How to create beautiful collages with the NEW Instagram Stories feature

Instagram just unleashed a brand new collage feature, designed to take your Instagram Stories from drab to delicious in the blink of an eye. Whether you’re a fan of a photo dump or are looking for a vibrant way to share snapshots from your latest products, events, reviews and throwbacks, you can create a stunning Instagram Stories post with multiple images directly within the app. What’s more, collages are crafted with more eye candy for your audience to ogle at, so you can aim to increase the completion and full view rate of your Instagram Stories posts in the process.

In this article, we’re going to show you how to create fabulous collages fast using the in-built feature on Instagram. We’ll also show you how to completely customise your collages, so whether you have a minute or 15 to spare, you can get the results you’re after with the time you have.

How to create a collage on Instagram Stories

With Instagram’s new collage feature you can create beautiful collages directly in-app. Add up to 10 photos (or more with a trick we share later in this article) and let your creativity run wild. Select a layout within the feature or fully customise every detail to your heart’s content. Let’s get started by exploring how to create a simple yet stunning collage in mere moments.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap on the plus creation button at the centre of the bar at the bottom of the screen.
2. Choose ‘STORY’ from the bar at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select the icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to upload pictures from your camera roll.

4. Press the icon that looks like 2 overlapping squares to select multiple pictures.
5. Tap the circle in the top right-hand corner of each picture you’d like to add to your collage.
6. Hit the arrow icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

7. Choose the layout icon at the top of the screen.
8. Tap the collage icon in the centre of the bottom of the screen.

9. Use the dice icon in the centre of the top of the screen to toggle through collage layout options. Don’t worry if the perfect template doesn’t come up. You can fully customise your collage later on.
10. Press ‘Done’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

How to customise a collage on Instagram Stories

After following the steps above, you can fully customise your collage. Using the following tips you can: change the size, placement, rotation and shape of each image; edit the crop of each image; delete images; add more images; change how the images overlap; swap images for other pictures in your camera roll without having to start all over again; and add the final touches to bring the whole collage together. Just make sure you complete all the steps above, including hitting ‘Done’, before attempting to customise your collage.

How to change the size, placement and rotation of an image

If you’ve used stickers on Instagram Stories before, changing the size, placement and rotation of an image will be a piece of cake. This is because changing these elements works in exactly the same way as any other Instagram sticker.

To change the size of a picture, pinch and pull a picture using 2 fingers or thumbs. 

To change the placement of a picture, drag a picture and move it to a different location on the screen.

To change the rotation of a picture, twist the picture using 2 fingers or thumbs.

How to remove an image

You can remove any image from the collage the same way you’d remove any element added to an Instagram Stories post.

Here’s how:

1. Start by moving the image you want to remove by dragging it with a finger or thumb.
2. A trash can will appear at the bottom of the screen. Drag the image over the trash can icon. 
3. Release the image when it is hovering over the trash can icon.

How to add unlimited images

The collage feature on Instagram Stories allows you to initially add up to 10 images to the collage. However, when 10 photos isn’t going to cut it and you want to add more images to achieve the effect you’re after, try this trick to add as many images as you like.

Here’s how:

1. Create your collage with 10 images.
2. After hitting ‘Done’ tap on the stickers icon at the top of the screen.
3. Select ‘Photo’.
4. Choose another image from your camera roll.
5. Repeat this process until you’ve added all the images you want in your collage.

How to move an overlapping image forward or back

Overlapping images give a collage its unique stylistic effect. However, sometimes you might want to move a photo back or forward in the mix. Is a key element of a photo being obstructed by another image? No problem. Fix it with this hack.

Here’s how:

1. Press and hold down on an image.
2. While still pressing down on the screen, drag the same thumb or finger up or down on the screen to reorder the chosen layer. You can view the order of the layers of the images using the icon on the left-hand side of the screen.
3. Release the image. 

You can also automatically cause an image to pop straight to the top by moving its position on the screen. 

How to change the shape of an image

Differently shaped images can completely change the vibe of your collage. Your collage will automatically be set up to include square or rectangular images with sharp corners, however there are plenty of other shapes you can explore. Using this trick you can soften the corners of an image or cycle between other shapes including: circle, star and heart. Each image is edited individually so you can have a collage that combines multiple shapes at once.

Here’s how:

1. Tap on an image. A perforated line will appear around it.
2. Repeatedly tap on the image to toggle through the available shapes.
3. Press ‘Done’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

How to change the crop of an image

When you edit the shape of an image, sometimes the crop doesn’t totally line up with the look you’re after. Equally, you may want to crop out areas of an image without changing the shape at all.

Here’s how:

1. Tap on an image.
2. Use 1 finger or thumb on the screen to change the placement of the crop.
3. Use 2 fingers or thumbs on the screen to change the size and rotation of the crop.
4. Hit ‘Done’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen. 

How to swap an image for another image

An amazing part of the collage feature is the ability to swap an image for another picture in your camera roll, without having to start the whole process all over again. Play around with different ideas as much as you like with this trick.

Here’s how:

1. Tap on an image in your collage.
2. Select the photo icon in the centre of the top of the screen.
3. Choose a different image from your camera roll.
4. Change the shape and crop as desired before hitting ‘Done’.

Finishing touches

Once all your images are altered and positioned perfectly, add text, links, decorative stickers, music and more to take your collage to the next level. Do this using the icons at the top of the screen, as you normally would when creating an Instagram Stories post.

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