When posting images on LinkedIn, it’s important to crop them to the optimal size for best engagement. The ideal image sizes will allow your image to stand out in the feed and capture viewers’ attention. In this article, we’ll go over the recommended image dimensions to use when cropping images for LinkedIn posts.
LinkedIn Feed Image Sizes
LinkedIn displays posts in a feed format, with images shown in a preview thumbnail size. When users click on the image, it opens to a larger size. Therefore, you need to optimize images for both the thumbnail preview and the full size view.
Here are the recommended image dimensions for LinkedIn feed posts:
Image Type | Dimensions |
---|---|
Thumbnail Preview | 150 x 150 pixels |
Full Size | 1000 x 1000 pixels |
The thumbnail preview should be cropped to a neat 150 x 150 pixel square image. This displays nicely in the feed and catches viewers’ eyes.
When the image is clicked, it will open to the full 1000 x 1000 pixel size. This larger size shows the image in more detail on the LinkedIn post page.
Cropping Tips
Here are some tips for cropping images to these ideal sizes for LinkedIn:
- Crop to a 1:1 aspect ratio for the 150 x 150 thumbnail. Square images stand out better in the feed.
- For full size images, aim for a minimum of 1000 pixels on the shortest side. Either 1000 x 1000 pixels or 2000 x 1000 pixels works.
- Use images with a high resolution so they don’t appear pixelated or blurry when expanded to the full size view.
- Focus the subject in the center and crop out unnecessary background areas.
- Make sure important parts like faces aren’t cropped out.
Image Types to Crop
Virtually any image can be cropped to these sizes for LinkedIn. Here are some of the most common image types to crop:
- Product photos: Showcase your product in a lifestyle context.
- Infographics: Visualize data, tips or processes.
- Quotes: Share motivational or informative quotes.
- Headshots: Profile photos to establish expertise and approachability.
- Company photos: Show team members, office spaces or company events.
- Behind-the-scenes: Give an inside look at your company culture.
Crop these types of images to perfectly fit the 150 x 150 and 1000 x 1000 pixel sizes. Consistent sizing will make your LinkedIn feed look uniform and professional.
Image Editing Tools
You can use many editing tools to crop images for LinkedIn:
- LinkedIn Mobile App: The LinkedIn app has built-in cropping to preset sizes when uploading images in posts.
- Canva: This free graphic design tool makes it easy to crop to exact pixel sizes.
- PicMonkey: An online photo editor with cropping options for common social media sizes.
- Adobe Photoshop: The industry standard for photo editing allows precision cropping.
- Microsoft Paint: A basic painting program included with Windows for basic cropping.
- GIMP: A free, open-source image editor similar to Photoshop.
Try out a few different tools to find the one that allows you to crop LinkedIn images quickly and easily.
Image Composition Tips
In addition to technical size requirements, follow these image composition tips:
- Use high-quality, high-resolution images.
- Ensure the subject is in focus.
- Pick images with bright, vibrant colors.
- Include some negative or white space around the subject.
- Aim for interesting perspectives and angles.
- Perfect the lighting, avoiding overexposed or underexposed images.
With a visually appealing photo that engages viewers, your LinkedIn posts will stop scrollers in their tracks. Optimize images not only for size, but for visual quality.
Ideal Image Types
Certain types of images tend to perform better than others on LinkedIn. Consider using these image varieties:
Image Type | Examples |
---|---|
Faces | Headshots, speakers, team photos |
Infographics | Charts, graphs, visual data |
Quotes | Inspirational, informative quotes over backgrounds |
Behind-the-scenes | Office culture, events, workshops |
Thought leadership | Speakers on stage, presentations |
Images with human faces tend to get high engagement on LinkedIn. Infographics that visualize key data also perform well. Test different image types to see what resonates most with your target audience.
Ideal Image Dimensions
To recap, these are the ideal image dimensions for LinkedIn posts:
- Thumbnail preview: 150 x 150 pixels
- Full size image: 1000 x 1000 pixels minimum
- 1:1 aspect ratio for thumbnails
- Landscape orientation at 1000+ pixels wide for full size images
Crop images to these exact dimensions for a professional, consistent look across your LinkedIn feed.
Tools to Crop Images
You can crop images right within LinkedIn when posting, or use various editing tools:
Tool | Benefits |
---|---|
LinkedIn App | – Built-in cropping – Preset sizes |
Canva | – Intuitive editing – Mobile app |
PicMonkey | – Quick cropping -TEMPLATES |
Adobe Photoshop | – Precise modifications – Advanced features |
Snapseed | – Easy mobile editing – Basic adjustments |
Find a tool that streamlines editing images for your LinkedIn feed. Being able to crop and edit on the go from your smartphone is a plus.
Image Composition Best Practices
When cropping images for LinkedIn, also consider these composition tips:
- Use the rule of thirds to place the subject off-center.
- Frame the subject with negative space around it.
- Focus the subject crisply and clearly.
- Include leading lines to direct viewers’ eyes.
- Shoot from creative vantage points like low or high angles.
- Use natural lighting and avoid flash whenever possible.
A well-composed photo will better hold viewers’ attention once they click through to the full-size image from your post.
Design Tips for LinkedIn Images
Apply these design tips when creating visuals for LinkedIn:
- Add branded elements like logos, colors, and fonts.
- Use minimalist designs that aren’t cluttered.
- Include relevant text overlay to convey key messages.
- Optimize typography so text is readable.
- Use contrasting colors that make the image pop.
- Consider including a border or frame around the image.
- Add visual variety with photos, illustrations, and graphics together.
Well-designed visuals that reflect your brand make a professional impression on LinkedIn.
Common LinkedIn Image Types
These are some go-to image types to use for LinkedIn posts:
- Headshots: Profile pictures showing personality
- Quotes: Inspiring quotes over backgrounds
- Infographics: Visual representations of data
- Products: Spotlight your products in use
- Behind-the-scenes: Give an inside look at company culture
- Events: Highlight conferences, talks, and meetups
Mix up your image content to keep your audience engaged, while maintaining brand consistency.
Tools to Create LinkedIn Images
Use these helpful tools to produce eye-catching visuals for LinkedIn:
Tool | Use for |
---|---|
Canva | – Designing graphics – Layouts and templates |
Adobe Photoshop | – Photo editing and manipulation |
Adobe Illustrator | – Creating logos, icons, illustrations |
PicMonkey | – Quick graphic design |
Snapseed | – Mobile photo editing |
Equip yourself with go-to design tools to craft polished graphics and visuals for LinkedIn.
Optimizing Images for LinkedIn
To optimize images for LinkedIn, remember to:
- Crop to 150 x 150 pixels for thumbnails
- Use at least 1000 x 1000 pixels for the full size image
- Pick eye-catching photos with vibrant colors
- Feature your product or service prominently
- Include relevant text overlays
- Edit and filter to perfect the image
- Save images at high resolution
- Use PNG or JPG format
Properly sized, high-quality images make your LinkedIn posts stand out in the feed.
FAQs
Why crop images for LinkedIn?
Cropping images optimizes them to the ideal sizes to stand out in the LinkedIn feed. Square thumbnails and large landscape images will have the most visual impact.
What apps can crop photos for LinkedIn?
You can crop photos right within the LinkedIn mobile app when creating posts. Alternatively, use editing apps like Canva, PicMonkey, Snapseed, or Adobe Photoshop.
What is the best photo size for LinkedIn posts?
For LinkedIn posts, use a 150 x 150 pixel square thumbnail and a full size image of at least 1000 x 1000 pixels. Aim for a 1:1 to 4:5 aspect ratio.
How do you resize an image for LinkedIn?
To resize images for LinkedIn, open the image in a photo editing app and manually crop it to the ideal dimensions. Alternatively, use preset sizes in apps like Canva tailored to LinkedIn’s requirements.
What image type has the highest engagement on LinkedIn?
Photos featuring faces, particularly headshots and speaker photos, tend to see the highest engagement on LinkedIn. Other top-performing image types are infographics, quotes, events, and behind-the-scenes office photos.
Conclusion
Cropping images to optimized sizes makes a big visual impact on LinkedIn. Use square 150 x 150 pixel thumbnails, along with full size images of at least 1000 x 1000 pixels. Crop photos tightly around the focal subject and use high-quality images. With these tips, your LinkedIn images will capture more attention and engagement.