How to Make a Panoramic Instagram Post

Unlock a wider canvas on Instagram by creating a seamless panoramic post that makes followers stop scrolling and start swiping. This simple trick turns a standard-width photo into an immersive multi-image carousel that a single frame just can’t capture. This article covers why these posts work so well and provides step-by-step guides for creating them in Photoshop, Canva, and popular mobile apps.

Why Panoramic Posts Stop the Scroll

In a feed dominated by quick glances, a panoramic swipe post does something magical: it demands a second of a user's time. A standard post is either liked or scrolled past, but a panorama hints that there's more to see.

This simple act of swiping creates a moment of micro-engagement that makes your content more memorable. Here's why it's so effective:

• Immersive Storytelling: Wide-format photos - like dramatic landscapes, large group shots, or sprawling cityscapes - simply have more impact when they aren't cropped into a tiny square. A panorama lets you share the full scale and feeling of a moment.
• Builds Curiosity: The first image in the carousel is only part of the story. The user instinctively wants to see the rest of the picture, leading them to swipe through your entire carousel to get the full reveal. This interaction signals to the Instagram algorithm that your content is engaging.
• Aesthetic Distinction: A well-executed panorama breaks up the monotony of the standard grid. It shows a level of care and creativity that helps distinguish your brand or personal profile, creating a more professional and captivating feed.
• Versatility: This technique isn't just for landscape photography. Brands can use it to reveal a new product line, restaurants can show off the full interior of their space, and graphic designers can create long, flowing infographics that guide the viewer through a narrative.

The Basics: How the Panorama Illusion Works

An Instagram panoramic post isn't a special feature - it's a clever use of the existing multi-image (carousel) post type. The core concept is to take one wide or panoramic image and slice it into two, three, or more perfectly sized consecutive squares. When a user swipes through them, the edges line up so precisely that it feels like they are moving a camera across one continuous photograph.

To keep everything sharp and aligned, you need to work with the correct dimensions from the start. Here are the pixel dimensions for your master canvas, depending on how many slides you want:

For Square Posts (1:1 Ratio)

This is the most common format. Your image height will always be 1080 pixels.

• 2 square slides: 2160 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high
• 3 square slides: 3240 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high
• 4 square slides: 4320 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high

For Portrait Posts (4:5 Ratio)

This format gives you more vertical room and takes up more screen space. Your image height will always be 1350 pixels.

• 2 portrait slides: 2160 pixels wide by 1350 pixels high
• 3 portrait slides: 3240 pixels wide by 1350 pixels high
• 4 portrait slides: 4320 pixels wide by 1350 pixels high

Choose your format, figure out the total dimensions, and you’re ready to start splitting your image.

Method 1: Create a Panorama Using Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop gives you the most control and precision for creating flawless panoramas. The Slice Tool is designed for this exact purpose, making the process straightforward once you learn the steps.

Step 1: Create Your Panoramic Canvas

First, create a new document. Go to File > New. In the pop-up, enter the combined dimensions you calculated earlier. For this example, we’ll make a three-slide square panorama.

• Width: 3240 Pixels
• Height: 1080 Pixels
• Resolution: 72 to 96 Pixels/Inch is fine for web use.

Click "Create" and you will see your wide, empty canvas.

Step 2: Place and Position Your Image

Drag your panoramic photo onto the canvas or go to File > Place Embedded. Resize and reposition the photo until you are happy with the composition. Hold the Shift key while resizing to maintain the original aspect ratio and avoid stretching the image.

Step 3: Create Guides for Slicing

Guides will tell Photoshop exactly where to make the cuts. Since our final images will be 1080px wide each, we need to place guides at the 1080px and 2160px marks.

Go to View > Guides > New Guide Layout…

In the dialog box:

• Check the Columns box.
• Set the Number to 3 (or however many slides you're making).
• Make sure the Gutter is set to 0.
• Click OK. You will see vertical blue lines that divide your canvas into three perfect 1080x1080 pixel squares.

Step 4: Use the Slice Tool

Now, let's turn those guides into slices.

• Find the Slice Tool in the toolbar on the left. It's often hidden under the Crop Tool, so click and hold the Crop Tool icon to reveal it.
• Once the Slice Tool is selected, look at the top options bar. You’ll see a button that says Slices From Guides. Click it.

Your document will now be visibly split into numbered slices, ready for export.

Step 5: Export Your Sliced Images

The final step is to save each slice as a separate file. Do not use the regular "Save As" command. Instead, you need to use the legacy export option for web graphics.

• Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy).
• In the settings window, select a preset like JPEG High. Set the quality to around 70-80% to balance quality with file size.
• Do not click Save yet. Click Export....
• Choose a destination folder. Make sure "Format" is set to "Images Only" and "Slices" are set to "All Slices."

Photoshop will automatically export each slice as a perfectly numbered image file (e.g., MyPanorama_01.jpg, MyPanorama_02.jpg, MyPanorama_03.jpg) in the folder you selected. The hard work is done!

Method 2: Use Canva for an Easy Workflow

Canva doesn't have a built-in slicing tool, but you can achieve the same result with a simple two-step process: creating the image in Canva, then using a free online tool to split it.

Step 1: Create the Full Panorama in Canva

Open Canva and click "Create a design" and choose "Custom size". Enter the full dimensions for your final panoramic image. Let’s stick with a three-slide panorama: 3240 px width and 1080 px height. Upload your photo, add it to the canvas, and design your post with any text or graphic elements you want. Once you’re finished, download the design as a single PNG or JPG file.

Step 2: Split Your Image with a Free Online Tool

Now you need a tool to slice your exported design. Many free online tools do this, but one of the most reliable is "PineTools - Split Image Online".

1. Navigate to the PineTools website or search for it online.
2. Upload the long panoramic image you just downloaded from Canva.
3. In the options on the right, tell the tool how to split the image. Select Horizontally.
4. For "Quantity of blocks (even)," enter the number of slices you need (e.g., 3).
5. Click the green "SPLIT IMAGE!" button.

The tool will process your file and provide individual download links for each slice, correctly numbered and ready to go.

Method 3: Go Mobile-First with an Instant Panorama-Maker App

If you primarily create content on your phone, this is by far the fastest option. There are dozens of apps designed for this one task. One popular and easy-to-use option is Panorasplit for IG on iOS, with similar apps available on Android by searching for "Panorama for Instagram".

The Typical App Workflow:

1. Open the app and grant it access to your Photos.
2. Select the wide image you want to split.
3. Choose the number of slices you want. Most apps offer options from two up to ten splits. A slider will show a live preview of how the image will be split up.
4. Save or tap "Split & Save".

The app will do all the work and save the consecutively numbered photos directly to your camera roll. The entire process often takes less than a minute. Now you can head straight over to the Instagram app to upload.

Uploading Your Panorama to Instagram

You have your sliced images numbered and ready. The last step is uploading them to Instagram. Pay close attention during this stage to ensure a seamless result.

Step-by-Step Posting:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the "+" icon to start a new post.
2. Go to your photo library and find the sliced images. This part is critical: you must select the images in the correct order. Select image #1 first, #2 second, and so on.
3. Select the "Select Multiple" icon which allows you to choose multiple photos.
4. Once you've picked them out, click "Next." You will now see a preview of how the carousel will look. Go ahead and swipe through it to make sure the panorama lines up together seamlessly.
5. On the next page, you can now add your caption, hashtags, and call to action, just as you would for any normal Instagram post.

Tip: To encourage interaction, you might consider adding a call-to-action to swipe. Something as simple as, "Swipe across to see the whole picture ➡️" in your captions is enough to encourage people to swipe.

Final Thoughts

The panoramic Instagram post is a creative yet accessible technique to elevate your social media content and create a more memorable experience for your followers. Whether you're a Photoshop pro, a Canva enthusiast, or a mobile-first creator, this straightforward technique allows you to showcase the full scope of your photos and stand out in a crowded feed.

After crafting the perfect panoramic post and planning your content, our tool, Postbase, comes in. It helps manage all your previously planned content effortlessly. We built Postbase from the ground up to support today's social media, including videos, Reels, and well-planned carousel posts. We made it simple so you can schedule your content with confidence and have more time to do what you love.