Instagram for iOS and Android is finally allowing users to post images and video in landscape or portrait modes instead of the simple square.
So far, Instagram has heavily relied on the square format for all photos and videos, but that often poses challenges when trying to fit a taller building, a longer bridge, more people in the same picture or other such. Even when it started allowing users to take photos in landscape orientation, Instagram still let them post the images in question in the same square format as before. This meant cropping in many cases, but that's no longer an issue for iOS and Android users with the latest update .
"Square format has been and always will be part of who we are," says Instagram. "That said, the visual story you're trying to tell should always come first, and we want to make it simple and fun for you to share moments just the way you want to."
Taking and posting photos in either landscape or portrait orientation on Instagram is now easy and convenient, so here's how to do it.
To upload a photo to Instagram in portrait or landscape orientation, simply tap the format icon and adjust the orientation you want instead of the square one. If you don't like how it fits within the frame, just touch the screen and more the photo to adjust how it fits. Frame the photo with the help of the grid, then tap Next if you want to apply a filter or some effects and that's it.
Once you post the image or video, it will appear in Feed as a portrait or landscape, depending on what you chose. Instagram allows users to share photos and videos with aspect ratios ranging from 1.91:1 to 4:5. It's worth pointing out, however, that photos posted in portrait or landscape orientation will still appear as a center-cropped square in the grid view on your profile, "to keep the clean feel of your profile grid."
The new Instagram for iOS version 7.5 is available for download in the App Store now, while Instagram for Android version 7.5 is now ready for download on Google Play. Check out the video below to learn more about the new options.
