Client artwork for a blog series: what to check

A client’s artwork may look polished on its own but feel uneven when several images appear together in a blog series. Different crops, type sizes or color treatments can make the posts look unrelated, while a layout that works on a large screen may become hard to read as a thumbnail.

Before you prepare every image, settle a few shared design choices and test them on one representative post. You can use the Photo Editor to arrange artwork with layers, add text, make selections, and apply adjustments or filters in your browser.

Prepare one image as a series template

1. Open the Photo Editor and load a copy of one client image. Keep the original file untouched so you can return to it if an edit needs to be changed.
2. Decide the image shape and working dimensions based on where the artwork will appear. Make a sample at the intended proportions, and check that the main subject remains visible after cropping.
3. Build a simple, repeatable layout. Keep the subject, title area and any decorative elements on separate layers where possible, so you can revise one part without flattening everything together.
4. Add a sample headline and check it at the size readers are likely to see in the article list. Make sure the words remain readable without covering the main subject.
5. Use the sample to settle your shared choices, such as background color, text placement, margins and any filter or adjustment. Apply those choices to the other images, then review the series as a group.

Do not treat the template as a rule that every image must follow exactly. A close-up portrait and a wide product scene may need different crops. Aim for consistent spacing and visual style while keeping each image’s important content intact.

Choose what stays consistent

Crop and subject placement

Pick a shape that suits the blog layout, then use it consistently across the series. Keep faces, product details and other essential subjects away from edges where the site may crop the image. If a subject moves from one side to the other across posts, check that the title does not collide with it.

Color and tone

Agree on whether the images should keep their original colors or share a subtle treatment. A small adjustment can help artwork feel like one set, but a strong filter may alter a client’s brand colors or make skin tones look unnatural. Compare the edited version with the original before applying the same treatment elsewhere.

Text and empty space

Decide whether each image needs a title or should remain free of text. If you add text, use a consistent position and leave enough clear space around it. A headline that fits neatly on one image may need a shorter line or different placement on another. Keep important words away from the edges, and check that the text contrasts with the area behind it.

Variation between posts

Give each image one recognizable feature that connects it to the series, such as a shared color accent or similar text placement. Vary the framing or subject when the source artwork allows it. Repeating the exact same layout can make a series feel mechanical, while changing every design choice can make it feel disconnected.

Review the artwork before publishing

1. Check the client’s requirements. Confirm that you have permission to use the artwork and that the intended crop, colors, text and placement match the client’s instructions. Do not assume an image can be reused for a different purpose just because it was provided to you.
2. Look at the full series together. Compare the images at the same display size. Check whether margins, text placement and color treatment feel consistent, and whether one image looks much darker or more crowded than the rest.
3. Inspect each crop at full size. Make sure no face, logo, product detail or other essential feature has been cut off. Look along the edges for accidental marks or selections that left a visible line.
4. Check small-screen readability. Reduce the sample to the approximate size of a blog thumbnail. If the text becomes difficult to read, shorten it, enlarge it or remove it. Avoid shrinking type just to fit a long headline.
5. Keep an editable working copy. Preserve layers while the client may still request changes. Save an editable project separately from the final image, and use a clear file name that identifies the post and version.
6. Review the exported image. Open the finished file and confirm that the crop, colors, text and edges look right. Check that you exported the intended version and that the file format is suitable for the blog workflow.

Refine artwork that does not fit

Start with the least disruptive change. If the subject is too close to an edge, adjust the crop or reposition the image before changing its appearance. If text clashes with the background, move it to a clearer area or use a restrained layer behind it. Keep important client artwork visible rather than covering it with decoration.

If one image looks out of place, compare it with the original and the other series images before adding more adjustments. A brightness or color change may help, but it can also shift brand colors. Make one change at a time, then review the image at both full size and thumbnail size.

When the source image is too small for the intended display, avoid enlarging it far beyond its original dimensions. Enlarging can make edges and details look soft. Ask the client for a higher-resolution file or use a smaller display size instead.

Keep the source and final files clear

Use separate files for the untouched source, the editable project and the final exported artwork. This makes revisions easier and helps prevent an unfinished edit from being sent by mistake. If the client requests a change, update the editable copy rather than rebuilding the design from a flattened export.

Before handoff, check that each final image matches its post, uses the agreed layout, and does not contain draft text or unwanted marks. A quick side-by-side review can catch inconsistencies that are easy to miss when you inspect each file alone.