If an image looks printable when zoomed, it’s too large to share publicly.
How Large Should Images Be Online?
Images shared online should be large enough to be seen clearly, but small enough to protect the work. As a general rule, 1200–1600 pixels on the long edge is ideal for online sharing. This range displays well on phones and laptops while avoiding files that are useful for print, scraping, or automated reuse.
While 1200-1600px is a good default, some artists might go smaller (800-1000px) for highly detailed work where even 1600px could reveal too much technique, or slightly larger (2000px) for large-scale work where detail is less of a concern.
For context, a typical modern iPhone photo is far larger than what’s appropriate to publish online. Most iPhones capture images at approximately 6000 × 4000 pixels (24 megapixels), and in higher-resolution or ProRAW modes this can increase to 8000 × 6000 pixels (48 megapixels). These files are effectively print-ready originals and carry extensive metadata.
Uploading images directly from your phone means sharing:
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Far more resolution than viewers need
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Clean, high-value files suitable for reuse or training
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Embedded metadata about the image and device
For this reason, phone photos should always be treated as source files, not publish files.
Before posting:
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Resize images intentionally to ~1200–1600px on the long edge, or
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Use a screenshot of the image displayed on screen, which naturally reduces resolution and removes most metadata
This approach preserves visibility while significantly reducing extractive value.
A simple comparison to remember:
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iPhone original: ~6000–8000 px long edge
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Recommended online size: 1200–1600 px long edge
Regarding compression of images on Instagram specifically: Instagram compresses for technical/bandwidth reasons, not to claim ownership. However, they're storing and processing the full-resolution file you upload, even if they only display a compressed version to viewers.
The concerning parts:
- Instagram can use your images in ads, promotions, or to train AI without paying you
- They can sublicense to third parties
- "Modifying" and "derivative works" language is broad
- Even after deletion, copies that others shared may persist
Bottom line for the guide: The size recommendation protects against public scraping and reuse, not Instagram itself. Once uploaded, Instagram has access to whatever resolution you gave them. So the 1200-1600px guidance is really about:
- What the public can easily download/screenshot
- Limiting what ends up in third-party datasets scraped from the web
- Maintaining some commercial advantage for the original files
The real protection is: never upload print-resolution originals to any platform you don't fully control.