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· 3 min read

How to Create an Open Graph Image

Manesh Jayawardhana

CIO & Co-founder

Manesh Jayawardhana is the CIO and Co-Founder of Ceyentra Technologies, where he has spent over nine years leading the design and delivery of software solutions for clients across the globe, spanning web, mobile, AI, and capital market systems. He has grown Online Tool Store's engineering team from the ground up while steering the company's technical direction. His writing draws on this breadth of experience building and shipping software across a wide range of industries and markets. View on LinkedIn

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How to Create an Open Graph Image

When someone shares your page, the preview image often decides whether the link looks polished or forgotten. A missing or awkward Open Graph image can make even a good article, product page, or launch note feel unfinished.

An OG image generator helps you compose a 1200 x 630 social share image with title, description, theme, optional logo, safe-area guide, PNG download, and matching og:image meta tags.

What Open Graph images involve

Open Graph images are preview images used by social platforms and messaging apps when links are shared. A common recommended canvas is 1200 x 630 pixels, though platforms may crop differently.

The tricky part is safe area. Some previews crop toward a 2:1 shape or display the image in smaller cards, so important text and logos need to stay away from risky edges.

Why people get stuck here

People design at full size and forget that previews appear tiny. A long title may look fine in the editor and unreadable in a feed.

Another issue is missing meta tags. Creating the image is only half the work; the page also needs the correct Open Graph tags pointing to the image.

ElementWhy It MattersCheck
1200x630 canvasCommon share sizeExport correct dimensions
TitleMain messageKeep it short
Safe areaCropping protectionKeep text inside
Meta tagsPage connectionPaste correct URL

What a good OG image looks like

The message reads small

Use short, bold text. If it cannot be read in a small preview, simplify.

Important content avoids crop edges

Keep logos, faces, and titles inside the safe area when possible.

Meta tags match the final image URL

The image must be uploaded somewhere reachable, and the page meta tags should point to that final URL.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Writing a full paragraph on the image.
  • Placing important text near crop edges.
  • Forgetting to add or update Open Graph meta tags.
  • Using a low-resolution image.
  • Not testing the link preview after publishing.

How to do it with OG Image Generator

Online Tool Store’s OG Image Generator composes a 1200 x 630 share image with title, description, theme, optional logo, safe-area guide, PNG download, and meta tags.

  1. Open the OG Image Generator.
  2. Enter the title and description.
  3. Choose a theme.
  4. Add a logo if needed.
  5. Check the safe-area guide.
  6. Download the PNG.
  7. Use the generated og:image meta tags on your page.

The tool runs in your browser, so it is quick for blog posts, launches, docs, and landing pages.

Frequently asked questions

What size should an OG image be?

1200 x 630 pixels is a common Open Graph image size for social sharing.

Why does safe area matter?

Some platforms crop previews. Safe-area guides help keep important text and logos visible.

Do I need meta tags too?

Yes. The image must be referenced by Open Graph meta tags on the page.

Final thought

Create an Open Graph image before the link is shared widely. A clear preview image is a small detail that makes a page feel ready.

Try the free OG Image Generator

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