You spent hours designing the perfect Instagram carousel, but when you upload it, the text is blurry and the colors are washed out. Here is how to fix that permanently.

The 1080 x 1350 Rule

Never design in a square (1080x1080). Always use the portrait dimension (1080x1350). It takes up more vertical real estate on the user's phone, meaning they spend more time looking at your content instead of the next post.

Exporting from Photoshop/Illustrator

Do not use 'Save As'. Use 'Export As' or 'Save for Web (Legacy)'. Export as a PNG-24. Instagram compresses JPEGs ruthlessly, especially if they have red text. PNGs preserve sharp edges much better.

Conclusion

Work in RGB color mode, use 1080x1350 dimensions, and always export as PNG. Your carousels will look crispy every single time.