avatarCasey Botticello

Summary

The web content provides instructions on how to set a focal point for images in Medium articles to ensure proper cropping for social media thumbnails and previews.

Abstract

The article explains the common issue Medium users face when their chosen images are not properly focused or cropped when shared on social media or previewed on the platform. It introduces Medium's built-in tool that allows users to manually set a focal point on images to improve how they are displayed in thumbnails and previews. The process involves selecting the image while holding down the Alt/Opt key, which places a green circle indicating the new focal point. The article emphasizes the importance of this feature by showing before-and-after examples of article images from the "Blogging Guide" publication. Additionally, it encourages readers to engage with the content by leaving comments, signing up for a newsletter, and joining a Facebook group for Medium writers. The author, Casey Botticello, is presented as an expert in the field with a background in strategic communications and online reputation management.

Opinions

  • The author, Casey Botticello, suggests that setting a focal point is crucial for ensuring that images accompanying Medium articles are presented effectively across different platforms.
  • The article implies that the default image cropping by Medium may not always produce the best results, emphasizing the need for manual adjustment.
  • By providing a step-by-step guide and visual examples, the author conveys that the process of setting a focal point is straightforward and user-friendly.
  • The inclusion of links to additional resources and the author's professional background serves to establish credibility and trust with the reader.
  • Encouraging reader interaction through comments, newsletters, and social media groups indicates the author's commitment to building a community of Medium writers and readers.

Medium Formatting

Medium Article Image Focal Point

How to set a focal point on your image

Source: Casey Botticello of Blogging Guide

You write an amazing Medium article.

You even find the perfect royalty free stock image that captures your article’s message.

However, when you try to share your article on social media or preview your article on Medium, the article’s thumbnail image is crooked and not properly focused.

Luckily, there is a simple solution!

Medium has a built in tool that allows users to set a focal point on your image to crop your images better for social media thumbnails and preview image on Medium.

How to Set a Focal Point on A Medium Article Image

Step 1 —Select and hold down the Alt / Opt. key.

Step 2 — While holding down the Alt / Opt. key, click on the image in the place where you want your focal point to be.

Step 3 — The resulting green circle will serve as a focal point for automatic image cropping that appears in post listings and previews around the site.

Setting a Medium Image Focal Point Example

You will know that a new focus has been set, when you see a pop up message, stating that “the new focus has been set, and will be taken into account when the image is cropped in story listings.”

As an example, here are two shots of images which render when looking under the latest articles in my publication, Blogging Guide:

Two Article Images-one centered the other not centered

The article on the left is how the image appears in the medium cropped thumbnail by default. The article on the right contains the same image, with the focal point redefined using Medium’s focal point tool.

— Casey Botticello

Thanks for reading this article! Leave a comment below if you have any questions. Be sure to sign up for the Blogging Guide newsletter, to get the latest tips, tricks, and news about writing on Medium and to join our Facebook group, Medium Writing, to share your latest Medium posts and connect with other writers.

If you liked this article, here are some other articles you may enjoy:

Casey Botticello is a partner at Black Edge Consulting. Black Edge Consulting is a strategic communications firm, specializing in online reputation management, digital marketing, and crisis management. Prior to founding Black Edge Consulting, he worked for BGR Group, a bipartisan lobbying and strategic communications firm.

Casey is the founder of the Cryptocurrency Alliance, a Super PAC dedicated to cryptocurrency and blockchain advocacy. He is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania, where he received his B.A. in Urban Studies.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or by visiting his website, Blogging Guide.

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