Instagram carousels are one of the best ways to tell a story, showcase products, or share tutorials in a way that keeps people swiping. The trick is to design them so they look seamless and professional.
Most people build carousels side-to-side, but I recommend a vertical workflow. It gives you cleaner control, helps with cropping, and prevents those frustrating little edge lines from sneaking into your posts. Once you try it this way, you won’t want to go back.
And if you’d rather skip setup and get straight to designing, I’ve created a ready-to-use template you can grab from my Downloads tab.
Step 1: Set Up Your Canvas (Vertical Layout)
For Instagram, each panel can be up to 1080 x 1440 pixels (the tallest image Instagram currently supports). To create a carousel, we’re going to stack multiple panels vertically in one long Photoshop file.
For a 10-post carousel, make your canvas 1080 x 14,400 pixels.
For a 20-post carousel, double it to 1080 x 28,800 pixels.
Step 2: Add Guides
Set guides to break your canvas into equal slices so you always know where each post starts and ends.
For 10 posts: add a horizontal guide every 1440 pixels down.
- 1440 px
- 2880 px
- 4320 px
- 5760 px
- 7200 px
- 8640 px
- 10,080 px
- 11,520 px
- 12,960 px
- 14,400 px
For 20 posts: same process, but keep going until you hit 28,800 pixels.
- 15,840 px
- 17,280 px
- 18,720 px
- 20,160 px
- 21,600 px
- 23,040 px
- 24,480 px
- 25,920 px
- 27,360 px
- 28,800 px (end of file)
This ensures each panel crops perfectly when you export.
Step 3: Slice the File Using Guides
Once your design is finished and your guides are set, it’s time to slice the file so each panel can be saved individually.
In the toolbar, locate the Crop Tool.
Click and hold on the Crop Tool icon for a second—this will open the nested tool menu.
From the pop-up list, select the Slice Tool.
In the top menu bar, click the option labeled Slices From Guides. Photoshop will automatically create slices based on your guides and label them in order.
Each panel is now perfectly cut into 1080 x 1440 px slices, ready to export.
Step 4: Design With Flow in Mind
Now the fun part: designing. Since you’re building vertically, it’s easier to experiment with cropping and movement from one post to the next.
Extend backgrounds, colors, or shapes so they flow across multiple slides.
Add design elements at the bottom edge of one panel that lead into the next.
Think storytelling: your first slide should grab attention, middle slides develop the idea, and the last one should leave the strongest impression.
Step 5: Keep Text Clear and Consistent
Typography can make or break a carousel. Keep fonts, weights, and spacing consistent across all panels. Use bold headers and clean subtext. If you’re sharing steps or tips, number each slide so your audience knows to keep swiping.
Step 6: Export Your Carousel Panels
After finishing your design, go to the top menu and select:
File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)...
In the dialog box, confirm your settings:
Format: JPG High (or PNG if you prefer)
Quality: 80–100 (sharp images without huge file sizes)
Click the Save button.
A new window will appear:
Label the File Name (this will appear on each file).
Choose the destination where you’d like to save your files.
Under Save As Type, keep it set to Images Only (default).
Photoshop will automatically create a new folder called images in your selected location. Inside, you’ll find all your sliced carousel panels saved and ready to upload
Step 7: Transfer Files to Your Phone (Google Drive Method)
Upload the exported images folder to your Google Drive.
Open the Google Drive app on your phone.
Navigate to the folder where you saved your images.
Tap the 3-dot menu next to each image.
Select Send a Copy.
Choose Save Image.
The image is now saved directly into your phone’s Photos app.
Repeat for each image until all your carousel panels are saved locally.
Step 8: Upload to Instagram as a Carousel
Open the Instagram app and tap the + button to create a new post.
Select the multiple images icon (stacked squares).
Choose your carousel panels in the correct order (from top to bottom of your design).
Tap Next.
Apply edits if needed (crop should default to 4:5 since each panel is 1080 x 1440).
Tap Next again.
Write your caption, add hashtags, tag accounts, and set your location if desired.
Tap Share — your professional carousel is live.
Bonus: Give shots interesting mattes
To give your post that extra little detail that elevates your post in a unique way is how you frame your artwork. Be open to experimenting with edge thickness and rounded edges. I include my own 2px with rounded edges in template
Final Thoughts
Double-check the order of the images before uploading to Instagram, change the final number of the file name to change the order or just click in drag .
That’s it — you’re ready to post your carousel. Enjoy!
