The first thing people notice when they visit your Facebook group is the profile photo and the cover image. Out of the two, the cover photo is larger and fills the horizontal space at the top of the profile. This image creates an immediate impression on your audience.

This is why it is vital that a lot of thought goes into your cover image. Firstly, picking a random image, no matter how attractive, will not make the best impression on your audience. The image you choose has to be relevant to the subject and purpose of the group. For example, if your group is focused on automobiles, having a professional image of cars can make a good cover image.

Secondly, once you have the ideal photo, you need to make sure that it is optimized in terms of size and dimensions. Neglecting this requirement will distort your photo since users tend to browse your page on different devices. What looks great on a computer screen may not look great on a smartphone.

What adds to the challenge is that Facebook changes their group cover photo size quite often, sometimes even twice a year. So it's important to remain updated. In this article, we focus on the following:

• The ideal Facebook group cover photo size

• How to prevent photos from getting cropped

• The best online graphic design tool to create your FB cover photo

• How to create attractive Facebook group cover photos using Glorify

The ideal Facebook group cover photo size

Let's get straight to the numbers. The ideal size for your Facebook group cover photo is 1640 pixels wide by 856 pixels tall with an aspect ratio of 1.91:1. So why are these dimensions so important?

By sticking to the recommended cover photo size, your image gets the perfect 1.91:1 aspect ratio. Facebook tends to auto-crop photos to fit on smaller screens such as smartphones. Sticking to the recommended size is ideal because it works perfectly across all devices.

Take a look at the image below. You can clearly see that this great design has been cropped at the both the top and bottom, ruining a perfectly good design. This takes us to our next step.

How to prevent photos from getting cropped

Take a close look at the image below. This photo is currently sized according to the recommended dimensions. However, you can see a white dotted border along the cover image area. The outer region of this white dotted border will get cropped no matter what size, design, or tool you are using.

In other words, even if you use the recommended dimensions, Facebook zooms in slightly when your cover image is uploaded. That's why you need to make sure all the important elements of your image are placed in the 'safe zone' that is indicated by the white dotted lines.

The best online graphic design tool to create your FB cover photo

What with all the conditions and requirements, creating your Facebook cover image may seem like a challenge if you are not a designer. This is where a tool like Glorify comes in handy.

Glorify is an easy-to-use graphic design tool that can be used by both designers and non-designers. With simple tools for beginners and advanced tools for professionals, Glorify allows anyone and everyone to create beautiful designs regardless of prior design experience.

You can create your Facebook group cover photos from scratch or use one of Glorify's pre-designed templates. The latter option is ideal if you want some inspiration to get started. Your can browse through thousands of niche-based, thematic templates that have been designed and pre-sized by professional designers.

Apart from a great template library, Glorify also provides a ton of effective and fun tools that can help you create an amazing FB group cover photo. These features include an Infinite Canvas, an instant background remover, a logo maker, Brand Kits, template bundles, Smart Shapes, an advanced pen tool, mockups and a whole lot more.

Now let's move on to the part you've been been waiting for.

How to create attractive Facebook group cover photos using Glorify

Step 1: On your dashboard, click on "Headers & Covers" and select "Facebook group cover".

Step 2: The template library will open up. You can either choose a suitable design template or start from scratch.

Step 3:  Select the main element of the template and click "Replace" found on the right panel to replace it with your own image.

Step 4: Double-click the text to edit it. Then select the Edit tab which can be found in the top right corner of the editor window to modify the text size, font and color.

Step 5: Use the background tool to change the color of the background.

You can also experiment with a different color palette by clicking the color icon on the left panel.

Step 6: Download the final image.

Final thoughts

Facebook groups are great for your business or simply for personal development and entertainment. If you want your group to stand out from the rest, you have to make sure that everything from the profile photo to the cover image is optimized to give your profile a professional look.

Creating your own Facebook group cover image can be fun and challenging at the same time. However, using a third party app like Glorify can make your life a lot easier. And the best part is, you don't have to be a designer to produce amazing designs. So if you're ready to design your own Facebook group cover images, get started with Glorify today!

FAQs

1. What size is a Facebook group cover photo size in 2023?

The ideal size for your Facebook group cover photo is 1640 pixels wide by 856 pixels tall with an aspect ratio of 1.91:1.

2. Why doesn't my Facebook cover photo fit on my smartphone?

If your image is not optimized, Facebook automatically crops your photos to fit the size of your screen. On a smartphone or mobile device, the sides will be cropped and the height of your image will be more prominent.

3. Is my cover photo always public?

The basic or default settings make your cover image public. However, you can change these settings to ensure your privacy.

4. Why can’t anyone see my cover photo?

It is probably a technical issue that can be resolved by following these steps. Try restarting your Facebook app, reinstalling it on your mobile device or clearing the cache. If the issue persists contact Facebook Help.

5. Are third party design tools trustworthy?

Most of them are. You don't have to worry as long as you use popular tools such as Glorify.

6. Will using photographs from the internet as my FB cover photo cause any problem?

Not if you are careful. There are sites that provide free stock images. But there are certain images that have copyright policies and using them without permission can cause a plagiarism issue.

7. How can I use high-quality photographs as my Facebook group cover image without plagiarizing?

Use trustworthy apps such as Glorify that provide free stock images and allow you to design your own group cover images.

8. Does Facebook accept huge files from third party design apps?

Facebook has an upload limit and most third-party apps often make your cover image quite large based on the type of elements used. However, apps like Glorify are tailor-made to function easily on social media platforms like Facebook. You can design your cover images on Glorify using their pre-sized and pre-designed templates.

9. What is the" safe zone" of a Facebook group cover photo?

the safe- one is the designated area that never gets cropped out when Facebook displays the same cover on different devices. It is necessary that all vital elements of your image are within this area to avoid them being cropped out.

10. What is a good theme for my Facebook group cover photo?

The theme depends on the purpose and contents of your Facebook group. You can use Glorify to browse niche-based, thematic templates and pick one that best suits your group.