Should I upscale before Instagram upload?

Only if the original is very small. Oversized files may be recompressed heavily anyway.

Why does text look soft in stories?

Compression and scaling reduce edge contrast. Start with cleaner source clarity before posting.

Yes, processing related images similarly can make a carousel look more polished.

Improve Instagram photo quality by restoring clarity before platform compression softens details.

Instagram recompresses uploads, and pre-existing softness becomes more visible after that final compression pass.

Use Focus Restore to tighten edges and local detail before export. This gives compression a better starting point.

Keep edits subtle. Aggressive sharpening often looks harsh after platform compression.