Resize Photos for Instagram

I have been getting e-mails and messages from a number of people recently asking how I resize my pictures for Instagram, maintaining the structure, and also positioning my logo on them. I figured that it would be simpler to simply write here the process that I undergo to do it, instead of keep duplicating the very same information multiple times - Resize Photos for Instagram.

The first thing that you have to recognize is that Instagram forces you to upload your photos in a square style, sized at 650px by 650px. The second point that you must comprehend is that you have to export the images at the correct size as well as resolution if you wish to keep the pictures festinating and of premium quality. That suggests that they should be exported at 650px on the long side.

For my workflow, I utilize Lightroom, Photoshop, DropBox, and also Instagram to take care of all of the prep work and posting. I've attempted a few other means to upload my images on Instagram, yet the following process has actually provided me the most effective and also most consistent results.

If you do not intend to undergo the procedure that I adhere to below, and also simply intend to publish photos without IG chopping your photos, there are applications that you can set up on your smartphone like Squaready and also InstaSize. I do not use either of those apps myself.


Resize Photos for Instagram


Tip One - Lightroom

The first thing that I do is procedure my pictures typically, and prepare them for exactly how I publish them, or upload them to my site. You could review that process in previous messages in this same post-processing section. I won't repeat all that here.

When you have completed with all of your post-processing of the photos, after that you could start choosing the pictures that you want to plan for publishing to Instagram.

In the Library module, pick every one of the pictures that you want to publish to Instagram, and develop a brand-new collection of them. You could call it anything that you like, yet I suggest that you use "IG" in the name, either at the start or completion, so that you remember just what it is for.

When you have actually chosen them, and have actually produced a brand-new collection, you should undergo as well as see if you can chop any of them to a 1-to-1 ratio. You could use the plant tool for that, as well as select 1 × 1 as the ratio.

The ones that can be exported as 1 × 1 in proportion, can be processed only in Lightroom, and also could utilize your routine watermark (I utilized mine on the example listed below). These will be exported at 650px x 650px.

The ones that have the ability to be resized as squares are easy, which is all you need to do for them in resizing. For every one of these, you can jump to Step 3-- DropBox, as well as miss Step 2-- PhotoShop.

For the pictures that do not look great in a 1-to-1 proportion, you will certainly end up exporting these at 650px on the lengthy edge, but without any watermark on them. See the setups below. I recommend that you export these into a committed folder. Once they are exported, you will certainly continue to Step 2-- PhotoShop.

Tip 2-- Photoshop

The entire factor of this action is to position your image on a 650px by 650px background, and also to include your watermark to the bottom of the square. Doing it manually is a laborious procedure if you aim to do it manually, so I suggest that you perform a set process as well as use an action to automate the procedure, which will certainly make it straightforward to repeat over and over.

If you don't know the best ways to develop Actions in PhotoShop, you will certainly need to examine that first. As soon as you understand the process then the following guidelines will certainly make sense to you.

Your action will have to do the adhering to things in this order:

- Open your photo from your import folder and also lots it to a layer. By default, it is filled as a background. I replicate the background to a new layer, and name it "auto", leaving the opacity at 100%.
- After that it should open Image > Canvas Size and set the elevation to 650px.
- Produce a new layer, as well as label it "black".
- Fill the "black" layer with the black shade making use of the paint bucket tool.
- Use File > Open to open your watermark logo that you wish to put at the bottom of the picture. Put it on a brand-new layer and name it "logo".
- Move the "logo" layer below the vehicle layer.
- Relocate the "black" layer listed below the "logo" layer.
- Close the watermark that you formerly opened.
- Save the finished 650px by 650px picture to a brand-new folder someplace on your hard disk (you will should have actually currently created this folder before developing the activity).
- Close the documents in Photoshop.

As soon as you have the action, you could open PhotoShop at anytime, as well as run the Data > Automate > Set Process command, and also select the folder where you have kept the photos that were not currently at a 1-to-1 ratio.

Tip Three-- DropBox

Once you have exported all your pictures, you have to obtain them up to Instagram There are programs that enable you to post from your PC to Instagram, yet I discovered that I had issues obtaining the hashtags to function correctly when I utilized them, and I had to begin a new account to repair the hashtag concern. The solution was to just remain to utilize my smartphone and make use of the Instagram application to submit the pictures, however to do that I should have the pictures where my phone could access them. The easiest method was to use DropBox to obtain the images where my Instagram app can access them.

Most likely to DropBox.com and also register for it. Download and install the app to your phone and login to it. Use the DropBox.com site to publish your images to your on-line storage space. I recommend that you utilize folders to arrange your photos. In my situation, I have a "Photos" folder, as well as inside it, I have an "Instagram Photos" folder. Inside that folder, I develop folders as I need them, in order to separate the pictures right into smaller sized, less complicated to view, areas.

When you have actually uploaded a collection of pictures right into DropBox, you await the next action, and that is to grab your smart device as well as open up the Instagram application.

Tip 4-- Instagram

At this moment, you need to currently have the Instagram as well as DropBox apps on your smart device, as well as you prepare to publish among your pictures on Instagram.

Open up the application, and also click the blue switch in the middle of the icons at the end of the display. The take picture screen will certainly load, and in the lower left-hand corner, you will certainly see an icon that appears like a "landscape/mountain" icon (simply to the left of the "take a photo" button). Click on it, and it should prompt you to "Select a Resource" for your picture, as well as the DropBox icon must be presented as one of the selectable resources. Click it and also you will certainly see your DropBox folders and also documents detailed in a documents internet browser. Navigate to the photo that you submitted that you want to upload to Instagram and choose it.

From there, you upload it to Instagram much like you would certainly other image that you just took.

Step Five-- DropBox

This last action is not required, however very recommended. In order not to lose track of just what you have posted already, you should return into DropBox and also delete the picture( s) that you have currently published. This will certainly make it easier over time to not post the same photos multiple times.

Final thought

That's it, my whole process to preparing my pictures for Instagram. It's not made complex, but complying with these instructions will certainly ensure that you are uploading images in the best high quality that Instagram could sustain.