Yesterday Instagram launched a new app called Layout from Instagram. Developers observed Instagram users creating and posting picture collages and decided to implement a layout app of their very own. They are on the way to monopolizing their own marketplace with the introduction of this new app! The launch of the layout app offers users "complete artistic control." Like other apps that offer picture combination and layout flexibility this app to allows for resizing and scaling. Users may pinch and zoom photos according to their preference as well as pull the sides to achieve desired spacial uniformity of their overall picture. The App also includes one of my personal favorite feature the flip and rotate for capturing the perfect angle on your image. In their own words it allows for "cool arrangements and mirror effects."

What's clever about this app that has not been offered by other layout apps to my knowledge is the ability to create spontaneous layouts upon capture. You may take several pictures at once and they will be automatically placed into a layout arrangement from which you can select your template and make your final adjustments. The layout app from Instagram is a savvy way to capture the events of an entire day/outing in one image. Instagram supports and would like to see more users participating in this form of "visual storytelling" and believes that this app will accommodate just that. To test the app out for myself I created a collage of my own with some pictures I had taken on my last vacation to my home country, St. Lucia. I have attached this along with a collage of my favorite foods (apologies to your tastebuds in advance ;)) as well as a picture that illustrates the versatility of the mirroring feature rather simplistically. The Layout from Instagram app is of course free to download and use to your hearts creative content. If a picture is worth a thousand words then several pictures can make for quite the story. Since we each have a unique story to tell I encourage all to make use of this app and explore your creativity. I know I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

Be sure to follow Bitlanders on Instagram (@bitlanders) and you can follow my personal Instagram account as well (@shessumthin_els)!