How to Create Pinterest Images

Creating Pinterest images that actually drive clicks isn’t about being a graphic design genius, it’s about following a simple, strategic formula. A standout pin does more than just look pretty - it stops the scroll, sparks curiosity, and gets someone to act. This guide will walk you through the essential elements of a high-performing pin, a step-by-step design process, and the common mistakes to avoid so you can create visuals that grow your traffic and your brand.

Why Pinterest Visuals Are a Different Beast

Before you open a design app, it’s important to understand that Pinterest is not a typical social media platform. It's a visual search engine. Users aren’t mindlessly scrolling to kill time, they are actively searching for ideas, solutions, products, and inspiration for their future. They are planners, searching for “easy weeknight dinner recipes,” “small bathroom remodel ideas,” or “best outfits for a fall wedding.”

Your job is to create an image that directly answers their search. The visual is the hook, the text overlay is the promise, and the link is the solution. When a user sees your pin, it needs to instantly communicate value and relevance. If your design can achieve that, you’ll earn not just a glance, but a save, a click, and maybe even a loyal follower.

The Anatomy of a Perfect Pinterest Pin

High-performing pins share common characteristics. They aren’t overly complicated, but they are intentional. Let’s break down the essential components that make a pin effective.

1. The Right Dimensions are Not Optional

Pinterest is a vertical platform designed for a mobile experience. Your pins must be vertical to take up maximum screen real estate and capture attention. Using a horizontal or square image is one of the fastest ways to get lost in the feed.

• Standard Pins: The ideal aspect ratio is 2:3. The most common and recommended size is 1000 x 1500 pixels. This provides a high-quality image that looks sharp on any device without being too large of a file.
• Video Pins: For video content, stick to a vertical format. A 9:16 aspect ratio (similar to Instagram Stories or Reels) is perfect. Think 1080 x 1920 pixels.

Sticking to these dimensions signals to the Pinterest algorithm that your content is optimized for the platform, which can help with its distribution.

2. High-Quality, Relevant Imagery

Blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit photos will instantly devalue your pin. Your foundational image or video needs to be sharp, clear, and contextually relevant to your topic. You don’t need a professional photographer, but you do need good-quality visuals.

• Use Your Own Photos: If you are a food blogger, e-commerce shop, or DIY creator, original photography is always best. Authentic images build trust and show off your unique work.
• Leverage Quality Stock Photos: If you're a service provider, coach, or blogger without a physical product, high-quality stock photography is your best friend. Look for photos that feel natural and not overly staged. Websites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Kaboompics offer beautiful, free-to-use images.

The image should support your message. If your pin is about “quieting morning anxiety,” a serene, bright photo of a sunrise and a cup of tea works better than a sterile office photo.

3. A Compelling Text Overlay

The text overlay is arguably the most important element of your pin design. While the image catches the eye, the text explains the value. It’s a headline that tells the user exactly what they'll get when they click.

• Be Clear and Solution-Oriented: Use powerful headlines that solve a problem or evoke curiosity. Instead of "Lemon Chicken," try "The Easiest 20-Minute Lemon Chicken Recipe." Instead of "Budgeting Guide," try "5 Simple Steps to Create a Budget You’ll Actually Stick To."
• Make it Legible: This is a big one. Choose a clean, easy-to-read font (sans-serif fonts like Montserrat, Open Sans, or Poppins are great choices). Make sure there is enough contrast between the text color and the background image. You can add a semi-transparent colored block behind your text to make it pop.
• Keep it Concise: The text should be large enough to be easily read on a mobile screen. Avoid writing paragraphs. A short, punchy headline is all you need.

4. Subtle, Consistent Branding

Every pin is an opportunity to build brand recognition. Adding your brand elements ensures that as your pins circulate, people begin to recognize your content at a glance. But keep it subtle.

• Logo or URL: Place your brand’s logo or website URL on every pin you create. The bottom-center is a common, unobtrusive-yet-visible spot.
• Brand Colors & Fonts: Consistently using your brand's color palette and fonts makes your pins instantly recognizable in a crowded feed. This doesn't mean every pin looks identical, but they should feel like they came from the same family.

5. A Clear Call to Action (CTA)

Sometimes you need to tell people what to do next. While not necessary for every single pin, a subtle CTA can encourage action. This can be included in your main text overlay or as a small design element, like a button.

Examples include:

• "Click to Read More"
• "Shop the Collection"
• "Get the Free Checklist"
• "Learn How"

A Step-by-Step Guide to Designing Your First Pin

You don't need expensive software like Photoshop. Free tools like Canva are incredibly powerful and have everything you need. Here's a simple workflow.

Step 1: Start with a Pinterest Template in Canva

Canva has thousands of professionally-designed Pinterest templates already sized to the perfect 1000 x 1500 pixel dimension. Open Canva, search for "Pinterest Pin," and browse the templates. Find a layout you like that has a clear space for an image and a prominent text overlay.

Step 2: Replace the Background Image

Click on the template’s background image and delete it. Next, go to the “Photos” tab in the left-hand menu to search for a free stock photo, or go to the “Uploads” tab to add your own image. Drag your new photo onto the canvas and it will snap into place as the background.

Step 3: Customize the Text Overlay

Double-click the text boxes in the template to edit the content. Write your eye-catching headline here. Play with different fonts and sizes in Canva’s text menu. If you have brand fonts, upload and use them. Make sure the text is large enough to be readable at a small size and has plenty of contrast with the background.

Step 4: Add Your Branding

If you don’t have one already, add a small text box and type in your website URL (e.g., yourwebsite.com). Drag it to the bottom of your pin. If you have a logo, upload it and place it on your design as well. Use the color tools to adjust the template’s graphic elements to match your brand colors.

Step 5: Download Your Finished Pin

Once you’re happy with the design, click the "Share" button in the top right corner and select "Download." Choose PNG for the highest quality. Give your file a keyword-rich name before you save it (e.g., "easy-lemon-chicken-recipe.png") as this can help with SEO.

Advanced Tips for Pins That Convert

Once you've mastered the basics, use these strategies to get even more out of your Pinterest marketing efforts.

Create Multiple Pin Designs for One Piece of Content

This is the single most effective way to drive consistent traffic. For every blog post, product, or landing page, create 3-5 different pin visuals. Use different photos, different text overlays, and slightly different design styles. This allows you to test what resonates with your audience and gives you more content to share over time without being repetitive.

Example: One Blog Post, Four Pins

• Pin 1: A straight-to-the-point headline: "How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots."
• Pin 2: A list-based headline: "5 Secrets to Growing Perfect Tomatoes in Pots."
• Pin 3: A curiosity-driven headline: "The One Mistake People Make When Growing Tomatoes in Containers."
• Pin 4: Focus on a different image, maybe one close-up of a tomato, and another showing a person on their patio garden.

Experiment with Video Pins

Video is huge on every platform, and Pinterest is no exception. A short, 15-30 second video can really stand out. You don't need a high-production studio. Simple video ideas include:

• A timelapse of you completing a DIY project.
• A quick A-roll video showing different ways to style an outfit.
• Screen recordings of a digital product in action.
• Animating static imagery and text to create motion.

Always add a text overlay to your Video Pins just like you would with a static image, as many users browse with the sound off.

Test and Pay Attention to What Works

Your Pinterest Analytics are a goldmine of information. Look at which of your pins are getting the most saves and outbound clicks. Is there a pattern? Do pins with a certain color scheme perform better? Do numbered lists in headlines get more clicks? Pay attention to trends in both your own account and on the platform in general. Don't be afraid to double down on what’s working.

Final Thoughts

Creating effective Pinterest pins is a skill that develops with practice. The key is to think like a user: focus on creating clear, helpful, and visually appealing images that offer a tangible solution. Once you nail down the formula of a vertical image, a compelling text overlay, and consistent branding, you're well on your way to driving meaningful traffic.

And after we've put in the work to design beautiful visuals, keeping them organized and scheduled consistently is what makes or breaks a strategy. We built Postbase because we found wrestling with spreadsheets and overly complex tools took all the joy out of creating. The simple, drag-and-drop visual calendar gives us a bird's-eye view, making it easy to plan our entire visual strategy and schedule everything out weeks in advance.