Seamless Instagram carousel posts have been really popular lately because they allow the user to share more information without cramming it all into one small square image. These are great for repurposing blog posts and sharing the key information with your audience without them having to read a long description. They also look really cool when you keep swiping right and all the images blend together making it look like one long graphic instead of several separate ones.
There are a couple of ways you could go about creating seamless Instagram carousels.
Method 1 – Use a Canva Template
This method is obviously easier but more limiting. You can use Seamless Instagram Carousel templates that are already created in Canva and just plug in your information. These are created as separate pages in Canva, so it would be hard to make any significant edits while keeping them seamless.
If you’re no able to find a free template that works for you in Canva, you can always browse Creative Market for additional templates. I really like Creative Market because they offer affordable options that are a bit more elevated than what’s offered in Canva.
Method 2 – Starting from Scratch
If you have something specific in mind and none of the templates seem to match your vision, you can certainly create one from scratch. The best way to do this is to create one long graphic and then use a separate app to split the design into multiple square images. This seems a bit more involved, but honestly, if you follow these simple steps it’s really not hard.
Step 1: Plan Your Slides
First, you’re going to need to decide how many slides are going to be in your carousel. If you’re writing a post about “5 Tips for a Better Morning Routine”, you’ll want 7 slides – 1 cover image and then 1 slide for each tip and then a call to action at the end. If your topic is not this straightforward, just decide how you’ll split it up. The number of slides will dictate how wide your overall Canva document is. Here’s a list of recommended sizes based on how many slides will be in your Instagram carousel post:
Seamless Carousel Sizes for Canva
2 Slides: 2160 x 1080px (or 1350px for rectangle images) – Blank Template
3 Slides: 3240 x 1080px (or 1350px for rectangle images) – Blank Template
4 Slides: 4320 x 1080px (or 1350px for rectangle images) – Blank Template
5 Slides: 5400 x 1080px (or 1350px for rectangle images) – Blank Template
6 Slides: 6480 x 1080px (or 1350px for rectangle images) – Blank Template
7 Slides: 7560 x 1080px (or 1350px for rectangle images) – Blank Template
Step 2: Set Up Your Guides
Once you create your document in Canva using the appropriate size for the number of slides you need, you will need to show rulers and guides in your document, which will help you see where each slide will end. (To enable this, click File>View settings>Show rulers and guides). Once you have rulers and guides enabled, click on the ruler on the left and drag the mouse to create a guide. Since each slide will be 1080px wide, you’ll need to create a guide every 1080px to separate the slides. The guides are not part of the final design and will not show once you export your design,
Since my job here is to make your life easier and help you save time, I’ve created blank templates that will help you skip these first 2 steps. Just click “Blank Template” above for the size you need and jump straight into creative mode.
Step 3: Get Creative
Alright, now that we have the technical part done, it’s time to get creative. Here are some tips to make your seamless Instagram carousel interesting and engaging. If you need more tips on how to create a cohesive Instagram feed overall, check out this article.
- Make your first slide captivating – use bold typography, eye-catching graphics or clever hooks that grab attention as the first impression and make people want to learn more.
- Strategically place visual elements at the intersection of two slides to create intrigue with an overlapping effect people want to keep scrolling to see.
- Opt for a simple background like a gradient or an uncluttered photo to avoid distractions.You don’t want the background distracting from other elements or making it too busy and chaotic.
- Vary the slide layouts with different arrangements of imagery, text and graphics. This adds visual interest to keep people engaged.
- Link together the overall theme or storytelling of the slides for a cohesive flow from start to finish.
- End with a clear call-to-action on the final slide to direct people to your profile, website, or link in bio.
Step 4: Split Your Design
Once you’re happy with your design it’s time to split the image. Canva isn’t able to do this (yet) so we’ll need a separate app for this. There are many different ones but I prefer this website (https://mysocialboutique.co/instagram-grid-maker/) that doesn’t even require you to download anything.
Step 5: Schedule Your Post
You’re done, that’s all. All you need to do now is to schedule your post using the images created. Make sure you upload them in order lol.
Creating a seamless Instagram carousel with Canva is not only fun but also an excellent way to engage your audience, share information effectively, and make a lasting impression. These carousels have become a go-to tool for storytelling on Instagram. Armed with these newfound design skills, you’re ready to captivate your audience and leave a lasting mark with your Instagram content. Happy designing!