You’ve already found a great idea for your blog or create quality products that people love. Now it’s time to boost your project on Instagram and create an awesome account worth following. Or you may be an experienced Instagram user, but you probably don’t know everything the app can offer you. Some of its interesting features may be hidden away, but I’m here to bring them to light.
Check out the post below on how to apply some tricks to Instagram stories and posts to make your visuals look amazing.
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Tips for Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories Hacks for Background
Instagram Hacks #1: How to Add More Colors to Instagram Stories?
Instagram Stories are the best place to demonstrate your brand’s personality. But, what if Instagram’s color palette doesn’t include desired colors in its default options?
Fortunately, there’s a hidden Instagram Stories trick that lets you access every color you could ever need.
How to do it:
- Choose the post you want to share with your Instagram Story, select “Add post to your story” and tap the draw tool in the upper right-hand corner of the screen:
- Select a color for the background:
- Next, tap and hold on to the screen for 1-3 seconds any of the default colors and the background will fill with your chosen color behind the post. Tap “Done”:
4. If you prefer posting an image to your stories, choose a photo, choose a color of the background, hold 1-3 seconds on the screen and you’d fill the whole screen with color, creating a layer of color on top of your photo or video:
To post the desired image to Stories you can do with two methods:
4a. You can apply the eraser tool to create a “scratch card” effect to show up part of your image or video.
How to do it:
- Find in the same Draw feature the eraser icon on the upper right-hand corner of the screen (the last one in the line)
- Choose the size of the eraser using the slider on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Erase some area of the color layer to reveal the whole or part of the underlying image you want to post:
4b. Or you can post an image to the Instagram Stories by copy-pasting that image again.
How to do it:
- Minimize the Instagram app screen and open a camera roll (or gallery) on your phone.
- Choose a picture and tap the “export (share)” button.
- Now tap “Copy Photo” and come back to your Instagram stories with the background of the necessary color and you’ll see that copied photo in the left bottom corner:
- Tap “Add sticker”, tap “Done” and customize the image like you want, replacing it and changing the size:
Instagram Hacks #2: How to Add Your Brand’s Colors to Your Story?
While Instagram’s full-color range is extensive, it can be hard to select an exact color. For example, the color of your logotype.
But there is an Instagram hack for this.
How to do it:
- Use the “Add from Camera Roll” sticker to add an image with your brand’s colors on it (of your logotype, for example):
- Then use the color picker tool (the pipette icon on the left-hand corner of the screen) to sample your desired hue:
- Tap “done” and now you can use this color for your stories’ background (check out the Instagram Hacks #1),
You can also draw in your brand´s color:
1. Choose an image you want to publish from the camera roll on Instagram:
2. Use the “Add from Camera Roll” sticker to add an image with your brand’s colors on it (of your logotype, for example):
3. Then tap on the Draw icon and use the color picker tool (the pipette icon on the left-hand corner of the screen) to sample your desired hue:
4. Tap “Done” and delete an image with your brand´s color.
5. Tap the Draw feature and use the Pencil or Marker icons:
6. Use eraser tool to add creativity:
You can also type the text with your brand´s color:
1. Choose an image to post from the camera roll on Instagram:
2. Choose an image with the desired color:
3. Type the text, click the rainbow wheel at the top, use the color picker tool (the pipette icon on the left-hand corner of the screen), and type the text with the desired color:
Instagram Hacks #3: How to Copy and Paste an Image from Your Camera Roll?
You can now add additional images to your Instagram story! Here’s how:
Apply this method if you use iOS (check out Instagram Hacks #5 below the method for Android users):
How to do it:
- Choose on Instagram what image you want to post:
- Open your camera roll and start by opening a photo, tap the “export” button:
- Now click on “Copy photo” and go to your Instagram story:
- Click “Add sticker”. And that’s all! The photo you copied in the previous stage should now appear on your story:
- Repeating these steps, add as many photos as you’d like:
Instagram Hacks #4: How to Add Many Photos to Your Instagram Story?
How to do it:
- Select the first image from Instagram’s “Add from Camera Roll” Sticker:
- To add the second photo, tap the Instagram story sticker tray:
- Once you’re in, choose any photo from your camera roll, change the size, and position it wherever you’d like:
- To change the shape of the image, tap the image and choose a circle, star, or rectangle:
- Repeat this process to add as many photos as you’d like.
The Instagram Stories question sticker has gotten a lot of engagement from businesses on Instagram. The only disadvantage is that you can only share one question sticker answer per story. But that situation was before you’ve found this article. There’s an easy workaround.
How to do it:
- Create a story to show a response to your question sticker. Take a screenshot or save the image and exit out of this story.
- Open that screenshot and add a second story using a different question sticker answer.
- Repeat this process until you add all question stickers to a single story. And that’s it! Your subscribers will be grateful for saving their time.
Instagram Hacks #6: How to Use Successfully the Eraser Tool?
Did you know you can successfully use the eraser tool to create all kinds of cool effects on your Instagram Stories?
- Upload the image of your choice and apply the draw tool to draw an effect over the image:
- Next, use the eraser tool to erase parts of the zig-zag to make a 3D effect:
- This is just one of many designs you can use the eraser feature to create cool visual effects on your Instagram Stories!
Instagram Hacks #7: How to Add a Layer of Translucent Color Over a Video or Photo?
Want to engage with your audience more by adding extra visual intrigue to your Story?
Here’s how to do it:
1. Upload your image or video to your Story.
2. Click on the Draw icon on the top of the screen:
3. Choose the third pen highlighter on the top of the screen:
4. Then choose your preferred color:
5. Click and hold the screen until a layer of transparent color covers your image or video:
Instagram Hacks #8: How to Turn Live Photos Into Boomerangs?
You can turn live photos into fun Boomerangs (for iOS users only).
- Open Instagram Stories, swipe up, and select a live photo from your camera roll (you’ll see the boomerang icon on eligible photos):
- Once you’ve chosen, click and hold to the screen for 1-3 seconds until your photo will transfer to the Boomerang. Now you’ve turned your shot into a Boomerang:
- Or find the Boomerang icon on the upper right-hand corner of the screen (infinity symbol):
Instagram Hacks #9: How to Use an Image as Your Instagram Story Background?
When you post a feed post to your stories, not only can you change the background color but you can also add in an image from your camera roll.
If you want to post one image with another image on the background, here’s how to do it:
- Choose the post or image you want to share with your Instagram Story and select “Add post to your story”:
- Click the sticker tray and choose the Instagram “Add from Camera Roll” sticker. Scroll through your images and choose the image you want to use as your story background:
- Replace this second image as you want or tap on it to select the shape: heart, circle, star, or rectangle:
*** Replacing the feed post on the right-hand side of the screen will increase the likeliness of taps — as Instagram users typically tap here as they watch the stories.
Instagram Hacks #10: How to Use Video as an Animated Background?
Imagine this: a dynamic, moving backdrop for a gorgeous selfie or product photo. There’s only one word for this slick mix of animated and still imagery: awesome.
How to do it:
- Record a video or swipe up to choose one from your Camera roll:
- Open up the sticker menu and select the photo sticker:
- Select the photo from your camera roll:
- This will layer on top of the video: move the photo or resize to your heart’s delight:
Instagram Hacks #11: How to Improve Video Quality When Uploading Instagram Stories?
Not everyone knows, but there is an option in the Instagram settings that allows you to significantly improve the quality of videos uploaded to the social network. And – surprise – it is turned off by default.
If you’re frustrated that your stories and video posts don’t look good, check if you have the “Download in high quality” option enabled.
How to check it? In the Instagram application, go to Settings, then: Settings → Account → Data usage → High-quality uploads → put the switch in the desired position. Ready!
Instagram Hacks #12: How to Use a Green Screen to Your Instagram Story?
Green screen technology has been a gamechanger for Instagram. You can post yourself anywhere and everywhere.
How to do it:
- Scroll right through the filter icons at the bottom of the screen to get to the magnifying glass:
- Tap the search box.
- Input and search “green screen”, then select Instagram’s “green screen” filter:
- Click Add media to choose your background video or photo from your phone’s camera roll:
- Take a photo or grab a video in front of this fake background:
Instagram’s teleport feature is also fun — it uses the green screen backdrop, but the backdrop only appears when you move your phone so you can create a fun reveal effect.
Instagram Hacks with Layer Text
Instagram Hacks #13: How to Add More Colors to the Layer Text for Instagram Stories?
By default, Instagram displays only a limited number of colors, but you can apply a wider range to match your brand aesthetic.
1. Choose the brush tool from the Instagram Story features:
2. Click and hold 1-3 seconds any of the default color circles at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see a color slider pop up:
3. Slide the color palette to find the desired hue matching your brand and preferences:
4. You can also upload an image with the desired color into your Story and choose the exact matching shade using the eyedropper tool (then, delete the image once you’ve finished). This can be particularly useful if you have a photo of your brand kit with all your brand colors (check out the Instagram Hacks #2 – part about the text):
Special tip: Make a rainbow effect on your Instagram Story text.
How to do it:
- Open Instagram Stories and type out a text:
- Then click on the text and choose “Select All” to highlight.
- While your text is highlighted, press and hold one finger down on the color spectrum tool at the bottom of your screen (like you did before) to open the entire color palette:
- With one finger held 1-3 seconds on the color slider, and one on your highlighted text, begin to drag both fingers toward the left side of your screen at the same time:
IMG_8885
- You’ll get your text to start to change color, letter by letter, as you drag your finger across the color spectrum. You can move your finger faster or slower for additional color variations, or alternate the direction in that you drag your fingers across the screen to achieve an entirely different result:
Instagram Hacks #14: How to Add a Shadow Effect to the Layer Text?
How to do it:
- Write your text, then highlight all and copy:
- Start a new text box and paste it into that text.
- With the text still selected, click the rainbow wheel at the top and choose a different color:
- Move that text ever so slightly and layer underneath the original text so the second text looks like a shadow effect:
Instagram Hacks #15: How to Add Your Brand Fonts to Your Stories?
If you’re looking to make your stories look a little more branded, add a custom font to your Instagram Stories.
It’s impossible (in February 2022) to set up without third-party apps, like GoDaddy Studio (formerly known as Over) mobile app.
How to do it:
- After downloading the app, AirDrop your font’s .OFT file to your phone.
- Select “Over” from the menu that pops up.
- Once you’ve got your custom font added, you can design stories in the Over app (there are lots of story templates to choose from) or you can write your text on a transparent background, save it to camera roll, and then add them to your stories via the “Add from Camera Roll” sticker.
Instagram Hacks #16: How to Add an Effect to Your Emojis?
If you’ve ever wanted to make your emojis stand out more on stories, apply the next trick.
To add another look to your emojis:
- Open your stories.
- Tap the screen to open the text tool:
- Scroll each one and find the fonts which style you like:
Instagram Hacks with Stickers
Instagram Hacks #17: How to Make a Custom Text Color on a Link Sticker?
We cannot choose our sticker color – only from the standard options: blue, white, and black.
But with the help of a life trick with a photo, you can color the text of the sticker in the desired color. For example, green.
How to do it:
- Make a 9:16 picture of the desired color in any graphics editor.
- Upload it to stories:
- Select the Link sticker:
- Tap to switch to the color from the base layer that the first picture has:
- Paste the photo you want, using the Picture sticker:
Instagram Hacks #18: How to Make a Colored Font for a Poll Sticker?
The color of the text of the question in the sticker of a survey of two answers “yes” or “no” for a long time was only white and it was impossible to change it.
So that the text of the question does not fit your image, sometimes it came to drawing some kind of background in a contrasting color under it.
But recently Instagram added the ability to change the color of the font and its substrate.
How to do it:
- Add a poll sticker to your stories
- A new palette icon will appear at the top
- Tap on one of the main colors offered by Instagram:
- You can change not only the font color but also the background color:
Instagram Hacks #19: How to Make Stickers, Emojis, Text, and GIFs Popped Up in Instagram Stories?
Did you know that instead of showing elements on top of your Instagram Stories during all stories, you can set text, stickers, emojis, and GIFs into your videos and boomerangs — so they appear at the moment you find the best to show up?
How to do this:
- Just record your video
- Choose and add a creative element like a sticker, text, emoji, or GIF:
- Then click and hold for 1-3 seconds the element that you added:
- Find the slider bar at the bottom of the screen to scroll through the video and find the right moment you want to pin your creative element:
IMG_8902
Instagram Hacks #20: How to Make a Stylish Monochrome Geolocation Sticker Design?
With the standard way of adding a geotag, you get semi-transparent, white-blue, and rainbow stickers.
In a new way, you can make another, more stylish sticker design – black and white.
How to do it:
- Click on the add text icon:
- At the top of the keyboard in the menu, select “Location”:
- Select the desired location from the list
- Tap to select a sticker style:
Tips for Instagram Posts
There are not many visual tips on Instagram posts, because it’s better to post photos or prepare images in the web design photos. Check out Instagram visual trends 2022 to find out what filters to use, what colors to choose for your feed.
Instagram Hacks #21: How to Change Filter Strengths in the Post?
To set how dramatic the alteration will be:
- Choose a filter:
- then tap on the thumbnail again, and a slider you can use to change the filter strength will appear:
While you’re customizing these settings, here’s a related tip for hiding away the filters you don’t often make use of:
- Scroll all filter options to the end of the filters.
- Tap, hold and replace to the end filter you like or dislike:
To Sum Up
And that’s it! If you’re looking for how to attract your audience and share just a tiny highlight, these Instagram Stories tips should come in handy. Whether it’s your business or personal blog, there are lots of creative opportunities waiting for you with Instagram. Try out different content formats, and measure, and compare the results. You won’t really know what your audience likes until you’ve tried all options.