Instagram Reels: What they are and how to create them

The emergence of successful apps like TikTok has prompted other apps with similar features for videos and photos to struggle as well to keep up with the new trends. That’s why Reels born, a space where we can view or upload our own Instagram videos on different topics and of short duration. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What are reels on Instagram?

They are a kind of adaptation of the TikTok videos to Instagram, so that one assemble multiple clips of up to 15 seconds in length can. They can be edited and recorded in fragments, which is useful for creating the video of your choice from scratch. This is intended to create an expanded version of Instagram and to divide the pure video part into its own tab. Also, the length of your feed is not limited like stories, so you can keep them on your Instagram profile for as long as you want.

How to Access Instagram Reels

Before you start creating your own Reels, you can get inspiration from other users you follow (and also those you don’t follow, because Reels show you videos from all over the world) or new videos at your leisure discover. To get started, open the Instagram app and click the icon in the bottom center of the screen.

For Instagram, click the Reels icon in the bottom centerFor Instagram, click the Reels icon in the bottom center

There you can see other people’s reels and create your own. To get from one to the other, you don’t have to drag your finger horizontally across the screen, you do Swipe up vertically. You have the option to like the post (by tapping the heart icon), comment (with the speech bubble icon), and send it to someone by tapping the airplane icon.

Step-by-step instructions for an Instagram Reel

To start creating your own role, you need to go to the dedicated section (the address of which we have provided above) and select the camera icon in the top right corner of the screen. Then you can switch between the menus and start recording.

Here you can view other users' reels or create your own with one clickHere you can view other users’ reels or create your own with one click

Once you are on the screen you can start recording your reel. You already know: Press the middle round button to start the recording and press it again to stop it. You can record multiple clips (up to 15 seconds each) and click preview to see how you’re progressing.

Record the desired video clips using the button in the middle and click on the Preview optionRecord the desired video clips using the button in the middle and click on the Preview option

In this section you will also find various options to customize the video clips on the left side of the screen, explained here from top to bottom.

Audio

It offers the possibility to add music from your Instagram library to your videos (where you will find a large number of current and copyrighted songs) or record your original sound yourself. Once you’ve chosen the music for your reels, you can use a slider to place them in your video, to select the desired part of the song.

Choose the music to accompany your reel or record your own sound in the backgroundChoose the music to accompany your reel or record your own sound in the background

Video

The next tab with the 1x deals with the playback speed of the video clip you captured and allows you to choose 2x, 3x and 5x. That’s no secret. The video layout, the third option for editing reels, offers the possibility to use a horizontally or vertically split tile to fit multiple shots of the video on the same screen.

Choose the Video Layout option to create a mosaic with your clipsChoose the Video Layout option to create a mosaic with your clips

Timer

This option allows you to record without having to hold your phone by setting a timer after which the video will be recorded. If you click on the icon, you can choose the duration of the clip you want to record.

Set a timer to start recording the reel without holding your phoneSet a timer to start recording the reel without holding your phone

Relay a message

Reels’ final editing option allows you to float a “ghost copy” of the previous clip on screen so that you can fit the new shot in case you want to take multiple shots of the same subject or object, thereby eliminating the jumps from one clip to the next be noticed by others as little as possible.

Use the align option so you can fit your video clips properlyUse the align option so you can fit your video clips properly

Other reel customization options

In the next step you can change various settings such as Edit background music, record an audio overlay, filters, gifs, lyrics and much more Add. We encourage you to test and try everything you need before clicking next.

Edit your video in Reels to your liking, then click Next to continueEdit your video in Reels to your liking, then click Next to continue

By the way, the options in this tab are very similar to those of Instagram Stories. So once you know how they work, you’ll have a good handle on this second phase of editing reels.

How to publish your reel on Instagram

Before you publish the reel, you can make some final adjustments, e.g. B. the Add location, tag people, decide whether or not to post the reel to your feed, and so forth. When you have everything prepared and checked, you can click Next and finally OK to publish your reel.

Finish the last settings for tags, location, etc. and click Next to continueFinish the last settings for tags, location, etc. and click Next to continue

And you’re done! From that moment you can review your reel and delete it if you’re not convinced, or start a new one to further customize your Instagram profile and give your followers more reasons to follow you.

Leave a Comment