There are tons of different ways to create a cohesive Instagram feed. The most popular way to keep your feed cohesive is by choosing a color theme. This is the easiest way because it does not include too much planning ahead. If you stick to the same color scheme and apply the same preset or filter to your posts, you can keep your Instagram feed themed without too much work. However, if you’re looking to go above and beyond and really set yourself apart from other accounts, Instagram puzzle feeds are incredibly aesthetically pleasing!

What is an Instagram puzzle feed?

A puzzle feed is a seamless Instagram feed that essentially looks like one image, broken up into different posts. This way, when you look at the overall feed, it’s incredibly cohesive.

The two most common ways to create a seamless Instagram feed are on Canva or on Photoshop. You can either purchase a template or you can opt to create your own. Creative Market (my favorite website for any creative resource you could ever think of) has tons of seamless puzzle templates that you can purchase and customize. This route is much easier than making your own!

Using a puzzle feed template

Pre-designed puzzle feed templates are the easiest way to create a puzzle feed for your Instagram. The fonts and colors can all be altered to fit your own branding, then you simply insert your own images! Here are some great templates from Creative Market for Canva or Photoshop!

Canva Instagram Puzzle Templates

Photoshop Instagram Puzzle Templates

Creating your own Puzzle Feed

If you prefer to create your own puzzle feed template, it’s not as hard as you’d think! Here’s what you will want to do:

Decide where you are going to design your feed. If you do not have much design experience, we suggest using Canva, the free online design tool. If you’re comfortable with Adobe programs, you could use Photoshop or Illustrator.

If You Create a Puzzle Feed on Illustrator or Photoshop:

• Create a blank grid. If you’re using Illustrator, you can create individual art boards for each tile. You will want to do at least 3 x 9 squares. However, the more squares you go, the more posts you will create and plan out! If you’re using Photoshop, you can only create one canvas, so be sure that the dimensions are divisible by 3 - this will make it easier when you slice the canvas up before posting it to Instagram.

• Once you create your grid, create a background. Think of it as creating a collage - use basic shapes and elements layered on top of each other to create a cool background.

• Start layering your main photos on top of the background!

• Add smaller photos and design elements around the main photos to complete the design.

• Add some fun text! Use your brand’s fonts to keep everything consistent!

• If you’re using Illustrator: export the art boards.

• If you’re using Photoshop: export the canvas as a .jpeg or .png, then download an app such as Grids or Pic Splitter to break up the image into individual posts

If You Create a Puzzle Feed on Canva:

• Create a blank canvas. You’ll be dividing it up into individual posts, so you’ll want a large canvas in order to keep the posts quality. Be sure that the dimensions are divisible by 3 - this will make it easier when you slice the canvas up before posting it to Instagram. We recommend a width of 3000px and a height of at least 9000px.

• Once you create your canvas, create a background. Think of it as creating a collage - use basic shapes and elements layered on top of each other to create a cool background. Canva has tons of free design elements and backgrounds!

• Start layering your main photos on top of the background!

• Add smaller photos and design elements around the main photos to complete the design.

• Add some fun text! Use your brand’s fonts to keep everything consistent!

• Export the canvas as a .jpeg or .png, then download an app such as Grids or Pic Splitter to break up the image into individual posts

Posting your puzzle feed to Instagram

The best way to be sure that your puzzle feed is going to look well on Instagram is by using a visual Instagram planner. We use Planoly - read our blog post all about Planoly here!

Adding your “puzzle pieces” to a visual planner before posting to Instagram allows you to be sure that they are properly lined up and will keep the feed seamless. This also is a good way to make sure that none of your main images are cut off. While the focus is making the whole feed look amazing, you also want to make sure that each individual post will look good when it appears on someone’s newsfeed!

Have you created a puzzle feed? Do you plan on creating one? Let us know in the comments!

Xx,
Katie