image-content.md 6.2 KB
Image Content Guidelines
Best practices for creating visual content: social media graphics, infographics, thumbnails, and visual quotes.
Visual Hierarchy Principles
Core Principles
1. Contrast
- High contrast for readability
- Dark text on light background (or vice versa)
- Color contrast for emphasis
- Size contrast for importance
2. Alignment
- Everything should align to something
- Creates order and professionalism
- Use grids for consistency
3. Proximity
- Related elements close together
- Unrelated elements separated
- Creates visual grouping
4. Repetition
- Consistent colors, fonts, styles
- Builds brand recognition
- Creates cohesive look
5. White Space
- Don't fill every pixel
- Gives eyes room to rest
- Emphasizes important elements
Text Overlay Best Practices
Typography Rules
Font Selection:
- Maximum 2 fonts per image
- Pair serif + sans-serif OR two sans-serif
- Ensure readability at small sizes
- Avoid overly decorative fonts
Text Hierarchy:
- Main message: Largest, boldest
- Supporting text: Medium size
- Attribution/details: Smallest
Readability:
- Minimum 24pt font for social media
- High contrast with background
- Add background overlay if needed
- Test at thumbnail size
Text Placement
Safe Zones:
- Avoid edges (platform crops)
- Center or rule-of-thirds placement
- Leave breathing room around text
- Consider profile picture overlap (Instagram)
Text Length:
- Social graphics: 3-7 words max
- Infographics: Concise bullet points
- Quotes: Full quote okay if readable
Social Media Image Specs
Platform Dimensions
Instagram:
- Feed post: 1080 x 1080px (square)
- Story: 1080 x 1920px (9:16)
- Reels cover: 1080 x 1920px (9:16)
- Carousel: 1080 x 1080px (square)
Twitter/X:
- Single image: 1200 x 675px (16:9)
- Multiple images: 1200 x 600px
LinkedIn:
- Feed post: 1200 x 1200px (square)
- Article header: 1200 x 627px
Facebook:
- Feed post: 1200 x 630px
- Story: 1080 x 1920px (9:16)
Pinterest:
- Standard pin: 1000 x 1500px (2:3)
- Square pin: 1000 x 1000px
YouTube:
- Thumbnail: 1280 x 720px (16:9)
- Minimum width: 640px
Infographic Structure
Infographic Types
Statistical Infographic:
- Lead with key statistic
- Supporting data points
- Visual data representation (charts, graphs)
- Source attribution
Process Infographic:
- Step-by-step flow
- Numbered or arrowed progression
- Icons for each step
- Clear beginning and end
Comparison Infographic:
- Side-by-side layout
- Clear labels
- Visual differentiation
- Pros/cons or before/after
List Infographic:
- Numbered or bulleted items
- Icon for each point
- Brief explanation per item
- Scannable format
Infographic Best Practices
Layout:
- Clear visual flow (top to bottom or left to right)
- Logical grouping of information
- Consistent spacing
- Visual hierarchy (most important = largest)
Data Visualization:
- Choose appropriate chart type
- Label clearly
- Use color meaningfully
- Keep it simple
Branding:
- Logo placement (subtle, not distracting)
- Consistent color palette
- Brand fonts
- URL or handle
Visual Content Ideas
Social Media Graphics
Quote Graphics:
- Inspirational quotes
- Tips and advice
- Statistics
- Testimonials
Announcement Graphics:
- New product/service
- Event promotion
- Milestone celebration
- Behind-the-scenes
Educational Graphics:
- Tips and tricks
- How-to steps
- Checklists
- Frameworks
Engagement Graphics:
- Questions
- Polls (Instagram stories)
- Fill-in-the-blank
- This or that
Infographic Ideas
Data-Driven:
- Industry statistics
- Survey results
- Trend analysis
- Comparison data
Educational:
- Process explanations
- Timeline of events
- Anatomy/breakdown
- Glossary of terms
Actionable:
- Step-by-step guides
- Checklists
- Decision trees
- Frameworks
Brand Consistency in Visuals
Brand Elements to Maintain
Color Palette:
- Primary colors (2-3)
- Secondary colors (2-3)
- Accent color (1)
- Consistent usage across all graphics
Typography:
- Headline font
- Body font
- Consistent sizing and spacing
Visual Style:
- Photography style (bright, moody, minimal)
- Illustration style (flat, 3D, hand-drawn)
- Icon style (line, filled, outlined)
- Filter/editing style
Logo Usage:
- Consistent placement
- Appropriate size (visible but not dominant)
- Correct version (color, white, black)
Design Tools
Beginner-Friendly
Canva:
- Templates for all platforms
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Brand kit feature
- Free and pro versions
Adobe Express:
- Quick graphics
- Templates
- Adobe integration
Advanced
Adobe Photoshop:
- Full control
- Advanced editing
- Professional output
Adobe Illustrator:
- Vector graphics
- Scalable designs
- Infographics
Figma:
- Collaborative design
- Web-based
- Component libraries
Image Content Checklist
Before publishing, verify:
- Correct dimensions for platform
- Text is readable at thumbnail size
- High contrast for readability
- Brand colors and fonts used
- Logo included (if appropriate)
- No spelling errors
- Aligned and balanced layout
- Exported at correct resolution
- File size optimized
- Accessible (alt text ready)
Common Image Content Mistakes
❌ Too Much Text
Cramming paragraphs onto an image.
✅ Concise Message
3-7 words for social graphics, scannable for infographics.
❌ Low Contrast
Text hard to read against background.
✅ High Contrast
Clear, readable text with background overlay if needed.
❌ Inconsistent Branding
Different colors, fonts, styles each time.
✅ Brand Consistency
Same colors, fonts, and style across all graphics.
❌ Wrong Dimensions
Image cropped awkwardly by platform.
✅ Platform-Specific Sizing
Correct dimensions for each platform.
Usage
Apply these guidelines when creating:
- Social media graphics
- Infographics
- Thumbnails
- Visual quotes
- Announcement graphics
- Educational visuals
- Brand assets
Remember: Visual content should be scannable in 3 seconds. If the message isn't immediately clear, simplify.