As I wrote on my previous post, Instagram has finally given in and with the new version users are not limited any more to post photos in square format.

As from today, Instagram allows users to post photos in either portrait or lansdscape orientation. In addition, users don’t have to worry about ‘cropping’ their videos to square. Now videos can be uploaded as it is, and be viewed as it was intended to be viewed.

Ok, so how do you actually do that. Here is the step by step guide on how to post portrait or landscape photo or video on Instagram:

1. Make sure that you have the latest version of Instagram.

2. Go to the post page as usual (tap the camera button). Choose the photo or the video you want to post. Initially the photo or video will be zoomed in and set to fill the square frame. But notice the new icon at the bottom left of the frame (I drew a pointy arrow on the screenshot below to show you where to look).

Tap on this icon and your photo or video will zoom out to the original orientation (either portrait or landscape).

With photos, you can actually use your finger to pinch in and out to adjust the cropping.  When you are satisfied with the format, you can proceed to post the image as you normally do.

 

Here is one for portrait mode:

 

3. For video is more or less the same process, except that you can’t adjust the cropping.  So videos will be posted at the same size as the original.

 

And that’s done!

I really like this new direction that Instagram is taking.  The uplifting of the square limitation is going to make Instagram a more exciting place to be.

What do you think about this? Do you like it? Do you hate it?  Let me know in the comment.