You took a crisp, 4K photo. You uploaded it to Instagram. Now it looks like a potato. Why?
Social media platforms use aggressive compression algorithms to save bandwidth. If you upload a file that is "too big" or the "wrong shape," they will crush it. To get the best quality, you need to feed the algorithm exactly what it wants.
- Format: JPG (Best compatibility)
- Dimensions: 1080px wide. (Square: 1080x1080, Portrait: 1080x1350).
- Tip: Do not upload PNGs to Instagram unless absolutely necessary. Instagram converts them to JPG automatically, often causing color shifts.
Twitter / X
- Format: PNG or JPG.
- Tip: Twitter supports PNG transparency, but if the file is too large, it converts it to a JPG with a white background. Keep PNGs under 5MB.
The Golden Rule
Always crop and resize your images before uploading. If you upload a massive 20MB RAW file, the app's server will resize it cheaply and quickly, ruining your quality. Use a tool to resize and convert to high-quality JPG first.