Buzz
Attempting to share a panoramic or any visually striking horizontal image on Instagram often leads to frustration due to the platform's limitations.
While it's possible to upload the entire image in one post, the need to zoom out often results in losing the intricate details that make the photo special.
Fortunately, there's a simple solution to this issue: creating a panorama spread across multiple posts.
To achieve this, you’ll upload your single image as a series of connected posts, mimicking a slideshow. As users scroll through, it will appear as though they’re smoothly panning across one seamless image.
For example, here’s a photo we captured recently:
We shared it in this format:
We crafted our post by following the guidance of photographer influencers Becki and Chris. Be sure to check out their YouTube tutorial below for a detailed walkthrough:
Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieving the same result:
Start by opening your image in your preferred photo editing tool. While they recommend Lightroom, any similar software will work.
Each uploaded photo should have a 4:5 aspect ratio and dimensions of 1350 x 1080. This requires some calculations. For a two-image panorama, multiply 1080 by 2 to get 2160. Crop your original image to 2160 pixels wide so that when split, each half measures 1080 pixels.
Next, import the image into Photoshop. Unlock the background layer, navigate to “View” at the top, and select “New Guide Layout.” Ensure the preset is set to “Custom,” then under “columns,” choose the number of images you plan to create—in this case, two.
Ensure the “Gutter” option in that section is set to zero.
After closing that window, choose the slice tool. At the top, click the “Slides from guides” button, which will divide your image into two equal sections.
Next, proceed to “Export” and select “Save for web.” Export the files as JPEGs, and consider resizing them to 1350px in height to prevent Instagram from compressing them.
Once exported, transfer the files to your phone using your preferred method, and they’ll be ready to upload to Instagram.
For those who prefer not to use a computer, here’s a video demonstrating how to achieve the same result using Adobe’s free Photoshop Mix app on your iPhone.
The process remains largely the same, but instead of using a computer, you’ll perform all the cutting and cropping within the Photoshop mobile app. Note that you’re limited to working with just two images.
While it may seem complicated at first, the method becomes straightforward with a bit of practice—and the results can make your Instagram posts truly stand out.
