I'm trying to use an image that ~1200 wide by 100 high, as a StoryMaps Cover image. StoryMaps seems to be resizing the image, based upon some secret minimum Height requirement, and cropping out half of the image on the horizontal.
I've found about 10 places where optimal horizontal dimensions are cited, and claims of optimal resizing, but I can find a word anywhere about vertical dimensions, and this behavior.
Can someone please post the minimum vertical dimension for StoryMap Cover images that will prevent this behavior?
Stace
I found a guide online that may assist you in finding your answer:
Nope. Saw that. Plenty about horizontal dimensions, though.
This guide looks good too:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cea22a609a1d4cccb8d54c650b595bc4
Nope, no Vertical dimensions guidance.
Hi @StaceMaples -- I apologize that getting your cover image the way you want has been frustrating. I think I have some information and tips that will help.
An image on the story cover (and other media panels in the story) has a focal point that allows you to adjust the position of the image within the frame. This eliminates the need to trim your image to an exact size. In fact, trying to use a specific image size (especially very thin images that are wide or tall) generally doesn't give readers a good experience. This is because your story needs to look good on a variety of devices with very different screen sizes and aspect ratios.
The recommended workflow for a cover image is to upload your original/large image, preferably one with a square or landscape aspect ratio like 1:1, 3:2, 4:3 or 16:9 (but it's not important that the image have exactly one of these ratios). Then click the gear and adjust the focal point to ensure the most important part of the image is always shown, regardless of the device size.
Hope this is helpful! Let us know if you have any additional questions about this.
OK, so the only way to prevent the behavior is to use close to one of the aspect ratios you cite? It's not dimensions, but restraining/cropping the aspect ratio? So, for instance, if you want to use a panoramic photo as a cover, nice and thin across the top, you're just out of luck?
@StaceMaples -- Those aspect ratios are ones that typically work well for covers, but you can use pano images as long as they are tall enough. For example, the pano image below looks great in a story. I guess your image at 100px height was just too small. Give it a try around 400 or 500px.
If you're after a much thinner image than the Minimal cover offers, we don't currently have a cover style that supports that right now, but you could submit that as an idea on our Ideas Board so others can comment and upvote it for future consideration.
Beautiful-Panoramic-Image.jpg (3750×1200) (pixelstalk.net)