How to Prepare a 1200 × 628 Image for Link Previews
Create a wide preview image and understand the crop-versus-fit decision before exporting.
Some websites and sharing workflows use a wide image around 1200 × 628 pixels for link previews. That creates an aspect ratio close to 1.91:1, which is much wider than a square photograph. The challenge is usually not the arithmetic. It is choosing a composition that survives the crop.
Check what the destination actually requests
Different services may use different recommendations and can crop previews dynamically. Do not assume every platform displays 1200 × 628 in exactly the same way. Treat the requested dimensions as a starting point and verify the resulting preview.
If your source is already close to that wide ratio, resizing is easy. If the source is square, something else must happen before a full-frame wide export makes sense.
Understand fit versus exact dimensions
VeyraPixel includes a 1200 × 628 preset. When proportions are locked, the tool fits the entire picture within those bounds. A square original will not magically turn into a filled wide image. It will remain square and fit inside the preset area.
If you unlock the proportions, you can force 1200 × 628, but that stretches the subject. A better workflow is to crop or add background space in a separate editor so that your artwork has the right shape, then return to VeyraPixel for the final export.
Put essential details away from the edges
Social previews can show a slightly different crop or overlay text. Leave breathing room around logos, faces, and any critical words. If your preview needs a headline, consider whether that text belongs in the image or can be supplied as editable page metadata instead.
Good page titles and descriptions still matter for link previews, even when the image itself is attractive.
Compress without blurring the message
Once the composition is right, upload it to the VeyraPixel resizer. Select the desired dimensions, choose JPG or WebP for a photographic graphic, and inspect the resulting file. If the design includes tiny letters, check them at a realistic preview size. PNG may be a better choice for crisp typography but could be larger.
Test the actual preview
Do not stop at a correct filename or dimensions. Test the page with the relevant platform's preview tool where available, and inspect it on a narrow screen. The crop, title, and image should support each other.
The practical order is: choose a suitable composition, confirm the shape, resize, compress, then test. That sequence avoids stretched preview artwork and wasted export attempts.
Worked example: fitting a square photo
If your original is 1000 by 1000 pixels and you choose a 1200 by 628 preset while the ratio is locked, the tool fits the image inside that wide box. It does not crop to fill the full width and height. The output remains square, up to 628 by 628 pixels. That is correct behavior, but it may not be what a link preview design needs.
To fill the entire 1200 by 628 area naturally, start with an image composed at approximately that aspect ratio. Avoid placing essential text at the extreme edges because social apps can apply additional previews or crops.