Which ratio should you crop image files to?
An aspect ratio describes the shape of a picture: width compared to height. Choosing it before you post stops the platform from cutting your photo in odd places.
| Ratio | Shape | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | Square | Profile pictures, product grids, feed posts |
| 4:5 | Slightly tall | Portrait posts that fill more of a phone screen |
| 4:3 | Classic | Slides, tablets, most phone camera photos |
| 16:9 | Wide | Video thumbnails, presentations, laptop wallpapers |
| 9:16 | Tall | Stories, vertical videos, phone wallpapers |
| 3:2 | Photo print | 6 by 4 inch prints and many camera photos |
Use Free when you only want to trim something away and the final shape does not matter.
Tips for a cleaner crop
- Use the rule of thirds. Place the eyes or the main object about a third of the way in from an edge.
- Leave some room. Cutting right at the top of a head or the tip of a product makes a picture feel cramped.
- Watch the pixel count. Every crop removes pixels. A small area cut from a small photo will look soft when shown large.
- Crop first, then shrink. Get the framing right, then resize the image and compress it for the web.
Want to keep the whole subject but lose the messy room behind it? A crop cannot do that. Try Remove Background instead.
Everyday crop jobs
A group photo from a wedding needs to become your profile picture: pick 1:1 and frame one face. A screenshot shows your whole desktop, but the help desk only needs the error message: use Free and trim the rest. A landscape holiday photo should become a phone wallpaper: 9:16 keeps the best slice. A product shot for an online shop shows the edge of the kitchen table: a small trim makes it look intentional.