Although Instagram has a new built-in tool for collage-making, it still has a few limitations. For starters, they're currently in testing and haven't been rolled out to everyone. But fear not, in this guide we will explore how to make both image and video collages for Instagram Stories using both the app's brand-new internal feature and a free external tool.

Instagram recently introduced a new feature: Collages. While users have previously relied on the "layouts" feature to create collages, this update makes the process both easier and more engaging.

Collages are perfect for storytelling in a single post, whether it’s a weekend recap, a product showcase, or a mood board. They let you engage your audience quickly and effectively without taking up too much of their time.

However, Instagram’s built-in collage tool has its limitations, as it’s still in testing and not available to everyone. Fortunately, this guide will show you how to create image and video collages for Instagram Stories, with or without the latest update.

• What is an Instagram Collage?
• Instagram Collage vs Layout
• How to Make an Image Collage on Instagram Story (New Feature)
• How to Make a Video Collage on Instagram Story
• Creative Ideas and Best Practices for Instagram Collages

What is an Instagram Story Collage?

An Instagram Story collage is a post that combines multiple photos, videos, or text elements into one cohesive design. It’s different from simply posting multiple images, as collages allow you to arrange media creatively within a single Story including overlaps and varied sizes.

Collages are especially useful for:

• Event Highlights: Recap moments from a party, trip, or gathering.
• Mood Boards: Share an aesthetic or vibe with your followers.
• Promotions: Showcase multiple features of a product or service.
• Storytelling: Combine visuals to narrate a sequence or journey.

Instagram Story Collage vs Layout

In the past, people made Instagram Collages by going to Story > Layout and selecting a grid layout.

These layouts did generate a collage but they were static and not altogether exciting, as you can see in the example below.

While Instagram’s Layout tool is a great starting point, it has some significant limitations:

1. Limited Grid Options: You’re restricted to basic layouts with little room for creative freedom.
2. No Video Support: Instagram doesn’t allow videos within its collage feature, which limits your ability to create dynamic posts.
3. Minimal Customization: Adjusting spacing, adding borders, or layering media isn’t possible.

Fortunately, Instagram has a new feature that will help you automatically generate a collage from the images on your phone.

How to Make a Image Collage on Instagram Story

To find out whether you have the new Collage feature go to Instagram > + > Story.

You should see a "collage" icon in the top right-hand corner. If you don't, then the feature simply hasn't been rolled out to you. Reports show that only a small percentage of users in the UK, US, and Australia have the feature.

Step 1) Open Your Story

To post a collage as an Instagram Story, select the "Your Story" icon from your homepage at the top of the screen.

When you open "Your Story," you will see a selection of options such as "Music" and "Templates." If you have the option to create a "Collage," you will see the option here.

Step 2) Select "Collage"

Select the "Collage" mode to start building your Instagram Collage.

Below the "Collage" option, you'll see your media. Your "favorite" media will show up first.

To create your collage, you can select any media that you have saved to your phone. You can also open your camera to take new photos and generate your collage in real -time.

Step 3) Select Multiple Images

Clicking "Collage" will enable the ability to select multiple images. You can choose up to 20 images to use as a collage then press the next arrow to move on to forming your collage design.

While you can select a lot of images, collages tend to work best with fewer than 10 photos. And the ideal collage probably hovers between three to six photos; any more photos than that, and it'll be pretty difficult for your audience to make them all out.

Generally, when you build a collage you're trying to build a set of images that have a theme. That theme could range from "a wonderful vacation" to "new products in our line-up," but collages function best when they have a strong narrative.

Step 4) Change Your Photo Shapes and Sizes

With all of the images loaded, you can move and resize them to decorate your Instagram Story post how you see fitting.

Tap on an image to change the shape of that individual image; there is a star, heart, square, and rectangle to choose from. You can also pinch to crop and rotate images.

Adjusting a collage is more an art than a science. But use these tips to create a great one:

• Think about the most important aspects of each image, so you can keep those aspects visible.
• Use different shapes throughout your collage to break up the lines and create visual interest.
• And: layer your images based on priority, with the most important ones on the top and the "filler" images on the bottom (more on that next).

Step 5) Order Your Layout Layers

If you hold down on an image and slightly drag it up, it will reorder the layout so that the image selected is layered on the top. Dragging down will order the layout so the image progressively moves down the layering system.

To remove any images from the collage, drag the photo to the bottom of the screen and it will be deleted. You can also lock images into positions by pressing the "Padlock" icon.

Step 6) Add Extra Elements and Post!

As with normal Instagram Story posts you can draw on the post, and add music, text, stickers, and animated stickers.

• Draw: Use the draw feature to highlight and emphasize parts of your collage, such as drawing arrows to points of interest, or circling things that you find particularly important.
• Music: Select music that goes along with a theme, but isn't too unobtrusive. If you're creating a professional collage, consider ambient sounds or electronic music rather than a full song.
• Text: Make sure your text is large enough to be easily read on a screen—and don't overdo it. Text should be used sparingly, as a caption, title, or label.
• Stickers: Add stickers for decorative flair or to call attention to certain areas of your collage.
• Animated stickers: Stick to only one or two animated stickers per collage: While they are fun, they can be distracting.

Once your post is done share with close friends or everyone.

After all that, you're done! Your collage will be posted just like any other "Story" post; you've just done all your image editing within the "Collage" tool.

How to Make a Video Collage on Instagram Story

Video collages are an innovative way to elevate your Instagram Stories. By combining multiple videos or mixing videos with images, you can create eye-catching designs that stand out even more so than static pictures.

Unfortunately, Instagram does not currently allow you to layer multiple videos as a collage. If you select the "collage" feature and then try to upload multiple videos then you will receive a notification that you can only select one individual video.

Third-party video editors allow you to combine videos and images seamlessly. Kapwing's Video Collage tool offers features like trimming, resizing, and layering to create a stylish and vivid Instagram Story.

Step 1: Gather Your Media

Start by selecting the video clips and photos you want to include. Keep in mind that Instagram Stories have a maximum length of 15 seconds per segment, so shorter clips often work best.

Step 2: Choose Your Layout and Upload Your Images

Select the 9:16 aspect ratio, which is the ratio used for both TikTok and Instagram Stories.

Once you've selected the right aspect ratio, press "Click to upload" your files.

Note that for a collage, you probably want fairly short, small videos. A video that's more than a few seconds in length may not be suited to a collage; it's really more for snippets.

Step 3: Move and Resize Your Content

Drag and drop your video content on your 9:16 template to organize your collage within the window. You can start with a blank canvas or give it a block color.

As with Instagram's collage tool, you can overlap and layer your videos. Consider the following:

• Begin by layering your videos from the most important to the least important.
• Play with different sizes and positions until you feel the most important elements are visible and evenly distributed.
• Add still images to your video collage to call more attention to the videos (your viewer's eye will be naturally drawn to the videos).

Step 3: Adjust the Timing

You may not want all your videos to show at once. Instead, you can create a dramatic effect by having your videos pop in one at a time. For that, you can use Kapwing's timeline tool.

Just drag and drop your videos across the timeline; it couldn't be easier.

Step 5: Customize Your Design

Once you have your timing down, you can add effects, transitions, text overlays, and edit your uploaded photos and videos to create the ultimate collage.

Consider the below effects to make a stand-out collage, with these effects unavailable on Instagram.

• Remove Background: Eliminate the background from videos or images to create irregularly shaped collage pieces, adding unique visual interest to your content.
• Blur background: Blur the background on your videos to make the center image "pop." Use this for videos in which the background isn't important.
• Circular shapes: Adjust the shapes to add rounded corners or completely circular video or image frames. You can also add colored borders.

You can also add transitions like: drop, fade, flicker, and pop. When using transitions, use the following tips:

• Transitions should be used sparingly. In a collage, you want the videos themselves to shine.
• Prioritize where you want people's eyes to go. For instance, you might have each video pop in with different timing, so people see one image after another.

Step 6: Export and Upload

Finally, once your video collage is ready, export it as an MP4 and download It to your device.

From here, you can upload it to Instagram Stories (again, you should see a "collage" icon in the top right-hand corner)

Note that you can fiddle with the compression level to change the file size. For most social media videos, 720p is enough.

Creative Ideas and Best Practice for Instagram Collages

If you’re unsure where to start, here are some creative collage ideas to inspire your next Instagram Story:

1. Weekend Highlights: Combine photos and videos from your weekend activities to create a recap Story.
2. Mood Boards: Showcase an aesthetic or theme using complementary colors, textures, and images.
3. Before-and-After Posts: Display transformations by placing “before” and “after” shots side by side.
4. Travel Stories: Arrange photos and clips from your trip into a cohesive travel diary.
5. Product Spotlights: Highlight multiple features of a product in a visually engaging way.

Best Practice for Instagram Collages

1. Use the Right Aspect Ratio: Instagram Stories are designed for a 9:16 aspect ratio. Make sure your collage fits this frame to avoid awkward cropping or resizing.
2. Experiment with Layering: If you’re using an advanced collage maker, experiment with layering images and videos to create depth and dimension in your design.
3. Incorporate Trends: Stay on top of trends by exploring platforms like TikTok and Pinterest for inspiration. Hashtags like #InstagramCollage are great for finding creative ideas.
4. Add Text and Graphics: Text and graphics can help emphasize key points in your collage. Keep fonts and colors consistent with your overall aesthetic for a cohesive look.

Conclusion

Collages aren’t just visually appealing — they’re also a strategic way to boost engagement on Instagram. By presenting multiple visuals in one post, you encourage viewers to spend more time on your Story. Additionally, the combination of photos, videos, and text allows you to convey more information in a single frame.

Creating a collage for Instagram Stories is a fun and effective way to share your content. Whether you use Instagram’s built-in Layout tool or explore advanced collage makers and video editors, the possibilities are endless. Experiment with different layouts, colors, and media — and, above all, have fun with it!