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  Article updated: September 24, 2024

Edit your images in Hootsuite

You can edit the images in your posts using the web version of Hootsuite's built-in image editor. Make images your own by adding effects, or cropping them to fit each social network. A preview shows your updated images. For X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, you can also add alternative (alt) text to make your images accessible.

Edit your image

When composing a new post or editing scheduled or draft content, point to an image thumbnail and then select Edit image to open it in the image editor.

A cursor pointing to an image thumbnail, revealing the options to add alt text and edit the image.

For ideas on creating engaging social media content, check out 30 Social Media Content Ideas and Examples for Brands.

Transform - Use Transform to scale, crop, rotate, or skew your image.

  • Scroll through the options and select an aspect ratio made to fit a specific social network, a common aspect ratio, or set your own custom width and height.
    Social network-specific aspect ratios for cropping in the image editor.
  • Move the guides on the image to select the portion of the image that you want to keep.
    A sample image with crop guides.
  • Use the flip and rotate options to further modify your image.

Filters - Select a filter of your choice and then adjust the filter's intensity using the slider.

Adjust - Adjust Basic settings of brightness, saturation, contrast, or gamma and use the Refinements options to further modify your image.

Focus - Select your focus style and then adjust the intensity using the slider.

  • Move the guides on the image to adjust the focus area and direction.
    Guides being used to focus a sample image.

Frames - Select a frame to add around your image, and then adjust its opacity and size using the sliders.

Overlays - Select an overlay effect, and then choose the blend mode and overlay opacity using the slider.

Text - Add text and then use the formatting options to adjust font, size, alignment, spacing, and color.

Because of each social network's automatic image optimization, we recommend keeping any overlaid text away from the edges of your images.
  • Move the guides on the text box to adjust the placement and orientation of the text.
    Image with text box.

 Stickers - Choose an emoticon or shape sticker, or upload your own. Adjust the color and opacity using the slider.

 Brush - Select your brush color and choose its hardness and size using the sliders, and then draw freehand on your image.

Select Undo to remove any of your changes. When you are happy with your edits, select Save to exit the image editor.

Add alt text to images

Include alt text with images published to X, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Alt text describes an image to make it more accessible. Alt text doesn’t appear anywhere on your posts. It’s detected by screen readers and displays in browsers when images are turned off. Alt text is not supported with animated GIFs or videos.

Looking for more information on accessibility and alt text? Check out Inclusive Design for Social Media: Tips for Creating Accessible Channels. Visit the Hootsuite Blog for news, tips, tools, and tactics to help you succeed on social media.

  1. Go to Create, choose an image to add from your own computer or from the media library.
  2. Point to the image thumbnail and then select Alt.
    A cursor pointing to an image thumbnail, revealing the options to add alt text and edit the image.
  3. Enter an alt text description of the image, and then select Apply.

Character limits for alt text are 500 on Facebook, 1000 on X, and 4068 on LinkedIn.

About image rotation

An image uploaded to Hootsuite may appear rotated due to orientation tags embedded in that image. Orientation tags are commonly assigned when taking pictures on mobile devices. These pictures can appear correct when viewed on your computer or mobile device, but appear rotated when uploaded to Hootsuite.

To change the rotation of an image, open and rotate the image in your default image editing application, such as Preview (iOS) or Windows Photo Viewer. Then save the image as a new file and upload it to Hootsuite.

Training: Hootsuite offers group training to Business and Enterprise plan customers. Sign up for Live Product Training and learn how to build success with Hootsuite.

 

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