How to make an Instagram Reel for your app.

Instagram Reels use a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. In Protato, set your canvas to 9:19.5 in the Ratio tab — this matches the full vertical phone screen ratio and ensures your composition fills the Reel without black bars.

Design at 1080 × 1920 px output resolution. Use 2x quality for retina-sharp results. The extra vertical space means you should position your device higher than center to leave room for text below.

In a vertical Reel, the device takes up about 60-70% of the frame. Position it in the upper half of the canvas using Pan mode, leaving the lower third for text overlays.

Choose a bold, high-contrast background. Gradients with bright colors work well on Instagram because they catch the eye during fast scrolling. Avoid dark backgrounds — Reels are often viewed in bright environments.

Use the Dramatic lighting preset to make the device stand out against the background. A strong rim light separates the phone from the backdrop, which is especially important in vertical format where the device is large in the frame.

Switch to Animation mode. Reels work best with simple, smooth camera motions — not complex multi-keyframe paths. A gentle orbit or slow zoom keeps the focus on the device.

Set your opening keyframe at 0 seconds with the camera at a 3/4 angle. Move the playhead to 5 seconds, orbit slightly to a different angle, and set a second keyframe. The slow orbit creates a professional 3D feel without being distracting.

For a 15-second Reel, 3-4 keyframes is plenty. More than that makes the motion feel jittery. Let the camera linger at each position for a few seconds before moving.

Text is critical for Reels because many viewers watch without sound. Add 2-3 text overlays that appear at different points in the animation:

• Opening (0s) — Your app name in large bold text at the top of the frame
• Middle (5s) — A benefit statement: "Track everything" or "Design in 3D"
• Closing (12s) — A call-to-action: "Download now" or "Try free"

Animate each text element by setting Opacity to 0 at the keyframe before you want it to appear, then Opacity to 1 at the keyframe where it should be visible. A 0.3-second fade-in feels natural and professional.

To show your app in action within the Reel, add a screen recording as a clip on the device screen. Record your app's key flow — 5-10 seconds is enough to demonstrate value without losing attention.

On the timeline, tap Add Clip at the point where you want the recording to start. Trim the clip edges to match the vertical format timing. The recording plays automatically on the device screen during playback.

Export your Reel at 1080 × 1920 px resolution. Use H.264 encoding (standard MP4) for broad compatibility with Instagram's upload system.

Export at 30 fps — Instagram may stutter with higher frame rates. Keep the file under 100 MB if possible for faster uploads on mobile networks.

When uploading to Instagram: use the Reels tab, add trending audio or your own soundtrack, write a caption with relevant hashtags (#appdesign #protato #uidesign), and tag your app's account. Post at peak engagement times for your audience (typically 11 AM - 2 PM or 7 PM - 9 PM in their timezone).