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A11 The 3 Framing Rules
A11 The 3 Framing Rules
The 3 Framing Rules are:
#1: Always use landscape
#2: Aim to have the storefront fit in the center 1/9 of the frame (the green area below)
#3: Store name should be big and clear close to the line between the 2nd and center 1/9 of the frame (the blue area below).
Framing rule #1
Framing rule #1
Always use landscape format when taking pictures for Google Maps.
Never use the tall portrait format. Always landscape. Always!
Framing rule #2
Framing rule #2
Make sure the storefront or building fits inside this green area. That will allow you to later crop your images perfectly for both the wider and the square formats used on Google Maps.
Framing rule #3
Framing rule #3
If the store name is at the top of the storefront make sure it is big and clearly visible in this blue area. Never above this area.
You may find these framing rules a bit extreme, as you might be used to fill the frame while shooting and zoom in a lot further. But trust me, you will end up with much better images once they are cropped as explained later. Just keep in mind you will be cropping the image later.
If you don't leave plenty of room on each side of the storefront, you won't be able to make perfect crops later. So framing rule #2 is very important.
A perfect example
A perfect example
The 6 images below illustrate the flow from following the Framing Rules to seeing the different perfectly auto-cropped formats used on Google Maps. This is the kind of pics you can get if you chose to follow the framing rules.
This is the original framing in-camera.
- Landscape ✅
- Storefront in the green area ✅
- Store name in the blue area ✅
The store name is actually on windows. Had there been a normal sign above the windows it would have been in the blue area. Notice the extra space all around this Craft store.
This is how the image was cropped before uploading it to Google Maps. Notice how the storefront is perfectly centered horizontally.
The storefront is not centered perfectly vertically. This is to include a lot of nice reflections from the wet pavement.
Auto-cropped by Google to a slightly wider format on Android. This looks perfect.
Auto-cropped to a less wide format on Android. This also looks perfect.
Auto-cropped to the square format used for cover pics on IOS. This also looks perfect. And the pretty reflections are still there.
Auto cropped to a square format with rounded corners used on a list of search results on IOS. Again: Looks perfect.
Most cameras can show two horizontal and 2 vertical grid-lines on top of your image. "Assistive grid" is another name for grid-lines. They make it a lot easier to follow Framing Rules #2 and #3 and constitute a constant reminder. So please turn them on.
Googler Christina-NYC has shared some tips about grid-lines on Connect.
To recap and memorize the 3 framing rules you can use this cheatsheet. Find cheatsheets for download here.
Conclusion
Conclusion
These Framing Rules are primarily designed to ensure extra space around the storefronts in your shots. Later this will allow you to crop your images to be perfect for uploading to Google Maps. With this strategy, you can prevent Google's automated cropping routines from spoiling any of your images.
Follow the Framing Rules if:
- You want your pics to look perfect in both the square and the wider formats used on Google Maps.
- You want your image to have a better chance of becoming a cover pic and hence attract more views.
Now you have a choice to make.
If you need more arguments to be fully be convinced about any of the three framing rules, then please proceed to Rationale.
If you are happy with the 3 framing rules, then you can proceed directly to Exceptions.
"Suggested next page" takes you to Rationale. Keep cruising!
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