How to Make a Scrolling Video for Instagram

You've seen them everywhere: those perfectly smooth videos that pan across a stunning panorama, reveal a long infographic, or showcase a whole collection of products without ever cutting away. They elegantly scroll from left to right, capturing attention and making you want to watch until the very end. This article breaks down exactly how to create these captivating scrolling videos for Instagram, step-by-step, using tools you probably already have.

What is an Instagram Scrolling Video, Anyway?

In short, a scrolling video, often called a panoramic video post, is an animation created from a single, wide image. Instead of being a static photo, the image is animated to pan from one side to the other, revealing the content gradually. Think of it as a digital version of an ancient scroll, slowly unfurling to tell a story.

But why go the extra mile to make one? Because they work.

• They Stop the Scroll: The subtle horizontal motion is a powerful pattern-interrupt in a feed filled with vertical swipes and static images. The movement instinctively draws the viewer's eye.
• They Increase Watch Time: Viewers are more likely to stick around to see what the rest of the graphic reveals. This longer watch time is a positive signal to the Instagram algorithm, which can help your content get shown to more people.
• They're Perfect for Visual Storytelling: A scrolling video is one of the best ways to present information that has a clear beginning, middle, and end. You can guide your audience through a timeline, a step-by-step process, a before-and-after transformation, or a beautiful, wide landscape that just wouldn't fit in a standard post.

This technique is incredibly versatile. Photographers can display breathtaking panoramas, small businesses can show off a product line, coaches can share a client's journey, and educators can break down a complex topic into a digestible infographic. They feel professional and high-effort without being seriously difficult to create.

Step-by-Step Guide: Part 1 - Designing Your Panoramic Image

The magic of a great scrolling video begins with a great image. Creating this wide-format graphic is the foundational step. If your graphic isn't compelling, the animation won't save it. Here's how to get it done.

Choose Your Design Tool

You don't need highly specialized software for this. The best tool is the one you're comfortable with. Here are the most popular options:

• Canva: Perfect for beginners and pros alike. It's intuitive, offers tons of templates and elements, and handles custom dimensions beautifully. We'll be using it as our primary example.
• Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator: These offer unlimited control and precision, making them the top choice for professional designers who need refined typography and vector graphics.
• Figma: While primarily a UI/UX design tool, Figma is fantastic for creating vector-based layouts with precise alignment, making it another excellent choice for complex infographics.

Nailing the Dimensions

This is arguably the most important technical detail. If you get the dimensions wrong, the effect will be ruined. A scrolling video is almost always destined for Instagram Reels or Stories, which use a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio, or 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall.

That means the height of your panoramic graphic should always be 1920px.

The width, however, depends on how long you want the scroll to be. The width is simply a multiple of the standard screen width (1080px). You're essentially lining up multiple "screens" side-by-side.

Here's a simple formula:

[Number of virtual screens] x 1080px = Your Total Width

Some good starting points:

• For a short, quick scroll (2 screens wide): 2160 x 1920 pixels
• For a medium scroll (3 screens wide): 3240 x 1920 pixels
• For a long, detailed scroll (4 screens wide): 4320 x 1920 pixels

Let's use the 3-screen example in Canva. To create this, open Canva, click "Create a design," select "Custom size," and enter 3240 for the width and 1920 for the height.

Designing with the Scroll in Mind

Now that you have your digital canvas, it's time to design. But don't just dump your content on the page - think about the experience of the scroll. Your goal is to keep people engaged from left to right.

Create a Logical Flow

Your graphic should read like a story. Use connecting elements like lines, arrows, or a continuous background color to guide the viewer's eye naturally to the right. A good flow might be:

• Problem: What is the pain point your audience experiences? (Screen 1)
• Solution: How does your offering solve this problem? (Screen 2)
• Call to Action: What should they do next? (Screen 3)

Keep It Legible

Remember, the video will be moving. Avoid tiny fonts or overwhelming blocks of text. Stick to bold headlines, concise bullet points, and impactful imagery. Leave enough negative space around elements so the design feels clean and uncluttered, not chaotic. Before exporting, zoom out to get a feel for the overall composition and ensure all key elements stand out.

Step-by-Step Guide: Part 2 - Animating Your Image to Create the Video

Once your graphic is exported as a high-quality PNG or JPG, it's time to bring it to life with animation. This might sound intimidating, but modern tools make it incredibly simple through a process called "keyframing." Even better, some platforms almost do it for you.

Method 1: The Quick & Easy Way with Canva Video

You can actually create the animation directly within Canva, saving you from switching between apps. This is the simplest workflow.

1. Create a New design: Go back to the Canva home page and create a new design for an "Instagram Reel" (1080 x 1920 pixels).
2. Add Your Panoramic Image: Upload your finished wide graphic to Canva and add it to your new Reel design. It will look huge and won't fit, which is exactly what we want.
3. Set the Starting Position: Drag the wide image until its far-left edge is perfectly aligned with the left edge of the video frame. The rest of the image will be hanging off-screen to the right.
4. Extend the Duration: Click the clip in the timeline at the bottom of the screen and drag it out to your desired length. A 10-15 second duration is usually a good target.
5. Create the Animation: Click on the image on your canvas, then select "Animate" from the top toolbar. Click the "Create an Animation" button.
6. Animate the Movement: Gently and steadily, drag the image from right to left across the video frame until its far-right edge is now aligned with the right edge of the frame. You'll see a dotted line showing the motion path. Canva automatically smooths out the movement.
7. Export: Preview your video to make sure the speed looks good. If it does, click "Share" and download the file as an MP4 video. That's it!

Method 2: Using a Mobile Video Editing App (like CapCut)

Using a dedicated video editing app like CapCut gives you even more control over the animation, including its speed and easing. CapCut is free, powerful, and wildly popular with creators.

1. Send Image to Your Phone: First, save the finished wide graphic from Canva or Photoshop to your phone's camera roll.
2. Create a New Project: Open CapCut and start a new project, selecting the panoramic image you just saved.
3. Set the Format: Find the "Ratio" or "Format" option in the bottom toolbar and select 9:16 to make sure your project is sized for Reels.
4. Position the Image: With your fingers, position the oversized image so the left side fills the screen completely.
5. Set the First Keyframe: Move the playhead in your timeline to the very beginning (0:00). With the image clip selected, tap the keyframe icon (it looks like a small diamond, sometimes with a “+”). A little diamond will appear on your clip, locking in the starting position.
6. Set the Second Keyframe: Now, drag the playhead all the way to the end of your clip. Then, on the video preview, use your fingers to drag the image horizontally until the right edge is perfectly aligned with the frame. CapCut will automatically add a second keyframe.
7. Preview and Export: Scrub your playhead back and forth to see the smooth animation created between your two keyframes. If the speed feels right, export the video in high quality (1080p, 30fps).

Putting It All Together: Pro Tips for Posting on Instagram

Creating the video asset is the biggest part of the battle, but how you package it on Instagram makes all the difference.

Add Catchy Audio

A video is incomplete without sound. You can either add a song directly in your video editor or, better yet, upload your video to Instagram as a silent Reel and add trending audio there. Using a popular sound can significantly boost your video's potential reach.

Write a Valuable Caption

Your caption should complement the video. If your scrolling visual was a quick tutorial, use the caption to elaborate on the details or share a personal story related to it. End with a strong call-to-action (CTA): ask a question to encourage comments, or direct people to your bio link.

Design a Great Cover

Remember that the first frame of your video will appear as the cover on your feed and on the Explore page. Choose an engaging cover photo - either a frame from the video or a separate design you upload - that clearly communicates the video's topic and includes a title or hook to grab attention.

Final Thoughts

You now know how to transform a single, wide image into a captivating scrolling video using tools like Canva and CapCut. This technique is a simple yet incredibly effective way to make your content stand out, tell a richer story, and hold your audience's attention a little longer than a static post. Give it a try for your next big idea - you might be surprised by the result.

Once you've batch-created your awesome scrolling videos, the next step is making sure they get posted consistently. That's where we've found that seeing everything on a unified calendar is a game-changer. When using Postbase, we can upload our lineup of finished Reels for the week or month, customize the captions for each one, and visually arrange them on a drag-and-drop schedule. It removes the stress of last-minute posting and helps us build a much more coherent and effective content strategy from a bird's-eye view.