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Instagram stories

Instagram story maker

Design vertical Instagram Stories at 1080×1920 pixels — the full-screen 9:16 format used by Stories and Reels covers.

Story templates in ZeoCanvas keep headlines and buttons away from the top and bottom edges, where Instagram places the profile name and reply bar.

Create a story Browse templates

Free · No signup required

A vertical Instagram story template in the ZeoCanvas editor

Features of the Instagram Story Maker

Full-screen 9:16 canvas

The Instagram Story preset opens at 1080×1920 so nothing is cropped or blurred.

Multi-story sequences

Design several frames as pages of one design and download them together.

Bold type styles

Large display fonts, outlines and shadows keep text readable over photos.

Cut-out subjects

Remove a photo background to place yourself or a product over a coloured backdrop.

How to use the Instagram Story Maker

  1. 1

    Open a story template

    Pick a story layout or start from the 1080×1920 preset.

  2. 2

    Personalise it

    Edit text, swap photos and adjust colours. Rulers and guides help you respect the safe zone.

  3. 3

    Export to your phone

    Download PNG or JPG files and post them from the Instagram app.

Design for the safe zone

Instagram overlays your profile picture at the top and the reply field at the bottom of every story. Keep important text roughly 250 pixels away from the top and bottom edges so it is never hidden.

Reuse your best content

Already designed a post? Magic Resize turns it into a story layout automatically, so you can promote the same announcement in the feed and in Stories without starting over.

Ideas for stories

Stories work best for timely, lightweight updates: a countdown to a launch, behind-the-scenes photos, a quick tip, a poll prompt or a reminder that a sale ends today. Because each frame is only on screen for a few seconds, keep text short and put the most important words in the largest type.

  • Announcements and countdowns
  • Product highlights with a cut-out photo
  • Quotes and tips in bold type
  • Event reminders with the date front and centre

Frequently asked questions

What is the Instagram Story size?

1080×1920 pixels, a 9:16 aspect ratio. ZeoCanvas has a preset for it.

Can I add stickers and shapes?

Yes. Vector stickers, arrows, shapes and lines can be added and recoloured to match your story.

Can I animate my story?

ZeoCanvas exports still images. You can add the finished images to Instagram and use its own music and sticker features.

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Create click-worthy YouTube thumbnails at 1280×720. Cut out your face with background removal, add bold titles and export a JPG under 2 MB.

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Try the Instagram Story Maker now

It is free, it runs in your browser and you do not need an account to start.

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