Compressed files decreases the load time for pages on mobile and in rural areas. Please use the following resources to compress your images and documents before uploading them into the media library.

Image TypeSize (all dimensions are in pixels)Block Type Typically Used
Hero1920 wide x 600 tallSite Customizer
Smart Slider Images1200 wide x 800 tall*Smart Slider Plugin
Headshots / Vertical Images480 wide x 720 tallImage-Media Block
Horizontal Page Images (example)720 wide x 480 tallImage, Image-Media
Featured Image (News)900 wide x 600 tallBlog Posts / News Feeds
Image Dimensions for Common Image Uses

*Please note, some Smart Slider templates require a different size image. Please check your template before uploading the image.

CANTO: How to Crop, Resize, and Compress an Image

Step 1:

Canto panel showing an image of the Tarleton band playing with tags, smart tags, and custom fields showing on the right.
  • Find the image you want
  • Click the download icon in the top left corner
Canto panel showing icons for bookmarking, sharing, downloading, starring, and commenting.

Step 2:

Canto panel showing a selectable file types field with options for setting custom image dimensions and file types at the bottom.
  • Choose what you want to do to the image
  • Crop is removing part of the image
  • Resize is keeping everything in the image but making the picture a different size
  • Compression is keeping the whole image but shrinking down the file size
Canto panel showing selectable file types field with several different options.

Step 3:

  • Crop can be done freeform (you choose the dimensions)
  • Or with a preset ratio option
  • You can also use the W H size options to type in the dimensions you want the image while in Freeform

Step 4:

  • Resizing can be done by typing in the dimensions you want into the Width and Height sections.
  • If you want to keep the aspect ratio, click the lock icon to “lock” in the ratio of the picture
  • Please use the size guide above to know what dimensions to set your images
Canto panel showing customizable options for setting image dimensions, DPI, and file type.

Step 5:

  • Compression can be done by adjusting the quality percentage bar and DPI number and reducing it to the required size / pixel quality.
Canto panel showing File Type options and a Quality slider bar for selecting values from 0 - 100.
Canto panel showing the DPI options field.
  • Most online resources agree that the average DPI for an image on the web is 72
  • Please note there is a fine line between compressed and “grainy” from adjusting the number of pixels.
Canto panel showing two image comparisons, one uncompressed of size 5.60MB and one compressed of size 3.76MB.

Step 6:

  • When you are done with your image, you can download it by selecting the download button in the bottom right corner
A purple download button with a teal circle containing the number 1 overlapping it.

WINDOWS: How to Crop and Resize an Image

Step 1:

Screenshot of file explorer with an image selected
  • Find the image you want to use (either on your desktop, Canto, SmugMug, etc.)
  • Download the image if needed

Step 2:

Image editing menu with "Resize image" highlighted.
  • Open the image by double clicking within your file explorer in Windows Photos
  • Select the three dots at the top and click “Resize Image”

Step 3:

Rows of yellow rubber ducks on a table outdoors.
  • To crop an image, select the photo and pen icon on the top left
A row of yellow rubber ducks on a table in the sunlight.
  • Crop can be done freeform (you choose the dimensions)
  • Or with a preset ratio option

Step 4:

Resize image dialog with options for width, height, quality, and file type.
  • From here, you can put in the dimensions you want the image to become.
  • Resizing can be done by typing in the dimensions you want into the Width and Height sections.
  • If you want to keep the aspect ratio, click the lock icon to “lock” in the ratio of the picture
  • Please use the size guide above to know what dimensions to set your images

Step 5:

Online image optimizer interface with a 41% compression result.
  • Take your resized image and put it into the Image Compressor of your choice.
  • I like Optimizilla at https://imagecompressor.com/ but you can use whatever compressor you want.
  • Download the compressed image.