Image size guidelines
ReelCrafter automatically optimizes your images for different screen sizes and devices. This guide covers recommended dimensions for each image type so your reels look sharp on everything from phones to 4K monitors.
Jump to: General guidelines · Banner images · Logo · Headshot · Album art · Image gallery · Social sharing image · Common questions
General guidelines
A few rules apply to all images in ReelCrafter:
- Maximum file size: 2 GB per file (but smaller is better for loading speed)
- Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF
- Recommended format: JPG for photos and banners (smaller file size). Use PNG only when you need transparency.
- Target file size: Under 500 KB for most images. Large banners can be up to 2 MB.
About high-DPI displays: Modern phones, tablets, and monitors often have "Retina" or "4K" screens with twice the pixel density of older displays. To look sharp on these screens, images should be twice the display size. For example, if a banner displays at 1200px wide, upload a 2400px wide image.
About animated GIFs: ReelCrafter displays animated GIFs at their original size without optimization. Keep animated GIFs under 5 MB for the best experience on mobile devices and slower connections.
Banner images
Banners span the full width of the reel and are often the first thing recipients see.
| Minimum width | 1100 px |
| Recommended width | 2400 px or wider (for Retina/4K displays and ultrawide monitors) |
| Height | Flexible. See tips below. |
| Aspect ratio | No fixed ratio. Common choices are 4:1, 3:1, or 16:9. |
| Format | JPG recommended |
Tips for wide monitors
Wider banners generally look better, especially on large or ultrawide monitors. A 2400px wide image looks great on most screens, but on very wide monitors, viewers may see the edges of your image.
If you want more control over how your banner displays across different screen sizes:
- Upload a wider image (3000px or more) to ensure full coverage on ultrawide displays
- Use Cover mode in the Banner block settings, which scales the image to fill the width and crops the edges as needed
- Set min/max height to control vertical sizing. This prevents the banner from becoming too tall on wide screens or too short on narrow ones.
Tip: Keep the focal point of your banner image in the center. In Cover mode, the edges may be cropped on narrower screens.
Profile block banner
The Profile block combines a banner with your headshot overlaid on top. This requires specific dimensions to prevent cropping issues.
| Recommended size | 2400 x 500 px (or at minimum, 1100 x 500 px) |
| Height | Exactly 500 px to prevent cropping on wide monitors |
| Format | JPG recommended |
Note: Avoid placing text in the center of Profile block banners. On mobile devices, the headshot image overlays the center and may obscure any text there.
Logo
Your logo appears in the Logo block or as part of your reel's branding.
| Minimum size | 280 px wide (horizontal logos) or 160 px tall (vertical logos) |
| Recommended size | 560 px wide (horizontal) or 320 px tall (vertical) for Retina/4K displays |
| Display size range | 80-280 px wide, 48-160 px tall (adjustable via slider in the block settings) |
| Format | PNG with transparency recommended. JPG or GIF also work. |
Headshot
Headshots appear in the Biography and Profile blocks, but they display differently in each.
Biography block headshot
The Biography block displays your headshot as a rectangular image alongside your bio text. You can position it on the left or right side.
| Minimum width | 400 px |
| Recommended size | 800 x 800 px or larger |
| Aspect ratio | Square (1:1) or portrait orientation works best |
| Format | JPG recommended |
Profile block headshot
The Profile block displays your headshot as a circular image overlaid on the banner.
| Display size | 140 px diameter (circular) |
| Minimum upload size | 320 x 320 px |
| Recommended upload size | 640 x 640 px for Retina/4K displays |
| Aspect ratio | Square (1:1). Non-square images will be cropped to a circle. |
| Format | JPG recommended |
When you upload a headshot for the Profile block, you can adjust the crop position and zoom level to frame the image exactly how you want it.
Album art
Album art displays alongside audio tracks in Media blocks.
| Recommended size | 1024 x 1024 px |
| Aspect ratio | Square (1:1) |
| Format | JPG recommended |
This matches the industry standard for digital music artwork.
Image gallery
The Image Gallery block displays multiple images in a grid or carousel layout.
| Minimum width | 580 px |
| Recommended width | 2400 px for Retina/4K displays |
| Aspect ratio options | 16:9, 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 3:4, 2:3, 9:16 (configurable in block settings) |
| Default aspect ratio | 3:2 |
| Columns | 1-12 (configurable, default is 4) |
For best results, upload images that match or exceed the aspect ratio you've chosen. Images will be cropped to fit the selected ratio.
Social sharing image
When you share a reel link on social media or messaging apps, a preview image is generated. You can customize this in the reel's share settings.
| Recommended size | 1200 x 630 px (or 2400 x 1260 px for Retina) |
| Aspect ratio | Approximately 1.9:1 |
| Maximum file size | 5 MB |
| Format | JPG or PNG |
This size works well across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and most messaging platforms.
Common questions
What happens if I upload an image that's too small?
The image may appear blurry or pixelated, especially on high-DPI screens. ReelCrafter won't reject small images, but they won't look as sharp.
What happens if I upload an image that's too large?
ReelCrafter automatically optimizes JPG, PNG, and non-animated GIF images to serve appropriately sized versions based on the viewer's screen. Very large images (over 4800px wide) may take longer to process and upload.
Should I use JPG or PNG?
Use JPG for photos, banners, and headshots. JPG files are much smaller and load faster. Use PNG only when you need transparency, like for logos with a see-through background.
Why does my animated GIF load slowly?
Animated GIFs are displayed at their original size without optimization. Keep animated GIFs under 5 MB. For social media sharing, Twitter recommends under 5 MB and Facebook recommends under 8 MB.
Can I use WebP images?
Not currently. ReelCrafter supports JPG, PNG, and GIF formats.
What's the maximum file size I can upload?
2 GB per file. However, for images, we recommend keeping file sizes under 2 MB for banners and under 500 KB for other images to ensure fast loading.
My banner looks fine on my laptop, but shows edges on a wide monitor. How do I fix it?
Upload a wider image (3000px or more) and switch to Cover mode in the Banner block settings and set a max height. Cover mode scales the image to fill the width, cropping the top and bottom as needed.
What's the difference between Contain and Cover mode for banners?
Contain (default) shows the entire image at its actual size. On wide monitors, this can cause two issues: you may see the edges of your image or empty space on the sides, and tall images can make the banner section much taller than intended. Cover scales the image to fill the full width, cropping the top and bottom if needed. Use Cover with min/max height settings for the most control over how your banner displays across different screen sizes.