors, smiles, the outdoors, or whatever will captivate your audience.

Instagram landscape photo

Instagram landscape photos are similar to regular Instagram posts, just with a different shape. The most popular Instagram posts are squares, but they can also be landscape, vertical, or portrait.

Instagram portrait

Instagram portrait photos are another way to adjust the orientation of an Instagram post to maximize viewer engagement. You can easily shift the Instagram specs you seek using PicMonkey's Resize tool.

Instagram Story

Instagram Stories last a mere 24 hours — so they're not as long-standing as Instagram profile pics. They exist to drive people to your feed. You can post stickers, graphics, images, text, music, and links to engage followers any minute of any day.

IGTV Cover Photo

Lastly, the IGTV cover photo exists to capture your video content in one pic. Consider it another way to organize your content so viewers are compelled to click on your videos. You can also bridge colors from your IG profile pic with your IGTV cover photos to build consistency.

Now that you know the differences between Instagram's posting options, you can make a stellar Instagram profile pic that resonates with the rest of your content.

And if you need more social sizes, see: Crop an Image to All the Social Sizes


Create an Instagram profile picture with a pre-sized blank canvas

Start with a blank canvas in PicMonkey.

If you want to design from scratch, the easiest way to do so is with one of PicMonkey's pre-sized blank canvases. Worry no more about creating the right Instagram profile pic size — it's been done for you!

  1. Once you're logged into PicMonkey, click Create new > Blank Canvas.

  2. Scroll down to Insta sizes, and select "Instagram Profile."

  3. Upload your image or logo.

  4. If you'd like to apply a background color first, click Background color on the left tools menu. Choose from solid colors or our super cool color gradients.

  5. Export your finished design and upload to Instagram!


Two ways to size photos for Instagram

If you have an image ready but need to size it just right for Instagram, PicMonkey has two speedy ways to do so: Crop and Resize.

Using the Crop tool:

When you crop an image, you change its aspect ratio. This is the right tool to use if your image can stand to lose a bit on either side without cutting off the focal point (in this case —YOU). To use crop:

  1. Open your image in PicMonkey.

  2. Click Crop Canvas in the Edits menu on the left.

  3. Use the Aspect ratio drop-down menu to select "Instagram Profile."

  4. Move your crop box around as desired.

  5. Click Apply to save your changes. Looks good!

Using Resize:

If your image already has the right aspect ratio but its file size is either too small or too large, use PicMonkey's Resize tool. Be careful, though — making an image larger runs the risk of flubbing the image quality (take note of step #3 in order to prevent this). To use Resize:

  1. Open your image in PicMonkey.

  2. Click Resize in the Edits menu on the left.

  3. Make sure Keep proportions (chain icon) is clicked; the chain will appear closed. This automatically updates the height or width of your photo so that your image quality isn't distorted.

  4. Click Apply to save your changes.

Learn more: How to Resize an Image Like a Pro


Master Instagram profile pic sizes with a PicMonkey template

See all circular profile image templates in PicMonkey.

Starting from scratch is a great way to channel your own creativity and still design with speed, but if you reallllly want to get the jumpstart on your Instagram profile pic and never have to worry about botched sizing, try one of our Instagram profile templates. We have pre-sized square options, or pre-sized circular profile images (not to mention, you can pretty much commandeer any template and resize it for Insta with our wondrous Smart Resize tool). To edit a template:

  1. Open your template in PicMonkey.

  2. Swap out our image with your own (if using a circular image, click Edit image fill to replace the image with your pic).

  3. Customize further with trendy photo effects, graphics, and textures.

  4. Export and upload to Instagram!

Read more: Create Your Best Profile Pic


Our best advice? Speak to your audience. This starts with an eye-catching profile that lives up to your brand. Also keep in mind that, more often than not, your audience will be visiting your profile via mobile devices. Take a second and do some mobile Instagram scrolling of your own...it’s a small space, right? Let’s tackle a few design questions you might have.

Q: What should I use for my profile picture?

A: What’s your brand? If your brand is Y-O-U, then you should use a photo. If you’re building a corporate Instagram presence, then a logo is the better call.

To learn how to clarify your brand for social media marketing, read our tutorial: Brand Building 101: Your Guide to Branding Your Business for Success.

Q: Should I account for the circular profile shape when designing?

A: Yes! Place the focus of your image in the center, that way when the cropping comes, it’s no big deal. The circular shape is just going to cut around your edges, so account for this when you’re designing and you won’t have to run into trouble later. Or...simply grab one of those circular profile image templates!

Q: Will my picture only appear on my profile page?

A: Negative. That’s why the best thing you can do for yourself with a profile picture is to keep it simple. You want an image that'll still look good when it's smaller.   

Q: I’m torn on my color scheme. What should I do?

A: We can help with that. Above all else, stay on brand. Use colors that match your brand’s palette and speak to who you are. Check out our posts on color theory and creating brand color palettes (or secondary brand color palettes).  

Q: Can I have more advice on building my Instagram account?

A: Absolutely! Check out these posts to get started:

  • Instagram Photo Sizes for 2022 & Templates

  • Instagram Post Design Ideas & Tips

  • 2022 Instagram Story Size and Design Tips

  • Create Instagram Story Collages for Sweet Multi-Image Looks

  • 20 Ideas for Your Instagram Story Background

  • How to Use Instagram Story Templates to Create Multi-Slide Stories

Congrats, pro! You've mastered the art of Instagram profile picture dimensions (and then some). New content for your next Insta post, perhaps?


Instagram Profile Picture Full Size (+ What Else to Know)

We’ve talked about the ideal dimensions for your Instagram posts and images, as well as the best days and times to post on Instagram, but what about your profile picture?

Your Instagram profile photo is one of the first impressions you make on visitors, so obviously you want to make it a good (and lasting) one. In this post we’ll let you know not only the right size for your profile picture, but will share examples and specific tips to make sure your Instagram profile pic is great.

What is the Full Size for an Instagram Profile Picture?

What’s displayed on your profile is a 180 x 180 photo.

That doesn’t mean that your photo has to be this precise size when you upload it, though; you can upload photos much larger than 180 x 180 pixels. The key is to ensure that your profile photo is square, with an aspect ratio of 1:1, to ensure that it displays properly.  In general, a high-quality image of about 320 x 320 pixels works well without risking any blurriness or distortion when the resized image is displayed to users either on mobile or on the web.

People draw conclusions about a person or brand from a photo in as little as 40 milliseconds. Instagram’s profile photo size is small (even at the full size), and coupled with the shockingly short amount of time you have to make an impression, getting your profile pic right is paramount. Here’s what you need to know about Instagram profile picture size to ensure a perfect profile photo.

Screenshot via @kyliejenner

Instagram Profile Photo Dimensions

The visible size of an Instagram profile photo is 110 x 110 pixels on a mobile device (Android or an iPhone), and 180 x 180 pixels on the web. That means that’s the size of the photo as displayed on your profile. In the feed, it’s scaled down even smaller, to 40 x 40 pixels. Just to throw a wrench in the mix, your profile photo doesn’t actually display as a square image: it’s a circle located near your Instagram username in the Instagram app. So, you’ll need to leave some empty space in the corners.

Screenshot via @gordongram

AGAIN: That doesn’t mean that your photo has to be this precise size when you upload it, though; you can upload photos much larger than 180 x 180 pixels. The key is to ensure that your profile photo is square, with an aspect ratio of 1:1, to ensure that it displays properly. In general, a high-quality image of about 320 x 320 pixels works well without risking any blurriness or distortion when the resized image is displayed to users either on mobile or on the web. The minimum size is 110 x 110 pixels, but regardless of what size profile photo you upload, it’s stored at 320 x 320 pixels, so it makes sense to upload a photo that’s at least that size. If you upload an Instagram profile photo that’s too large, though, Instagram may compress the image quality, resulting in a photo that’s pixelated and not as crisp and clear as you had in mind.

If your original photo isn’t a perfect square, you can simply crop it to eliminate the excess (or if you want to change profile photo to a different headshot for the perfect Instagram profile picture). Just be sure to keep the elements that you want to focus on in the visible area, leaving enough empty space in the four corners so important visual elements are aligned perfectly when the image is displayed as a circle.

Tips for an Amazing Instagram Profile Photo

Whether you’re using a photo of your own smiling face or something else as your profile photo, there are a few tricks and tips to follow for a great profile photo.

Photos vs. Logos

The first decision to make is whether you’ll use a photo or a logo – or some other branded image. The answer depends on the type of profile that you have. If you’re a solopreneur (meaning that essentially you are the brand), a photo of yourself makes sense for your profile image. The same is true for personal profiles as well. The more professional-looking your Instagram profile photo, the better. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to hire a professional photographer, but if your selfie game isn’t on point and you don’t have any friends with impressive photo-snapping or editing skills, it’s not a bad idea.

Screenshot via @cocacola

For brands that are widely recognized by the company logo, the profile photo is the perfect location to add your brand’s stamp to your business profile. If your logo isn’t square, you might consider creating a modified, square version of your logo for your profile photo. The good news is that logo will come in handy for other social media platforms, too, as images with a 1:1 aspect ratio work well for Twitter and Facebook, as well.

Alternatively, brands might opt to use a photo that features a product. Whatever option you choose, make sure it’s on-brand and in sync with your other social media profiles.

Avoid Using Selfies for Your Instagram Profile Photo

Sure, there are lots of fun and flattering filters on Snapchat you can use to take a flattering selfie, but you should actually avoid using selfies for your Instagram profile photo. Save the selfies for your Instagram feed instead. Why? First, it’s difficult to get a selfie that looks professional. Another thing to consider is that it’s difficult to get the most flattering angle when taking a selfie, and the self-facing cameras on many smartphones can actually distort your face. 

While you want to be authentic, there are better ways to show off your personality while still appearing professional in your Instagram profile photo. If you don’t have a friend who can snap a few flattering pics, use the timer on your camera to take a few photos using your phone’s front-facing camera. Choose clothing in flattering colors that complement your skin tone – just be sure your clothes don’t clash with the background. (More on that below.) 

Get the Background Right

If you’re not using a logo, there are other aesthetic considerations. One of the main considerations is the background: it should be flattering, yet provide enough contrast. Neutral backgrounds work well for most purposes. If there’s a prominent color in the background of your Instagram profile photo, make sure it’s a color that flatters your skin tone and aligns with your overall brand identity.

Another background consideration is clutter. If you’re using a photo of yourself or a product, a bunch of magazines stacked up in the background or a visibly messy room can detract from the power of your profile photo by competing with the main focus of the image.

Opt for Soft Lighting

Natural light tends to work well for most photography, particularly when the subject is a person. But you should also avoid direct sunlight, as you’re more likely to capture shadows. For this reason, the natural light right around sunrise or sunset (aka ‘golden hour’) tends to work well. If you need to take a photo in the bright midday sun, go indoors near a natural light source like a window to get a similar natural effect.

Screenshot via @kerrywashington

That is, unless you’re going for a dramatic effect, in which case direct, bright sunlight works to your advantage for creating dark silhouettes. Dim lighting conditions can also make for an especially dramatic, impressive Instagram profile photo, so the right lighting conditions really depends on the effect you’re going for.

Use Props Wisely

Let’s face it: the small Instagram profile photo size means you don’t have a lot of room to work with. If you’re using a photo of yourself, you want your head and shoulders to be prominent in the photo, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make creative use of props to showcase your brand or personality. If you’re a photographer, use a photo of yourself holding a camera. A writer? Hold a pen or pencil. Hair stylists and makeup artists can make creative use of scissors, makeup brushes, or eyeshadow palettes as props for an Instagram profile photo that’s perfectly on-brand. 

Use Tools to Refine Your Instagram Profile Photo

While you don’t want to make yourself unrecognizable, there’s no harm in using Photoshop or another photo editing app to correct any imperfections and tweak your Instagram profile photo to perfection. There are plenty of photo retouching apps for those who aren’t graphic design-inclined, such as PicMonkey, Facetune, Perfect 365, and more. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with using an un-retouched photo either – you’re beautiful just the way you are! 

Chances are, you’re going for a certain vibe in your Instagram profile photo, but how can you be sure you’re coming across the way you want to be perceived? Use an app like Photofeeler to find out if you’re coming across as confident, likeable, influential, or trustworthy in your photos and choose an Instagram profile photo that conveys precisely what you want it to.

Stick with It to Ensure Brand Consistency

Once you’ve created the perfect Instagram profile photo, stick with it for a while. Some users change their profile images every few days, or even every day. But if brand recognition is your goal, using a consistent profile image will help your long-term followers (as well as new followers) easily recognize your posts when your profile image appears in their feeds. Visual appeal and recognition is key on social media, and changing your Instagram profile photo too often – and using a mix of profile photos with widely different aesthetics – can make it more difficult for your followers to find you.

Screenshot via @maccosmetics

You can even import a photo from Twitter or Facebook to use as a profile photo on Instagram. When you use this option, Instagram automatically uses the profile photo you’re using on the network you’re importing from.

Other Instagram Image Sizes

Now that you know the ideal Instagram profile photo size and how to take a great Instagram profile photo, what about other Instagram image sizes? With so many Instagram image types, orientations, and other factors that go into the ideal Instagram image sizes, there’s a lot to cover. We cover Instagram image sizes in more detail in this post, but here’s a quick overview. 

Instagram Image Sizes for Thumbnails

Instagram thumbnail images should have a 1:1 aspect ratio and should be at least 1080 pixels wide, making the ideal Instagram image size for thumbnails 1080 x 1080 pixels. Thumbnails display at a resolution of 161 x 161 pixels, but they’re stored at a resolution of 1080 x 1080 pixels, so uploading thumbnail images at this size ensures they’ll display at the best possible quality.  

Instagram Stories Image Sizes

A portrait Instagram Stories image in a 9:16 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels is ideal. These recommendations also apply for Instagram Stories Ads images. Keep in mind that while this is the ideal Instagram Stories image size, they’ll display at various sizes depending on the device on which they’re viewed. 

IGTV Cover Photo Sizes

The recommended resolution for IGTV cover photos is 420 x 654 pixels. Your IGTV cover photos should have an aspect ratio of 1:1.55. Your IGTV cover photo might be cropped to appear on different devices, so you’ll want to ensure that all the important information is located in the center of the cover photo so it’s not cropped out for some users. 

Instagram Feed Image Sizes

Instagram feed images can have a portrait, landscape, or square orientation. The recommended Instagram feed image sizes and aspect ratios for Instagram feed images are: 

  • Square Photo Dimensions: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
  • Portrait Photo Dimensions: 1350 x 1080 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
  • Landscape Photo Dimensions: 1080 x 566 pixels (aspect ratio between 1. 91:1 and 16:9)

Instagram Carousel Image Dimensions

Instagram Carousel images should be 1080 pixels wide and between 566 and 1350 pixels tall, depending on whether it’s a portrait, landscape, or square image. Otherwise, the recommended image resolution and aspect ratios for Instagram Carousel images are the same as for Instagram feed images as noted above. 

Instagram Ads Dimensions

While Instagram ads images can be square, portrait, or landscape, Instagram recommends square images with a resolution of 1080 x 1080 pixels and a 1:1 aspect ratio for Instagram ads. Instagram ads images must be at least 500 pixels wide. 

An aspect ratio of 4:5 with a resolution of 1080 x 1350 pixels is recommended for video ads in the Instagram feed. 

For Instagram Explore image ads, a 9:16 ratio is recommended with a recommended resolution of 1080 x 1080 pixels. 

Images for Instagram Stories ads, as noted above, have the same recommendations as for organic Instagram Stories posts. (A 9:16 aspect ratio with a recommended resolution of at least 1080 x 1920 pixels.) The same recommendations apply to Instagram Stories video ads. 

Instagram Video Dimensions

Instagram videos can display as square videos, portrait videos, or landscape videos; however, square videos are the most successful. Instagram videos have the same recommended resolutions and aspect ratios as Instagram feed images: 

  • Square Video Dimensions: 1080 x 1080 pixels (1:1 aspect ratio)
  • Portrait Video Dimensions: 1350 x 1080 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio)
  • Landscape Video Dimensions: 1080 x 566 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)

Instagram IGTV Video Dimensions

An aspect ratio of 9:16 is recommended for IGTV videos, as these videos are only shown in portrait orientation. The resolution for IGTV videos should be at least 1080 x 1920 pixels. In the feed (where only the first 60 seconds will play before prompting users to click through to watch the full video on IGTV), your IGTV videos will display at a 4:5 aspect ratio and a 1080 x 1350 pixels resolution, meaning your videos will be cropped slightly when appearing in the Instagram feed.  

If you’re trying to grow your Instagram account following, keeping these best practices in mind to create an amazing Instagram profile photo will help to make a killer first impression when new visitors land on your profile. We also suggest installing the Instagram follow button to help you get more followers. Likewise, using a high-quality photo that’s on-brand will help to solidify your brand identity on Instagram and beyond.

If you’re looking to get more Instagram followers, another way to do that is with Instagram giveaways – our post on the subject will help you with all aspects of a giveaway from rules and regulations down to the giveaway wording.

Looking to grow your following on other social media sites?

GET LINKEDIN FOLLOW BUTTON

GET TWITTER FOLLOW BUTTON

GET SNAPCHAT FOLLOW BUTTON

GET WECHAT FOLLOW BUTTON

How to crop a photo like on Instagram? Adjusting to the format

Contents:

  • 1 Why does Instagram crop photos?
  • 2 How to publish a photo without cropping?
  • 3 Instructions on how to crop photos like on Instagram
  • 4 Questions from our readers

Instagram is much more focused on visual content than in other social networks. Therefore, the first thing that catches our eye is a photo or video. However, at the same time, Instagram is one of the first services focused primarily on mobile devices. And this imposes restrictions on the appearance of publications - gadgets usually have a smaller screen than computers and laptops, pictures need to be adapted to this. Therefore, each user has to adapt to the framework in which the service places us. Let's talk about how to crop a photo like on Instagram and what formats you can use there.

Why does Instagram crop photos?

For many, it is obvious that when uploading a photo to Insta, the quality may drop or part of the image may disappear. Why is photography doing this? Of course, this is not a selfish desire to spoil people's lives.

In fact, now the issue of cropping images is not so acute. If earlier only a square format was available to us, now we can use both horizontal and vertical ones. But the size of the photo and its quality as a whole is still limited. Although there are cameras that can shoot in 4K or even 2K, due to the fact that Insta's main mode of existence is an application, there are problems using photos of this quality.

  1. Not all screens of mobile devices support such a high resolution. Usually gadgets are not designed for more than 1080 by 1920. This deprives the social network of the expediency of supporting such images.
  2. Even 4G, which is now available everywhere, downloads 3D images with a noticeable delay. 5G, of course, is also starting to be introduced. It is quite possible that in the future this will contribute to the fact that social networks will allow you to upload large pictures in full, but until that moment you still have to go and go.

So, although Insta has stopped cropping your photos, it makes no sense to upload high-quality files - in any case, they will be cropped to at least 1080x1350 if we are talking about posts, and up to 1080x1920 if we are talking about stories .

How to publish a photo without cropping?

If I were writing this article a year ago, I would say that in order to add full-length images, you need to use applications. Now the question is “How not to crop a photo on Instagram?” does not require any "crutches" to solve. Therefore, with your permission, I will allow myself not to make a selection of tools that are not needed now, and move on to the instructions for Instagram itself so that you do not have to cut or trick the photo grid in some other way. To do this, we will need to take a picture of what we need in advance.

  1. Click on the plus icon, which will take us to the creation of the publication.
  2. Select an image.
  3. There will be a button with two corners in the lower left corner of the large photo. We press on it.
  4. Then do what you need to do - continue creating the post.

It's even easier with stories - with two fingers you can zoom in or out on a photo, tilt it as you like. So, the question “Instagram crops the photo, what should I do?” no longer makes sense.

Instructions on how to crop photos like on Instagram

What to do if you like the look of photos after Instagram cropped them? You can use any graphics editor on your computer or phone. Even the built-in capabilities of the mobile operating system will be enough to cope with the task. That is what we will consider. How to crop a photo like on Instagram without downloading anything? The example will be for Android on Xiaomi, but on other devices the sequence of actions will be about the same. But iPhone owners will have to install additional software.

  1. Open the picture. In my case, the "Change" button is already visible. In yours, you may need to open a menu and select it from the list.
  2. Select "Cropping" or maybe you will call it "Cropping".
  3. Select the format or set it manually. In recent versions of the operating system, aspect ratio options are set as standard.
  4. We confirm the changes and upload the photo to the network.

Instagram was created for mobile devices. This imposes some restrictions on users. In particular, they concern the maximum resolution of uploaded images. Previously, restrictions were also imposed on the orientation of the photos - the service automatically cut off the extra parts, fitting the posts to fit the square. Now there are no such frameworks, you can choose a “full-length” publication in the service itself and not know any problems.

Questions from our readers

#1. Can I crop a photo after posting?

Once you have created a post, the selected photo cannot be replaced or edited.

#2. How to upload an image to Instagram through a computer without cropping?

Usually people use extensions or source code to post online via PC. Both involve the use of a mobile browser version, which does not even allow you to choose which part of the picture will be visible. To have full control from a stationary device, there is only one way out - to use an emulator.

#3. Is there a way to upload a picture without losing quality?

No services or applications will allow you to bypass social network restrictions. Something more than 1080 by 1920, you will not be able to post.

If you want to ask a question or express an opinion - write in the comments. And also watch a helpful video on the topic.

[Total: 0 Average: 0/5]

Like the content? Share with your friends!

    How to upload photos without cropping on Instagram - follow the requirements and use applications for posting

    Instagram's habit* of cropping photos in the most inappropriate places is frustrating. The user uploads a photo, and Insta boldly compresses and cuts off half of the picture. As a result, heads, legs, parts of the landscape remain behind the scenes, and I only want to delete such a post. Previously, to place a photo without cropping, you had to use additional software, but now there are other ways that we will talk about in our article.

    Why Instagram* crops photos

    This social network has several reasons to crop users' photos. She tries to adapt pictures so that they look on vertical phone screens, even if the photo has a strange aspect ratio. And besides, network owners want to save space on servers.

    The main reason why a social network crops a photo is to equalize the conditions for all users so that a photo of any size and quality looks attractive, and all pages are the same on the social network on all devices.

    Insta by default crops photos that do not meet its requirements. If the image width is between 320 and 1080 px and the aspect ratio is between 1. 91:1 and 4:5, then the image is published unchanged. If the resolution is lower, Instagram* increases it. If more than 1080 px, then it compresses to 1080 px.

    In Paint, the size of the future frame is always indicated at the bottom. The picture can be edited by moving the corners to achieve the desired size

    By default, Instagram* scales the photo and takes the center of the frame for publication. If you click on the zoom icon in the lower left corner, then Instagram * will take the entire frame for publication.

    When you click on the zoom icon, the entire photo is framed. The frame can be sent to Insta without editing the edges if the aspect ratio is 16:9. Before publishing, you can see how it will look

    Recommended reading: Optimal image sizes for social networks: cheat sheet.

    How to post a photo to Instagram* without cropping

    If the photo fits the proportions Instagram* needs, Instagram* will not crop part of the image.

    Format Approval
    Avatar photo square, 1:1 optimal 160 x 160 px,

    minimum 110 x 110 px,

    maximum 180 x 180 px

    Post photo horizontal 1. 91:1,

    vertical 4:5,

    square 1:1

    horizontal, 1080 x 566 px,

    vertical, 1080 x 1350 px,

    square, 1080 x 1080 px

    Photos for stories and IGTV vertical

    9:16 orientation

    1080 x 1920 px

    Official information from the support of Instagram* informs that the photo will be published in the best possible resolution with a width of up to 1080 pixels. This rule does not depend on whether the device is Android or iOS.

    If the photo has a width of 320 to 1080 pixels, then its original size is preserved, but only in cases where the aspect ratio meets parameters from 1.91:1 to 4:5. In this case, the height should be from 566 to 1350 pixels, and the width should be 1080 pixels.

    If you want to share a photo with a different extension, Instagram* will crop the photo to the correct size.

    If the photo is smaller, then Instagram* will increase the width to 320 pixels. If more than 1080 pixels, then the width will be reduced to 1080 pixels.

    There are several ways to add a full photo to Instagram*. To do this, select one of the options:

    • do not use the background;
    • use a vertical photo;
    • present the photograph as a panorama.

    Let's consider these placement methods in more detail.

    How to upload a photo without a background

    Previously, all images of non-standard sizes were published by the social network with a white background behind the frame. This was necessary if the width or height of the photo was not enough. Now you can do without it. Instagram* allows you to post pictures that do not fit the size requirements. When publishing, an automatic transparent background will appear on the image.

    Transparent background adjusts to the frame and is not noticeable

    There will be no background if the photo is scaled when publishing. After the frame is selected, it remains to decide on the part of the picture that you want to publish. But there is a nuance - sometimes important parts of the photo disappear, because Insta crops them.

    Half of the text at the bottom of the frame and part of the character's head are missing from the photo. But there is no transparent background on the sides. It is worth scaling if the essence of the image is in the center of the frame, and there is nothing important at the edges

    Recommended reading: How to make your own stickers in Telegram.

    How to upload if the photo is vertical

    Not so long ago, Instagram* introduced the ability to post vertical long photos. A special button has appeared in the interface that allows you to stretch the image on the sides and add a transparent background there. The photo will be in full size, but with frames.

    The button is easy to find. You can also use your fingers to stretch and reduce the frame until a frame appears on the sides

    How to work with a panoramic photo

    Instagram* will not allow you to post a panoramic photo in the feed because it is too long horizontally. To upload a frame to the social network completely, without cropping along the edges of half the frame, you need to use special software.

    There are 2 simple programs that will help you with this - SwieablePanorama (iOS only) and InSwipe Panorama for Instagram* (works on Android and iOS). In any of the programs, a photo is easily loaded and cut into several identical blocks. They can be uploaded to Insta in the form of a carousel. This is a rather unusual and winning way to publish a panorama without losing the quality and meaning of the image.

    InSwipe allows you to divide a photo into equal pieces up to 10 parts and save it for sharing on Instagram*. When posting to Instagram*, all you have to do is click on “Select Multiple” and highlight the parts you want. The result will appear in the carousel

    Recommended reading: How to make an attractive cover for a VK group.

    How to adjust the size to Insta

    To make the image meet the requirements of the social network, you can use special applications. Finding software that will help you crop a photo or fit it to the right size is not difficult.

    Crop yourself from a computer

    In order for the image to be displayed on the network completely, you can crop it manually, through the program. Almost any graphic editor will help with this, even the simplest Paint will cope with the task of changing the size in pixels or as a percentage.

    Here are a couple of programs through which photos are usually cropped:

    • Photoshop . A huge number of functions and possibilities for editing. The only difficulty is that you will have to install this rather big software and understand its intricacies.
    • Lightroom . Here you crop the layers, choose the aspect ratio, adjust the sharpness. You can apply the settings of one photo to the next, which will be processed later.
    • Canva . A great online program for creating covers, pictures and more. You can not only compress the size or change the aspect ratio of the frame, there are many possibilities. Available effects, insert any text or background, elements and inserts.

    The main thing is to remember the proportions and the maximum possible expansion of the image, depending on its purpose. After all, it can be square, vertical or panoramic.

    The easiest way to check and adjust the aspect ratio is in Paint

    Compress the size to fit

    You can use any online program, including Canva. Through them you can upload photos, resize and edit. After such processing, Instagram* will not cut the edges.

    Blogs usually prepare a lot of photos at once to provide a page with content for weeks and months. To do this, it is convenient to use SMMplanner delayed posting, where posts are posted in advance, and then become visible to subscribers exactly on schedule.

    To understand this feature, we advise you to study Delayed Posting to Instagram* from a computer. Here we talked about how to work with it, how to create and plan Stories, how to publish carousels and much more.

    Third party apps to share from your phone

    Another way to upload full size photos is to use dedicated apps. Below are the most popular and simple among the programs.

    InstaSize

    Software for Android and iOS phones. There are both standard functions and other features - change the size, edge, frame characteristics. You can edit a photo for publication, create a collage or story. In addition - the function of zooming pictures. You can pull up a photo from the gallery, clouds, or take a picture right now.

    Several formats in which you can work. There is the most necessary functionality - crop edges, add filters, text and settings

    "No crop" or NoCrop

    Another simple application that helps you upload a full photo to Instagram. Program with many functions. Most of them are paid, but for the main goal - to publish a photo without cropping the edges - the free functionality is enough.

    When you click on each of the options, the program offers to download additional utilities for editing

    In addition, the following functions are available: