Instagram Adds Photo Remix, Reel Template Tools
Instagram this week introduced new features in an attemtp to "make it more fun and easy to collaborate, create and share reels."
Some users may have already spotted the "Remix this photo" popup on their feed—an invitation to collaborate(Opens in a new window) with other creators by adding your own spin on someone else's post.
Rolling out over the coming weeks, folks can choose to embed a new clip at the same time as or after the original, and opt for new layouts, including a green screen, horizontal or vertical split-screen, or picture-in-picture view.
The social network introduced remixing for reels in April 2021, receiving criticism for co-opting yet another TikTok function. To get started, select your preferred clip, tap the three-dot menu, and choose "Remix this Reel." Shoot in real time or upload pre-recorded footage; you have the power to control original video volume, add a voiceover, and make fresh edits.
For those who'd rather produce their own content, Instagram is making it easier to create reels using Templates with preloaded audio and clip placeholders (click the camera icon in the Reels tab), as well as a Dual camera feature to record content and your reaction at the same time using your phone's front and back shooters.
Nine months after merging IGTV with traditional feed videos and rebranding it Instagram Video, the company is once again pushing for more filmic content: Moving forward, new video posts shorter than 15 minutes will be shared as reels—which, if you have a public account, may be recommended and seen by more users.
The video and Reels tab on your profile, meanwhile, is being consolidated into one home for all recordings.
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