Understanding Aspect Ratios: Choosing the Right Dimensions

Why Aspect Ratio Matters

The aspect ratio you choose affects not just how your image looks, but how well it fits its intended purpose. Using the wrong ratio means cropping, stretching, or wasted space.

Open Journey's Aspect Ratios

Open Journey offers five aspect ratios:

Ratio

Dimensions

Use Case

1:1	Square	Social media posts
4:3	Landscape	Presentations, photos
3:4	Portrait	Pinterest, portraits
16:9	Wide	YouTube, desktop
9:16	Tall	Stories, mobile

1:1 Square Format

Best for:

• Instagram feed posts


• Profile pictures


• Product thumbnails


• Album covers


• App icons

Composition tips:

• Center your main subject


• Works well for portraits and single objects


• Symmetrical compositions shine here

Example prompt:
"Portrait of a fox, centered, forest background, warm autumn colors, square composition"

4:3 Landscape Format

Best for:

• Traditional photography


• Presentation slides


• Website images


• Print photos


• Computer wallpapers

Composition tips:

• Use rule of thirds


• Good for environmental portraits


• Allows breathing room around subjects

Example prompt:
"Mountain lake at sunrise, reflection in water, mist rising, landscape photography"

3:4 Portrait Format

Best for:

• Pinterest pins


• Book covers


• Portrait photography


• Posters


• Mobile app screens

Composition tips:

• Vertical subjects work naturally


• Great for full-body portraits


• Effective for tall architecture

Example prompt:
"Lighthouse on rocky cliff, stormy sky, dramatic waves, vertical composition"

16:9 Widescreen Format

Best for:

• YouTube thumbnails


• Desktop wallpapers


• Website hero images


• Presentation backgrounds


• Video content

Composition tips:

• Cinematic feel


• Great for panoramic scenes


• Leave space for text overlays

Example prompt:
"Cyberpunk city street at night, neon signs, rain, cinematic widescreen"

9:16 Vertical Format

Best for:

• Instagram Stories


• TikTok videos


• Snapchat


• Mobile wallpapers


• Portrait videos

Composition tips:

• Stack elements vertically


• Consider thumb zones for interactive content


• Top and bottom may be cropped on some platforms

Example prompt:
"Tall waterfall in tropical jungle, vertical composition, phone wallpaper"

Platform Quick Reference

Platform

Recommended Ratio

Instagram Feed	1:1 or 4:5
Instagram Stories	9:16
Facebook Post	1:1 or 16:9
Twitter/X	16:9
LinkedIn	1.91:1 (close to 16:9)
Pinterest	2:3 (close to 3:4)
YouTube Thumbnail	16:9
TikTok	9:16

Composition Principles by Ratio

Square (1:1)

• Centered subjects: Work naturally


• Symmetry: Highly effective


• Tight framing: No wasted space

Landscape (4:3, 16:9)

• Rule of thirds: Place subjects at intersection points


• Leading lines: Draw eye across frame


• Foreground interest: Add depth

Portrait (3:4, 9:16)

• Vertical flow: Guide eye up or down


• Stacked elements: Multiple points of interest


• Negative space: Top or bottom for text

Practical Workflow

• Know your destination first: Where will this image be used?


• Select ratio before generating: Don't crop later


• Compose for the format: Adjust your prompt to fit


• Generate multiple options: Try different compositions


• Save originals: You may need different crops later

Common Mistakes

• Generating square, cropping to widescreen: Loses quality and composition


• Ignoring safe zones: Mobile interfaces cover edges


• Forgetting text space: If you need text, leave room in the prompt


• One size fits all: Different platforms need different ratios

Tips for Multi-Platform Content

If you need the same image for multiple platforms:

• Generate in the largest ratio you need


• Create variations at different ratios with similar prompts


• Adjust composition in each prompt for the specific ratio


• Use a consistent style across all versions

Choose your aspect ratio intentionally, and your images will always fit perfectly.