Why does Instagram reduce photo quality and how to upload photos without losing quality

Instagram is a popular messenger where communication takes place through the exchange of interesting photos and captivating videos. The first problem one may encounter is the visual deterioration of the image. Pixels, compression, and blurriness may appear. What should you do and how should you proceed? Why does Instagram ruin the quality of photos? How can you achieve the perfect shot? We will explore all of this in the article. Be sure to read our “before and after” study. You will find a lot of useful information.

How to upload photos to Instagram without losing quality: reasons and solutions

So, let’s start with the main question on the agenda: why does the social network Instagram sometimes compress photos so much? The most common reasons for this problem are:

the snapshot has an inappropriate resolution;
the dimensions of the image do not fit Instagram and some fragments are automatically cropped;
files in jpeg format instead of png.

The phone itself can also spoil the photos:

incorrect camera settings (quality of saving and resolution) are specified in the camera settings;
poor internet speed;
system sluggishness due to overload of its processes.

In addition, Instagram deteriorates the quality if the application has not been updated to the latest version. So be sure to check the App Store or Google Market and start keeping up with the times.

With the reasons out of the way, it’s time to move on to how to post clear photos. Let’s go.

How to properly upload images

To create and post a great shot, you need to follow certain rules. They will help you achieve the best image quality.

First of all, take a good photo. To do this:

go to the camera settings and adjust the save parameters;
take pictures in normal lighting conditions and preferably using a tripod to avoid blurry moments;
use modern photo devices.

Edit the picture:

don’t overdo it with filters;
set the resolution suitable for the network;
save in png format.

Upload the file to a social network:

connect to Wi-Fi or control the speed of mobile internet connection;
click on the icon in the form of “two arrows” to get rid of white borders;
crop if necessary (to avoid compression).

Done. Now all that’s left is to publish the post and watch the reaction of followers.

Useful to know. You can edit the photo directly in the Instagram app.

Software for improving image quality

If your camera has limited settings, use third-party utilities. This will definitely make the captured moment look much better. Pay attention to three popular shooting programs:

A Better Camera;
HD Camera;
Open Camera.

Let’s see how to work with each of them.

A Better Camera:

Install A Better Camera on your device.
Wait for the virus check to finish and launch the application.
Swipe down and click “Settings”.
Go to “General settings” – “Picture size” and set “13 Mp 4:3”. This is a popular photo format.
Tap “More” and check the 100% photo quality.
Add additional brightness, exposure, etc. icons through “Screen settings”.

That’s it, now just adjust the photo parameters (contrast, exposure correction, white balance, mode) and capture a good shot.

HD Camera:

Download and open HD Camera software.
Click on the “gear” icon and select “Picture size”.
Set the value to 4:3 in the “Rear Camera” column.
Exit the settings and adjust the exposure, black and white photo parameters as needed. Turn on night mode if necessary.
Click on the “three balls” button to use filters.

Done. Click on the blue circle to take a photo.

Open Camera:

Open the Open Camera utility on your smartphone.
Open the settings and change the photo quality to 100%. Change the file format to PNG.
Use HDR mode if desired.
Return to the main screen and add macro shooting, flash, timer, etc. through the “three dots” icon.
Capture the snapshot by tapping the “blue camera” button.

Note. It is better not to overuse filters and masks on the image – this leads not only to the loss of its “highlight”, but also attractiveness.

How to adjust the quality and save it

After taking a photo, you can enhance its visual appeal. There are two ways to do this:

Using the built-in editor on your phone;
Using a third-party utility.

Let’s describe them in order. For the first option, you will need to:

Unlock your device screen and go to the gallery.
Find the desired image and click on the “Edit” button.
Rotate, crop, increase brightness and saturation, and adjust sharpness if necessary.
Save the result and share it on Instagram.

For the second option, follow these steps:

Open the Play Store and download the PicsArt app to your phone.
Launch it and click on the “plus” button.
Attach a suitable photo from the gallery.
Go to the “Tools” tab. Here you can adjust height and width, brightness, saturation, lighting, tone and shades, crop fragments, and adjust perspective.
Go to the “Effects” section. Apply filters.
Add a frame, text, or drawings.
Tap the “arrow” and upload the finished image back to the gallery.

Useful tip. Publish the image in the feed directly from the PicsArt utility. To do this, click on the “Share” button.

Quality photo parameters for Instagram

The appearance of uploaded photos often changes because the parameters of the image simply do not match the “standard” set by Instagram. High-quality photos will remain high-quality if they have:

a 1:1 (square) format;
a maximum size of 1080×1080 pixels;
a minimum size of 320×320 pixels.

If the width value is greater than 1080 pixels, the image will be compressed. If it is less than 320 pixels, it will be stretched.

How to save an image in Photoshop without losing quality

If you are a supporter of the time-tested Adobe Photoshop, take note of the instruction that will help you avoid poor quality when saving a file on your PC. It is as follows:

Edit the photo.
Click Ctrl+Shift+S or go to the “File” tab and click “Save as…”.
Specify the location for the file, for example, the desktop.
Select the PNG format.
In the window that appears, set “Quality – Best; Format – Progressive”.
Confirm the save by clicking “Ok”.

Interesting. You can use a different method and upload the photo in a format for the web. There won’t be any noticeable difference.

Mass uploading of photos – why does Instagram crop images

If you have started uploading a large number of images and noticed that the social network service is starting to crop them, then this section of the article is definitely for you. The reason may be quite obvious: