What the 1:1 aspect ratio means
A 1:1 picture is a square: it is as wide as it is tall, for example 1080 × 1080 px. Most photos are not square, so making one means cutting off a strip at the sides or at the top and bottom.
| Use | Size in pixels |
|---|---|
| Instagram post | 1080 × 1080 |
| Facebook or LinkedIn post | 1200 × 1200 |
| Large file for print or editing | 2048 × 2048 |
Where square pictures are used
Square posts on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn, profile pictures on almost every platform, product photos in online shops and album covers. A square sits well in a grid and looks the same on a phone and on a computer.
Keep the subject in the middle
A square leaves little room on the sides. Put the face or the product in the middle, leave some space around it, and use the lines that divide the frame in thirds to check the balance.
Cropping is not resizing
Cropping cuts off the edges that do not fit the new shape; nothing is squeezed or stretched. Resizing only changes the number of pixels. This tool does both in one go: it cuts the photo to the ratio, then saves it at the size you pick, or with every pixel of the crop under “Original”.
When the photo itself is the problem
A crop cannot fix a photo that is too small, too dark or cut off at the forehead. If you need a portrait and have no good one, a professional headshot made from a few selfies gives you one that fits any frame.