Instagram Story Hacks to Make Your Pics Colorful and Creative

These days, having an awesome Instagram story is everything — but it takes some serious hacks to figure out all the creative things you can do. Luckily, we’ve figured out all of the secrets, tips and tricks, and we’re happy to share. Ready to start making your text rainbow, add a drop shadow, or create your own customized color filter? It’s surprisingly easy. Watch our video above to find out all the tricks and how to do them the right way, and then check out our breakdown of the instructions for each below.

How to Customize Text Color

There are two different ways to pick exactly the color you want for what you write on the photo you’re posting on your Instagram story. Here’s the first.

Write your text, then position it on your phone.
Click back into your text, then press and hold on one of the color swatches Instagram offers.
A whole color slider will open up, then you can drag your finger to select the exact shade you want.
Lift your finger to pick your shade and you’re good to go.

Click to 0:12 in the video to watch the step-by-step tutorial.

You can also customize your text color by selecting one of the colors from your photo itself so it matches perfectly. Give it a shot.

Once you’ve written your text, tap the eyedropper icon to the left of the color swatches.
When the dropper appears on screen, drag it around the photo to select the shade that you want.
You can further customize your text from there to make sure it’s not blending into the background.

Skip to 0:23 in the video to watch the step-by-step tutorial.

How to Make Drop Shadow Text

The drop shadow effect is one of our favorite ways to add a little pizzazz to a story. Check out how.

Write your text as normal, then position it on your pic.
Start a new text layer, then type the text and put it in a complimentary color.
Position the second layer on top of the first, using your fingers to adjust the size and angle.

Head to 0:40 in the video to watch the step-by-step tutorial.

How to Make a Solid Color Screen

With this trick, you can make a solid color background to write or draw on top of — or you can erase part of it to make a little peek-a-boo image. Here’s how.

Start by selecting the pen tool at the top of your photo.
Choose your color, then click and hold anywhere on your photo until the whole screen fills with that shade.
Then, you can write or draw on top of the colored background.
Want to get rid of part of your color screen? Click on the eraser tool, select your size, and erase away part of the color using your finger.

Click to 0:57 in the video to watch the step-by-step tutorial.

How to Make a Translucent Color Screen

If you like the idea of the color screen, but want a little more of your original image to peek through, this one’s for you.

Start by selecting the pen tool at the top of your photo, then select the highlighter, the second from the left.
Choose your color, then click and hold anywhere on your photo until the whole screen fills with that shade.
Write or draw on top of the translucent color, or use the eraser tool to clear some of it away.

Skip to 1:13 in the video to watch the step-by-step tutorial.

How to Make Rainbow Text

This is one of the coolest effects for sure — but also the one that’s the most complicated to manage. Once you get the hang of it, though, you’ll be a pro.

Write out your text for the photo.
Click to select all of your text.
Press and hold down on a color swatch to open up the color slider, then position your finger on the color you want your rainbow to start with.
As you use one finger to drag through the color spectrum, use the other finger to drag the left hand selection through the photo. That way, as you go through the colors, less of your text will be selected and each letter will change. We promise it’s easier than it sounds!

Head to 1:28 in the video to watch the step-by-step tutorial.

See how easy all of it was? Now you can make your photos as colorful — and color coordinated — as you’d like. Now that’s how you hack your Instagram story to be the best and brightest it can be.