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Photo editing how-tos

Photo editing for online sellers is mostly a short list of repeat tasks: changing an image's size or shape, getting the file under an upload limit, converting it to a format a site accepts, removing or replacing the background, and fixing a photo that came out dark, tilted or blurry. Three terms explain most of it: resolution is the image's size in pixels, aspect ratio is its shape (width to height), and DPI only matters when you print. Nearly all of these jobs can be done for free on a phone, in a built-in app or in a browser. Each guide below gives the free method first, with exact pixel sizes and file-size targets where they apply.

60 guides in this topic

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  1. Aspect Ratio Guide (2026): Common Ratios in Pixels and How to Calculate ThemAspect ratio chart: 1:1, 4:5, 3:4, 2:3, 9:16, 16:9 and 1.91:1 in pixels, how to find the ratio of any size (1080x1920 = 9:16) and a free ra…
  2. How to Resize an Image Without Losing Quality (2026 Guide)How to resize an image without losing quality: shrink vs enlarge, the best resampling methods, and steps in Photos, Paint, Preview, GIMP an…
  3. How to Reduce Image File Size (2026): Compress, Resize and Free ToolsHow to reduce image file size in 2026: resize first, compress at quality 70-85, pick JPG or WebP, free tools for every device, and email an…
  4. JPG vs PNG vs WebP for Product Images: Which Format to Use WhereJPG vs PNG vs WebP for product images: transparency, file size, what Amazon, Etsy, Shopify and eBay accept, sRGB, and which format to expor…
  5. How to Change the Background of a Photo (2026): Phone, Canva, Photoshop and AIHow to change the background of a photo in 2026: free phone cut-outs, Canva, Photoshop and AI prompts, plus how to match light and shadow s…

What size and shape should an image be?

Pick the shape (aspect ratio) the platform displays first, then the pixel size: 1:1 for most product listings, 4:5 for feed posts, 9:16 for full-screen vertical and 16:9 for widescreen. The aspect ratio chart in pixels covers every common ratio, with detail pages for 1:1 square sizes, 4:5 sizes, 9:16 sizes and 16:9 resolutions. To get there, crop an image to an exact size or make an image square without cropping. For forms and sites, see how to resize a photo for an online application form, the best image size for every website image, the favicon size and how to make a favicon. Landscape shapes have their own guides too: 4:3 aspect ratio for phone photos and 3:2 aspect ratio for camera photos and 4 × 6 prints.

How do you resize, upscale or change the DPI of an image?

Scale down from the largest original you have, because making an image smaller keeps it sharp while enlarging it needs AI upscaling to add detail. How to resize an image without losing quality covers both directions, and how to make a picture higher resolution and how to upscale product photos for Amazon zoom cover enlarging. Pixel ratio (DPR 1x, 2x, 3x) explains why images look soft on phones. For print, DPI decides how many pixels go into each inch: see what DPI to use for printing, how to change an image's DPI to 300 and photo print sizes in pixels.

How do you compress an image to a specific file size?

Resize the image to the pixel size you actually need first, then lower the JPG or WebP quality until the file fits the limit; most people can't see the difference at around 75–85% quality. How to reduce image file size explains the method, and the step-by-step guides cover each common upload limit: compress an image to 1MB or 500KB, compress an image to 200KB, compress an image to 100KB, compress an image to 50KB and compress an image to 20KB.

Which image format should you use, and how do you convert between them?

Use JPG for photos, PNG for graphics that need transparency or sharp edges, and WebP where the site accepts it, because it is smaller at the same quality; JPG vs PNG vs WebP for product images compares them. When a site rejects your file, convert it: HEIC to JPG for iPhone photos, WebP to JPG, PNG to JPG, and what a JFIF file is and how to convert it. For documents, see how to convert an image to PDF, JPG to PDF on iPhone and how to combine multiple images into one PDF. Images saved from websites often arrive as AVIF; what is an AVIF file shows how to open and convert them.

Our test: we re-encoded 33 of our own product photos and measured file size and quality for each format: see JPG vs WebP vs AVIF, tested on 33 product photos.

How do you remove or change a photo's background?

Cut the subject out with a background remover, then place it on white, a color, a new scene or nothing at all for a transparent PNG. How to change a photo's background covers the options, and how to make a product image background transparent and removing backgrounds from multiple images in bulk cover catalog work. For specific tools, see removing a photo background on iPhone, in Canva and in PowerPoint. Related jobs: make a logo background transparent, make a signature transparent, make a photo background black and blur the background of a photo.

How do you fix a dark, blurry, tilted or grainy photo?

Straighten and crop first, then fix exposure and white balance, then clean up shadows, glare and noise, because each step changes how the next one looks. Exposure and color: brighten a dark photo, fix an overexposed photo, fix white balance and find the hex color of an image. Sharpness and shape: unblur a photo, fix grainy photos and straighten a photo. Cleanup: remove shadows, remove glare, remove objects, blur part of an image, add text to a photo and restore old photos with AI. For a phone editor, compare Lightroom vs Snapseed for product photos.

Common aspect ratios in pixels (from the aspect ratio chart)
RatioShapeTypical pixel sizesWhere it's used
1:1Square1080 × 1080, 2000 × 2000, 2048 × 2048Amazon, Shopify, eBay and Walmart product images; Instagram square
4:5Slightly tall1080 × 1350, 1600 × 2000, 2000 × 2500Instagram and Facebook feed posts and ads
3:4Tall1080 × 1440, 1536 × 2048, 3024 × 4032Phone photos held upright; Instagram feed and profile grid
2:3Tall1000 × 1500, 1080 × 1620Pinterest pins; 4×6 in prints
9:16Full-screen vertical1080 × 1920, 720 × 1280Stories and Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts
5:4Slightly wide1350 × 1080, 2000 × 1600, 2500 × 2000Etsy listing photos
16:9Widescreen1280 × 720, 1920 × 1080, 3840 × 2160YouTube videos and thumbnails, website hero banners, slides
1.91:1Wide1200 × 628, 1080 × 566Facebook link posts and ads, link previews

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Frequently asked questions

How do I make an image smaller without losing quality?

Resize it to the pixel size you actually need, then compress it as a JPG or WebP at around 75–85% quality. Most people can't see the difference, and the file is often a fraction of the size.

What is the difference between DPI and resolution?

Resolution is the image's size in pixels. DPI is a label that only matters for printing: it sets how many of those pixels go into each printed inch.

Which image format should I use online?

JPG for photos, PNG for graphics that need transparency or sharp edges, and WebP when the platform accepts it, because it is smaller at the same quality.

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Marketplace image requirementsProduct photographySocial media image sizesAI product photos and toolsSeasonal product photosSelling online All articles
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