Templates and specifications
Blog post images are 750px wide by 400px high, with a safe area of 400px square in the middle of the graphic. There are Adobe Illustrator templates available as starter files. These files include colour palettes, correct sizing and safe areas. You should use these templates whenever creating an illustration.
Examples
Below are some examples of blog post illustrations. The Octopus Deploy blog is a good reference for recent images in use.
This illustration for a Configuration as Code blog post helps to teach the concept by showing that code is "under the hood".
This illustration incorporates the Payara fish in a fun way. Payara is the subject matter of the article, so it will connect with people who are familiar with the platform.
This illustration accompanied an article of SpaceX, so a rocket launch was a relevant and impactful image.
This illustration brought the name "Runbooks" to life with a visual representation of the name of the feature.
The connector is a useful way of representing integrations with other platforms.
This is a good example of showing integration with a platform (Kubernetes) in a creative way.
Best practice
✓ Create a concept for the illustration that reflects and enhances the understanding of the blog post
✓ Aim for a high level of variety between the images.
✕ Run graphic elements to the edge of the canvas
✕ Use too many elements – simple often works best
✕ Reuse the same graphic elements too often. Keep it fresh