We’ve all been there. You capture a picture you absolutely adore. Maybe it’s a stunning cityscape behind you, or your new outfit from head to toe looks perfect. You’re all set to upload it to Instagram, and then…
The Dreaded Instagram Crop Strikes!
Yes, that moment when you try to upload your masterpiece, and Instagram’s 4:5 aspect ratio decides to chop off key elements of your photo. Suddenly, that gorgeous building is half-gone, or your fabulous shoes are missing from the frame.
Visualizing the Problem:
Original photo before Instagram crop for fitting full image
Instagram crop example cutting off the top of the image
Instagram crop example cutting off the bottom of the image
But don’t worry, you’re in luck! With just a couple of quick steps using two fantastic apps, you can easily make your entire picture fit within the Instagram crop. The best part? You can do this without resorting to adding white borders or frames that can clutter your feed, and without needing complex software like Photoshop.
Essential Tools to Avoid Instagram Crop
Here’s what you’ll need to perfectly fit your photos for Instagram:
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Snapseed App: This app is an absolute must-have for anyone serious about mobile photo editing. While it’s incredibly versatile for many editing tasks, it’s particularly essential for making your photos fit the Instagram crop seamlessly. And the best news? It’s completely FREE!
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ReTouch App: Consider this app a game-changer for your photo editing toolkit. Yes, it comes with a small price tag of $1.99, but trust me, it’s an investment you won’t regret. You’ll find yourself using it constantly for various photo touch-ups and especially for refining those Instagram crops.
Just to be clear, I have no affiliation with either of these apps. I’m recommending them purely because I genuinely love them and use them almost daily to enhance my photos for Instagram and beyond!
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Crop Instagram Photos for Full Display
Let’s dive into the simple process of using these apps to ensure your photos fit perfectly on Instagram:
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Step 1: Open Snapseed and Upload Your Photo
Start by opening the Snapseed app on your phone and uploading the photo you want to prepare for Instagram.
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Step 2: Access the Tools Menu
Once your photo is loaded, navigate to the “TOOLS” bar in the Snapseed interface. This will open up a range of editing options.
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Step 3: Utilize the Expand Tool with “Smart” Feature
From the Tools menu, select “EXPAND.” Crucially, make sure to choose the “smart” expand feature. This intelligent option uses content-aware fill to seamlessly extend the edges of your photo.
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Step 4: Adjust the Aspect Ratio
Using your fingers, drag the left and right sides of your photo outwards. As you drag, the “smart” expand feature will fill in the newly created space, effectively making your photo wider and closer to the 4:5 aspect ratio preferred by Instagram.
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Step 5: Export and Crop to 4:5
Once you are satisfied with the expanded image, export it to your camera roll from Snapseed. Then, using your phone’s built-in photo editor or Instagram’s cropping tool, manually crop your photo to the final 4:5 ratio. This ensures it fits perfectly within Instagram’s feed dimensions.
At this stage, if your photo has a simple background and the expansion looks natural, you might be completely finished!
However, if you expanded a photo with a more complex background, you might notice some slight distortions or “wonky” edges where Snapseed filled in the expanded areas. This is where the Retouch app comes to the rescue.
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Step 6: Open Retouch and Upload Your Photo
If you need to refine the expanded edges, open the Retouch app and upload the photo you just edited in Snapseed.
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Step 7: Use the Objects Tool for Seamless Refinement
In Retouch, select the “OBJECTS” tool. Within this tool, choose the “BRUSH” option and set it to “AUTO” mode. Gently brush over any areas where the expansion looks unnatural or distorted. Retouch’s intelligent algorithms will seamlessly blend these areas, making the expansion virtually invisible.
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Step 8: Employ the Clone Stamp for Precision (Optional)
For even more precise editing, especially in areas with repeating patterns or textures, the “CLONE STAMP” tool in Retouch is incredibly useful. This tool allows you to manually copy pixels from one area of your photo to another, giving you complete control over blending and refining any tricky spots.
If you’re a visual learner, watching a video tutorial can be incredibly helpful to see these steps in action.
Final Thoughts on Instagram Photo Cropping
And there you have it! A straightforward method to ensure your entire photo makes it onto Instagram without unwanted cropping. Let me know in the comments what you think, or if you have any questions about this process!
Keep in mind that some photos, particularly those with very intricate backgrounds, might require a bit more finesse to edit seamlessly. However, like any skill, practice makes perfect. The more you use these techniques, the easier and faster it will become to perfectly crop your Instagram photos and showcase your images exactly as you envisioned them.
Hope this guide helps you elevate your Instagram game!
Xx,
