Instagram Reels update - New features, tools, template and major changes announced - check details

Instagram Reels update: In a major update, the Meta-owned popular photo and video sharing platform Instagram has announced  new features to Instagram that make it more fun and easy to collaborate, create and share reels.

"We’re expanding our tools for Remix to help enhance the way you tell stories on Instagram when collaborating with your favorite creators and friends, the company wrote in blog post. 

Instagram Reels new features 

Remix for photos: Photos are core to the Instagram experience. In the coming weeks, you will be able to remix public photos. This gives you limitless inspiration to create your own unique reel.

Expanded Remix layouts: Choose between a green screen, horizontal or vertical split-screen, or picture-in-picture reaction view to add your own video commentary to existing reels.

Add your clip:  Rather than having your remix appear at the same time as the original reel, you can now add your clip after the original so it plays sequentially.

"We want everyone to be able to easily express their creative ideas, so we’re adding more features that allow you to capture, edit and share them — right from your phone," the platform said. 

Templates: Templates allow you to easily create reels by preloading audio and clip placeholders, so you can simply add your own photos or video clips. You can find template ideas by tapping the camera icon on the Reels tab.

Dual: Record content and your reaction at the same time. You can record using your phone’s front and back cameras simultaneously to share another perspective using the Dual feature in the Instagram camera.
browsing templates

New video posts on Instagram will be shared as reels

"Since reels offer a more immersive and entertaining way to watch and create videos on Instagram, we’re bringing these creative tools and the full-screen experience to your video posts, too," Instagram wrote. 

In the coming weeks, new video posts shorter than 15 minutes will be shared as reels. Videos posted prior to this change will remain as videos and won’t become reels.

If you have a public account, your new videos – now reels – may be eligible to be recommended and seen by more people on Instagram. This currently applies to reels that are under 90 seconds long. If your account is private, your reels will still only be shown to your followers.