How to keep your Instagram grid looking sharp with the new portrait layout

Instagram’s latest profile page update has left many users scrambling. Instead of the classic square grid, posts now appear as portrait rectangles. If your carefully planned grid now looks off, you’re not alone. Luckily, a Reddit user named hyp_e shared a simple method to create a seamless mosaic-style grid. Here’s how to do it.

The problem with the new layout

Instagram’s shift to portrait (4:5 ratio) posts means old grid strategies no longer work. When viewed on your profile, images get cropped differently, breaking up mosaics or themed layouts. Hyp_e’s fix involves splitting one big image into three parts and tweaking them to fit Instagram’s crop.

Step-by-step guide

Start with a large image you want to turn into a three-post grid. Now follow these steps:

1. Split Your Image
   Divide your image into three equal vertical sections. Each section should be 1010 pixels wide by 1350 pixels tall. This matches what Instagram shows in grid view.
2. Add Extra Space
   Instagram crops images slightly when displayed on your profile. To avoid cut-off edges, add 35 pixels of empty space to both sides of each section. This expands each tile to 1080×1350 pixels. The extra space can blend into your design or stay a solid color.
3. Save and Upload
   Export each edited section as its own 1080×1350 image. Now, post them in reverse order. Upload the rightmost tile first, then the middle, then the left. This ensures they line up correctly on your profile.

Here’s an image that visualizes the steps:

Does it actually work?

Comments on the Reddit post say yes. One user called it “literally what I needed right now.” Others shared similar relief. Another, however, noted that even properly sized 4:5 posts got messed up by the update. Hyp_e’s method seems to bypass this by accounting for Instagram’s hidden cropping.