diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 946f829..9511900 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ The server listens on `http://localhost:8080` by default.
 - `OPENAI_MODERATION_MODEL`: moderation vision model, default `gpt-4o-mini`
 - `TRUST_PROXY`: set to `true` when running behind a trusted reverse proxy so upload limits use `X-Forwarded-For`
 
-Uploads accept only square PNG and JPEG images. The server rejects files over 5 MB, images over `6000x6000`, and images over 20 million pixels. Accepted uploads are decoded, metadata-stripped, resized down to `1600x1600` if needed, and stored as WebP.
+Uploads accept PNG and JPEG images. The server rejects files over 5 MB, images over `6000x6000`, and images over 20 million pixels. Accepted uploads are decoded, metadata-stripped, resized so the longest edge is at most `1600px`, and stored as WebP.
 Upload caps are 5 per hour per IP, 10 per day per IP, and 100 globally per day. AI-approved uploads publish immediately; ambiguous uploads are queued for the secret admin review page; likely illegal uploads are rejected immediately.
 
 Files are stored under sharded date/hash paths:
diff --git a/public/assets/app.js b/public/assets/app.js
index 83888dc..34c4b8f 100644
--- a/public/assets/app.js
+++ b/public/assets/app.js
@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@ async function validateClientFile(file) {
 
   try {
     const dimensions = await readImageDimensions(file);
-    if (dimensions.width !== dimensions.height) return 'IMAGE MUST BE SQUARE.';
     if (dimensions.width > 6000 || dimensions.height > 6000) return 'IMAGE EXCEEDS 6000x6000.';
   } catch {
     return 'IMAGE COULD NOT BE INSPECTED.';
diff --git a/public/assets/styles.css b/public/assets/styles.css
index 4e3885a..f879602 100644
--- a/public/assets/styles.css
+++ b/public/assets/styles.css
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ a {
   height: 100%;
   display: block;
   object-fit: cover;
+  object-position: center;
   opacity: 0.9;
   transition: transform 700ms ease, opacity 200ms ease;
 }
@@ -632,8 +633,10 @@ dialog::backdrop {
 
 .lightbox img {
   display: block;
-  width: 100%;
+  width: auto;
+  max-width: 100%;
   max-height: calc(100vh - 144px);
+  margin: 0 auto;
   object-fit: contain;
   background: #000;
 }
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index ca6eebf..4c5d66b 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -163,8 +163,7 @@ const server = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
         maxBytes: UPLOAD_MAX_BYTES,
         maxWidth: 6000,
         maxHeight: 6000,
-        maxPixels: 20_000_000,
-        requireSquare: true
+        maxPixels: 20_000_000
       });
       const normalized = await normalizeToWebp(upload.buffer);
       const moderation = await moderateImage({ buffer: normalized.buffer, mime: normalized.image.mime });
diff --git a/src/normalize.js b/src/normalize.js
index 79007b7..a297870 100644
--- a/src/normalize.js
+++ b/src/normalize.js
@@ -19,32 +19,29 @@ export async function normalizeToWebp(buffer) {
   if (!metadata?.width || !metadata?.height) {
     throw new HttpError(400, 'Image could not be decoded.');
   }
-  if (metadata.width !== metadata.height) {
-    throw new HttpError(422, 'Image must be square.');
-  }
-
-  const targetSize = Math.min(metadata.width, MAX_OUTPUT_DIMENSION);
   const output = await image
     .rotate()
-    .resize(targetSize, targetSize, {
-      fit: 'cover',
+    .resize({
+      width: MAX_OUTPUT_DIMENSION,
+      height: MAX_OUTPUT_DIMENSION,
+      fit: 'inside',
       withoutEnlargement: true
     })
     .webp({
       quality: WEBP_QUALITY,
       effort: 4
     })
-    .toBuffer();
+    .toBuffer({ resolveWithObject: true });
 
   return {
-    buffer: output,
+    buffer: output.data,
     image: {
       format: 'webp',
       ext: 'webp',
       mime: 'image/webp',
-      width: targetSize,
-      height: targetSize,
-      byteSize: output.length
+      width: output.info.width,
+      height: output.info.height,
+      byteSize: output.data.length
     }
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/seo.js b/src/seo.js
index ff51d07..f9fb7aa 100644
--- a/src/seo.js
+++ b/src/seo.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const SITE_NAME = 'The Meme Protocol';
-const SITE_DESCRIPTION = 'A live, moderated meme stream for The Meme Protocol: square WebP memes, MEME_CONSENSUS_SCORE ranking, and community review.';
+const SITE_DESCRIPTION = 'A live, moderated meme stream for The Meme Protocol: WebP memes, MEME_CONSENSUS_SCORE ranking, and community review.';
 const REPO_URL = 'https://git.yoonect.com/Nautilus/bitsforfree';
 
 export function publicBaseUrl(req) {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export function llmsTxt(baseUrl) {
   return [
     '# The Meme Protocol',
     '',
-    '> A live, moderated meme gallery. Uploads are square PNG/JPEG inputs normalized to metadata-stripped WebP, scored with MEME_CONSENSUS_SCORE, and published only after AI or admin approval.',
+    '> A live, moderated meme gallery. Uploads are PNG/JPEG inputs normalized to metadata-stripped WebP, scored with MEME_CONSENSUS_SCORE, and published only after AI or admin approval.',
     '',
     'Important URLs:',
     `- Site: ${baseUrl}/`,
diff --git a/tests/image.test.js b/tests/image.test.js
index 800798e..7264cb8 100644
--- a/tests/image.test.js
+++ b/tests/image.test.js
@@ -40,28 +40,27 @@ test('rejects gif uploads', () => {
   );
 });
 
-test('rejects non-square images when square uploads are required', () => {
+test('accepts non-square png uploads', () => {
   const png = encodePng(32, 24, () => [0, 255, 65, 255]);
-  assert.throws(
-    () => validateImage(png, {
-      maxBytes: 5 * 1024 * 1024,
-      maxWidth: 6000,
-      maxHeight: 6000,
-      maxPixels: 20_000_000,
-      requireSquare: true
-    }),
-    /square/
-  );
+  const image = validateImage(png, {
+    maxBytes: 5 * 1024 * 1024,
+    maxWidth: 6000,
+    maxHeight: 6000,
+    maxPixels: 20_000_000
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(image.width, 32);
+  assert.equal(image.height, 24);
 });
 
-test('normalizes png uploads to square webp', async () => {
-  const png = encodePng(32, 32, () => [0, 255, 65, 255]);
+test('normalizes png uploads to webp while preserving aspect ratio', async () => {
+  const png = encodePng(32, 24, () => [0, 255, 65, 255]);
   const normalized = await normalizeToWebp(png);
 
   assert.equal(normalized.image.mime, 'image/webp');
   assert.equal(normalized.image.ext, 'webp');
   assert.equal(normalized.image.width, 32);
-  assert.equal(normalized.image.height, 32);
+  assert.equal(normalized.image.height, 24);
   assert.equal(normalized.buffer.subarray(0, 4).toString('ascii'), 'RIFF');
   assert.equal(normalized.buffer.subarray(8, 12).toString('ascii'), 'WEBP');
 });
diff --git a/tests/store.test.js b/tests/store.test.js
index 7450ad9..73aa41e 100644
--- a/tests/store.test.js
+++ b/tests/store.test.js
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ test('increments view and download counters', async () => {
     maxBytes: 5 * 1024 * 1024,
     maxWidth: 6000,
     maxHeight: 6000,
-    maxPixels: 20_000_000,
-    requireSquare: true
+    maxPixels: 20_000_000
   });
   const meme = await store.save({
     buffer,