ShottieTo add a border to an image, open it above, pick a border colour under Background, and set its width with Padding. Choose a ratio like 1:1 or 4:5 to pad a landscape photo into a square or portrait post without cropping it.
How to add a border to an image
- Open, drop or paste your image.
- Choose White, Black, Mist or any colour with the last tile.
- Set Padding: 3–5% for a thin gallery border, 8–12% for a wide, polaroid-like one.
- Set Corners to 0 for a classic square border, or round them for a softer card look.
- Download the PNG.
Fitting a photo to Instagram without cropping
Instagram crops landscape photos in the feed and the grid. Padding the image to a ratio instead of cropping keeps the whole picture: the border grows on the short sides until the image is the shape you chose.
| Ratio | Use it for |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | Square posts, profile grids, marketplaces |
| 4:5 | Instagram portrait posts (1080 × 1350) |
| 16:9 | X posts, slides, YouTube community images |
| 4:3 | Presentations and print-style frames |
Choosing a border colour
- White looks like a printed photo and suits light, airy images.
- Black adds drama and makes bright colours glow.
- A colour from the image ties the frame to the picture; use the custom colour tile.
- A brand colour keeps a set of product screenshots consistent.
Border, frame or backdrop?
A border is flat colour. If you want depth, pick a gradient and turn up Shadow, which is what the background tool is built around. For transparent, rounded edges without any border, use rounded corners.
Borders for printing
If the image is going to be printed, think in inches rather than percentages. At 300 dots per inch, a 3,000-pixel-wide photo prints 10 inches wide, and a 5% border adds 150 pixels, half an inch, on each side. Print shops often trim a little off the edge, so a border of at least a quarter inch keeps the frame even after cutting.
Border, padding or mat?
Here, a border is the backdrop colour showing around the image, and Padding sets its width. A framer's mat is traditionally wider at the bottom than at the top; if you want that look, choose a taller ratio like 4:5, which adds the extra space above and below the image.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a border to a photo for free?
Open the photo on this page, choose a colour under Background, set the border width with Padding, and download the PNG. No sign-up and no watermark.
How do I make a photo square without cropping?
Choose the 1:1 ratio. The border extends on the short sides so the whole photo fits inside a square.
Can I use a custom border colour?
Yes. The last tile under Background opens a colour picker that accepts any colour.
Does adding a border reduce quality?
No. The border is added around your image at its original resolution.