A photograph that looks balanced in an editor may crop differently in a feed, story, profile grid or preview card. Preparing versions for the actual placement helps protect the subject and keep important text visible.
Start with the intended placement
Confirm the current dimensions and aspect ratio required by the destination before exporting. Platforms change their layouts, so verify specifications rather than relying on an old preset. If the same image will appear in several placements, create separate crops instead of forcing one file to fit all.
Protect the subject and text
Leave safe margins around faces, product edges and essential graphic elements. Text near the edge can be cut off by responsive previews or interface overlays. Check both the full image and the way the platform crops it in context.
Export and review variants
- Create a crop for each placement when necessary.
- Keep important content away from edges.
- Check legibility on a small mobile screen.
- Use consistent color and quality settings.
- Save the original before making platform crops.
A few deliberate export variants are usually better than one compromise crop for every channel.
Related reading
Continue with our guides to compressing images for the web and 4×6 vs 5×7 photo size and cropping. For expert help, explore our product image editing services.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my image cropped differently on each platform?
Each placement uses its own aspect ratio and interface overlays. A feed square, a vertical story and a link preview all trim the image differently.
How much margin should I leave around text?
Enough that nothing important sits near an edge. Preview on a phone to confirm the text survives the platform’s crop and any buttons laid over the image.
Can I reuse one image for every channel?
You can start from one master, but export a separate crop for each placement so the subject stays well framed.
