How to Make a Picture Smaller for Twitter

For your header photo or profile picture to fit properly with Twitter's layout, you more than likely need to make some adjustments to your pics. Using free software like Microsoft's Paint, GIMP or Paint.NET, resizing photos to match Twitter's recommendations only takes a few minutes.

Microsoft Paint

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Microsoft Paint ships with every Windows computer, so it's the go-to choice if you're not looking to download any software. However, its editing tools and options are limited compared to other software.

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Step 1

Find the picture you want to use in your folders and right-click it. Select Open With, followed by Paint.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft.

Step 2

Click Resize from the tool bar.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft.

Step 3

Select the Pixels radio button and un-check the Maintain Aspect Ratio check box. Change the Horizontal and Vertical values using the text fields, using the recommended values from Twitter. Click OK when finished.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft.

Step 4

Click Save when finished.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft.

GIMP

GIMP is a free editing tool that features more options than Microsoft Paint. The interface takes a little practice to get used to, especially for novices unfamiliar with image editing software. However, it does offer several effects and tools that can give your pictures a little extra visual panache.

Step 1

Find the picture you want to use in your folders and right-click it. Select Edit with GIMP.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft.

Step 2

Click Image, followed by Scale Image.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of GIMP.

Step 3

Click the button shaped like a chain to unlock the aspect ratio, then change the Width and Height values to match the values recommended by Twitter. Then click Scale.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of GIMP.

Step 4

Click File, followed by Save to save the image.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of GIMP.

Paint.NET

Paint.NET is another free image editing tool. Much like GIMP, it has more options than Microsoft Paint and a variety of effects to create a more visually appealing image.

Step 1

Find the picture you want to use in your folders and right-click it. Select Open With, followed by Paint.net.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft.

Step 2

Click Image followed by Resize.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Paint.net

Step 3

Uncheck the Maintain aspect ratio check box. Change the Width and Height values to match the values recommended by Twitter. Then click OK.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Paint.net

Step 4

Click Save to save the changes.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Paint.net

Upload to Twitter

When your picture is ready, upload it to Twitter. Use the profile editor to upload both your header photo and your profile picture to your Twitter profile.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Twitter.

Go to the profile editing page.
Click Add a profile photo, followed by Upload photo.
Select your profile photo and click Open.
Use the slider to zoom the picture in, and drag the picture around to reposition it and click Apply.
Click Add a header photo.
Use the slider to zoom the picture in, and drag the picture around to reposition it and click Apply.
Click Save Changes to apply your new pictures to your profile.