Layout guide
Photo strip layout ideas for stories and prints
Match the preset to the moment: classic vertical strips for prints, Story strip for phones, wide layouts for landscapes, and grids when you have six to nine related shots.
Last updated: July 1, 2026
Layout ideas by scenario
Party or date night
Classic 4 strip with a short date line. Keep faces centered in each slot and use a warm or rosy filter for a booth feel.
Travel day recap
Classic 5 or 6 strip when you want more frames in order—street, food, view, selfie—without making a full collage poster.
Instagram Story or Xiaohongshu
Story strip (1080 × 1920) fits phone screens directly. Export PNG, then compress only if the upload limit requires it.
Landscape or group panorama
Wide 3 or wide 4 strip when photos share a horizontal scene—sunset, skyline, or team photo series.
Event grid recap
Grid 2×3 or 3×3 when you have many similar moments and want one square post instead of a long strip.
Quick preset picker
| Preset | Photos | Shape | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic 3–4 strip | 3–4 | Tall vertical | Prints, chat shares, booth nostalgia |
| Classic 5–6 strip | 5–6 | Extra-tall vertical | Longer event sequences |
| Story strip | 3 | 9:16 vertical | Stories, Reels cover, mobile feeds |
| Wide 3–4 strip | 3–4 | Horizontal | Triptychs and landscape sets |
| Square 2×2 / Grid 3×3 | 4 / 9 | Square grid | Album posts and balanced collages |
Open the right tool
Photo Strip Maker
One of the presets above matches your photo count and sharing goal.
Photo Strip MakerCombine Images
You need a custom stitch or grid count that is not in the preset list.
Combine ImagesBefore you export
Do
- Pick the layout first, then choose which photos fill the slots.
- Use consistent lighting or filter across slots for a cohesive strip.
- Leave important details away from outer margins and gap lines.
Don't
- Force nine unrelated photos into one strip when a smaller preset reads cleaner.
- Add long titles that cover faces on narrow vertical slots.
- Upscale low-resolution screenshots—export clarity cannot exceed the source.
How many photos should a strip use?
Three or four strong photos often read better than filling every slot. Grids suit larger sets when the moments belong together.
Which preset is closest to a mall photo booth?
Classic 3 or classic 4 vertical strip with white background and dark border is the closest booth-style starting point.
Need help choosing between strip and collage?
Read the photo strip vs collage guide, then return here to pick a preset.