How do I add a border to my LinkedIn profile picture?

Adding a border to your LinkedIn profile picture is a great way to make your photo stand out. A border can help frame your face, add visual interest, and convey your personal brand. LinkedIn allows you to customize your profile picture with a border in just a few easy steps.

Why Add a Border to Your LinkedIn Profile Picture?

Here are some of the benefits of adding a border to your LinkedIn profile photo:

• Makes your photo pop – A border adds emphasis and makes your photo stand out in the small thumbnail size
• Frames your face – A border neatly frames your face, the main focus of your profile picture
• Looks more professional – Borders add a subtle stylish touch to your profile
• Conveys your brand – Borders come in different colors and styles that can represent your personal brand
• Improves recognition – A unique border helps others remember your photo and profile

A well-chosen border complements your photo and draws attention to your profile. It’s an easy editing trick that makes a big visual impact.

LinkedIn Profile Picture Dimensions

Before adding a border, it’s important to understand LinkedIn’s profile picture specifications.

LinkedIn displays your profile photo in three different sizes:

• 400 x 400 pixels – This is the largest high-resolution size displayed on your profile page.
• 200 x 200 pixels – The commonly seen thumbnail size used throughout LinkedIn.
• 100 x 100 pixels – The tiny version beside your posts and comments.

For best results, you’ll want to upload a photo that is 400 x 400 pixels. This ensures it will look crisp and clear at any size.

The maximum file size for a LinkedIn profile photo is 10 MB. The accepted file formats are JPG, GIF, or PNG.

How to Add a Border to Your LinkedIn Profile Picture

Adding a stylish border to your existing LinkedIn profile photo only takes a couple minutes. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Download your existing LinkedIn profile picture from the website. You can do this from the desktop site by clicking on your photo and choosing “Save to Computer”.
2. Open an image editing program like Photoshop, Canva, PicMonkey or GIMP. Pixlr is a free easy-to-use online photo editor.
3. Upload your profile photo into the image editor.
4. Double check the size of the image. As mentioned, it should be 400 x 400 pixels.
5. Click the Borders option. In most editors, you’ll find this under Layers, Effects or Elements.
6. Browse the various border styles and pick one you like. Consider the thickness, color, corners and visual appeal.
7. Adjust the size and placement of the border if needed. Make sure it frames your face nicely.
8. Save a copy of your new profile photo with the border. Be sure to export it as a JPG, GIF or PNG.
9. Go to the LinkedIn website and upload your new profile photo with border. Click the pencil icon on your existing photo and choose Upload Photo.

And that’s it! Your LinkedIn profile picture will now have a stylish border around it.

Border Styles and Ideas

LinkedIn profile pictures tend to be small, so borders with clean lines and simple detailing or texture work best. Here are some popular border style ideas to try:

• Solid color borders – Go with your favorite color or one that matches your personal brand. Brighter tones help your photo pop.
• Thin line borders – A thin black or white line neatly frames your face.
• Thick line borders – Make a bold statement with wider color band.
• Double line borders – Two thin lines or parallel colors create dimension.
• Patterned borders – Subtle patterns like dots, dashes, or shapes can accent your photo.
• Textured borders – Add visual interest with faux brush strokes, vintage paper, or fabric textures.
• Shape borders – Geometric, round, or star shape frames complement different photo styles.

When selecting a border, consider if you want to blend in or stand out. Matching a border color to your eyes, hair or wardrobe can create a cohesive look.

For a professional appearance, gray, black and white borders are ideal. Bolder colors and prints make more of a statement. The thickness of the border also impacts the overall effect. Thinner 1-2 pixel borders are understated while thicker 5+ pixel borders are bolder.

Tips for Editing LinkedIn Profile Pictures

Here are some best practices for editing profile photos with borders:

• Maintain eye contact – Don’t let the border cut into the top of your head or eyes. Keep the focus on your face.
• Use high-resolution photos – Pixelated images will look worse with borders, so start with a quality high-res photo.
• Pick solid background colors – Busy backgrounds compete with borders. Solid colors nicely frame your face.
• Include some spacing – Don’t make the border too tight on your face. Leave some breathing room.
• Use a subtle border – Avoid bold, thick borders. LinkedIn pictures are small so overly thick borders appear overwhelming.
• Check different sizes – Preview how your photo with border looks at 100×100 and 200×200 sizes.

Borders look best on close-up headshot photos with ample spacing around your face. Profile or slightly angled shots also nicely accommodate borders. Just avoid cropping too tight or using border styles that clutter the small profile picture space.

Adding a Border to Your LinkedIn Background Photo

In addition to your profile picture, you can also add a stylish border to your LinkedIn background photo (desktop view only). This makes for an eye-catching header banner.

Your background photo displays at 646 x 220 pixels on LinkedIn profile pages. Due to the narrow width, borders here will be more vertically oriented.

Some ideas for LinkedIn background photo borders:

• Vertical line or color borders on the sides
• A photo overlay with faded or blurred edges
• Wide horizontal borders across the top or bottom
• Geometric shape outlines, like a circle or triangle
• Thin line dividers down the center or vertically on sides

Background borders work best when customized to your photo. Use colors sampled from the image or muted neutral tones. Make sure any textures or patterns aren’t distracting. Add the border overlay in your image editing program and upload your completed header image to LinkedIn.

Conclusion

Customizing your LinkedIn profile and background photos with stylish borders is an easy way to spruce up your profile. well-chosen border can make your photo pop, showcase your brand, and highlight your face.

Stick to simple clean borders and solid color backgrounds for the best professional look. Frame your face nicely without cropping too tight. Sizing to LinkedIn’s specifications ensures your photo will look great.

So get creative with borders and stand out on LinkedIn! A customized profile picture presents a polished image as you network and connect with colleagues.