How do I prepare the image that shows when my store link is shared on WhatsApp or Facebook?
Link previews usually use a wide image. Pick the 'Landscape' common size of 1200 by 628, a popular choice rather than an official one, convert your product photo with 'Fill and crop', and make sure the product sits inside the middle band that is kept. Then upload the file to your site and put its address in your Open Graph tags.
Where the preview image comes from
When you paste a page link into a chat or a post, the platform reads a tag on that page called og:image and shows the image it points to. Without the tag, the platform may grab a random picture from the page or show nothing. So a good image is not enough on its own: it has to be uploaded to your site, and the tag has to point to it.
A square photo in a wide frame
A 2000 × 2000 square product photo, with a target of 1200 × 628 in 'Fill and crop' mode.
The tool keeps a centered horizontal band of 2000 × 1047 starting 476 px from the top, and removes what is above and below it.
It then scales that band to exactly 1200 × 628.
The alternative with 'Fit inside': a 1080 × 1080 square becomes 628 × 628 in the middle of the frame, with a 286 px band on each side.
On a square product photo, the middle band drops roughly half the height. If the product is tall, like a perfume bottle, its cap and base get cut, and 'Fit inside' with your store color works better. If the product is wide and low, the crop gives a bigger, clearer preview.
The full steps
- Open the Image resizer, choose the photo, and pick 'Landscape' from the common sizes.
- Try 'Fill and crop' and read the note on which area of the original is used, then try 'Fit inside' and compare.
- Save as JPEG and download, then upload it to your site and copy its full address starting with https.
- Open the Open Graph metadata builder, paste the image address, enter 1200 and 628 in the width and height fields, and copy the tags into your page.
Why the preview differs between apps
Each platform draws the card its own way, and some trim the edges or show the image small beside the text. Keep the important part in the middle of the picture, not at the edges, and avoid placing text near the borders. Platforms also cache previews, so a change may not show at once on a link that was shared before.
Common questions
Is 1200 × 628 the official size?
No. It is a common wide size among the tool's starting points, not a rule of the Open Graph protocol. Edit the numbers if the platform you care about recommends something else.
Does the tool publish the image to my site?
No. The tool prepares the file on your device only; you upload it to your site or store platform.