The correct size for Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories must be 1080x1920 pixels, a 9:16 vertical ratio. Content placed outside the central safe zone (keep important elements between 250px and 1670px vertically) may be cut off by the Instagram UI. Camisual has this as a built-in preset.
Step-by-step: Create an Instagram Story
- 1
Open the Instagram Story preset
Sign in at camisual.com and click "New Design". Under the Social Media preset category, select "Instagram Story" (1080x1920px). Your canvas opens at exactly the right size.
- 2
Set a background
Switch to Shape mode in the top toolbar. Draw a rectangle that covers the full canvas. In the left Shape section, set a solid fill colour, gradient, or upload a background photo using "Add" and then "Upload Image". Photos stretched to 1080x1920 work well as Story backgrounds.
- 3
Add your main image or photo
Click "Add" then "Upload Image" to add a product, person, or graphic. Resize and position it using the Select tool. Open "Edit Image" to remove its background if you want the subject to float over the background layer.
- 4
Add headline text
Click "Add" then "Add Text". Type a short punchy message. In the left Text section, set a large font size (80pt or above), choose a bold font, and pick a colour that pops against the background. Keep it to one or two lines maximum.
- 5
Add a call-to-action text block
Add a second text object near the bottom of the canvas with a short call to action such as "Swipe up" or "Tap the link in bio". Use a smaller, contrasting font size of around 36 to 48pt.
- 6
Add stickers or icons from the asset library
In the left Library section, click "Browse Assets" and search for icons or stickers that match your theme. Click any asset to place it on the canvas and resize it.
- 7
Export as PNG or JPG
Click "File" then "Export". Choose PNG for sharp graphics or JPG for photos. The file downloads at 1080x1920px, ready to upload directly to Instagram.
Story design tips
Use large, bold text since Stories are viewed on small phone screens. Avoid placing key elements in the very top 250px or bottom 250px where Instagram overlays profile UI elements. Keep a consistent colour palette with your regular feed posts for stronger brand recognition.
Duplicate a Story design from your Camisual dashboard each time you need a new one. This preserves your background, font choices, and layout so you only need to swap the photo and text.