Choosing avatar size, shape and format
How to pick a profile picture size, whether to use a circle, rounded or square shape, and which of PNG, JPEG or WebP to export.
Picking a pixel size
This maker exports a square at 128, 256 or 512 pixels. Larger is usually safer because platforms downscale a big master far more cleanly than they upscale a small one, and 512 pixels stays crisp on high density screens and larger display slots. Reach for 256 when you want a lighter file for a forum or signature, and 128 only where a service explicitly caps the size. The one rule to respect is source resolution: if your photo is smaller than the size you choose, the result is enlarged and looks soft, so start from the sharpest original you have.
Shape and how platforms mask it
You can export a circle, a rounded square or a plain square. Most social networks display avatars inside a circular mask of their own, so a circle export previews exactly how it will appear and keeps transparent corners clear. Rounded applies a radius of 18 percent of the chosen size, a friendly look for app icons and cards. Square is the most flexible master because a platform can crop or mask it however it likes. When in doubt, a square or circle PNG gives you a version that survives whatever masking the destination applies.
Format and transparency
The format decides whether the corners around a circle or rounded shape are see through. PNG is lossless and supports transparency, which makes it the default choice for shaped avatars that must sit on any background. WebP also keeps transparency and produces a noticeably smaller file, ideal when upload size matters. JPEG is the smallest option but cannot store transparency, so it fills the corners with a solid color, white unless you set another. If you ever see an unexpected box behind a circle, the fix is simply to export PNG or WebP instead.
Framing the crop
Framing uses a cover style crop: the largest square that fits the shorter side of your photo, taken from the center. A 1000 by 800 pixel landscape photo at 1x zoom becomes an 800 by 800 square with 100 pixels trimmed from each side. Drag the preview to slide that square over the part you want, and raise the zoom up to 4x to tighten in on a face. Leave a little headroom above the head and keep eyes near the upper third so the subject does not feel cramped once a platform applies its own circular mask.