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A Color Story’s grid planning lets you place edited photos into a preview of your Instagram profile before anything goes live, so you can judge how each image sits next to the ones around it. The feature was announced with version 2.0 for iOS on January 19, 2018. That announcement is the only source for the feature’s design, and it does not confirm that the feature, or the app itself, works the same way today. Check the current App Store listing and the in-app menus before you follow any device-specific steps below.
What A Color Story’s grid planning was designed to do
The company’s official announcement described three jobs for the grid feature: design a feed, preview it, and plan it. Users could add edited photos and videos to the grid. The same announcement described batch editing and a posting reminder. In that reminder flow, you wrote a caption inside the app and were then taken to Instagram to publish.
That reminder flow is not automatic publishing. The app helped you prepare and sequence posts, and you still completed the upload in Instagram yourself. Treat the 2018 description as a record of what the feature was meant to do, not as proof of how it behaves in the current release.
How to plan a grid before you post
Whatever the current button labels are, the underlying process is the same in any grid planner. Work through these steps in order:
#1 Best Overall
- Rotatable twist with 1/4"screw allows 360° adjustment and 180° flipping, so you can take photos, video call or live broadcast with ease
- Universal compatibility with smartphones up to 3.7 inches wide, GoPros, digital cameras and webcams
- Includes a wireless remote with a range of 30 feet (without obstacle), so you can easily take individual, group and wide-angle shots
- Swaps easily between handheld selfie stick and stand-alone tripod for dual-purpose use
- Whether you're an amateur, enthusiast or professional, this is a must-have accesory for shooting on the go
- Edit every image first. Crop, adjust, and finish each photo before you place it in the grid. A late change to one tile can throw off the balance of the whole row.
- Add the images to the planned grid. Place them in the order you want them to appear on your profile. Keep the newest post in the top-left position if you want the grid to read like a normal Instagram feed.
- Review the sequence as a set. Look at neighbouring tiles for colour, brightness, and subject. Rearrange any image that clashes with the one beside it.
- Write captions in advance. Drafting captions alongside the images makes it easier to catch repeated wording or a post that depends on the one before it.
- Publish in Instagram in the planned order. Upload each image from its finished version, and check the profile after each one to confirm the layout still matches your plan.
Step five is where planning meets reality. Instagram’s grid is built from what you have actually posted, so any tile you planned but did not publish, or published in a different order, will change the view.
Check before you rely on the app
The 2018 announcement cannot tell you whether A Color Story’s grid planning is still available. Before you build a feed around it, confirm the following:
Rank #2
- FEATURE: the tripod phone mount is adjustable by screw mechanism, 360 degree rotating, vertical(portrait mode) and horizontal(landscape mode) or any angle as you need, not necessary to take your cell phone out of a standard tripod or small tripod.
- EASY TO USE: two options for using tripod phone holder: 1. screw it directly to the tripod or selfie stick with pivoting arm, being able to 360 degrees rotating, 2. remove the phone clamp from pivoting arm and then mount on a tripod or monopod.
- ADJUSTABLE WIDTH: 2.2inch-4.1inch(55mm-105mm), attachable to any regular-size smartphone, tripod, selfie stick, monopod or camera; two standard 1/4 x 20mm female thread interfaces meeting your various needs. Very functional and compact.
- MATERIAL: the black part made of sturdy plastic, the female threads inserted are brass, the male screw is steel and soft non-slipping silica gel pads, which protect your cellphone from scratch and hold the phone securely.
- ATTACHABLE TO: most mobile phones, tripods, unipods, selfie sticks, cameras, camcorders, pico projectors, including iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max/X/XS/XR/XS Max/8/7/6/6s Plus/SE/5s/5/5c, Samsung Galaxy S10/10+/S9/S9+/S8/S8+/S7/S6/S6 edge, Note10/10+/9/8 and Android phones.
- The app is still listed in the App Store and supports your iOS version.
- A grid or feed planning option appears in the app’s current interface. Menu names change between releases, so look for “grid,” “feed,” or “plan” rather than relying on older instructions.
- The planner lets you rearrange images after you have added them, not just place them once.
- Your edited images export at the resolution you need for Instagram.
- Any posting reminder still hands you off to Instagram, rather than attempting to publish on your behalf.
If any of these checks fail, a dedicated planning service or a simple mock-up of the grid in your photo editor will cover the same need.
Recommended Free Tools
Dedicated grid planners: how they compare
Several social media services offer their own grid preview. They differ most on what appears in the preview, whether they can publish, and which plan you need. The table below uses the most recent documentation available for each service.
Rank #3
- Instantly swap between portrait and landscape mode by rotating the side knob
- Universal compatibility with smartphones up to 3.7 inches wide, GoPros, digital cameras and webcams
- Includes a wireless remote with a range of 30 feet (without obstacle), so you can easily take individual, group and wide-angle shots
- The flexible legs wrap around bicycles, poles, branches and more for seamless stability
- Whether you're an amateur, enthusiast or professional, this is a must-have accessory for shooting on the go
| Service | What the grid preview shows | Existing posts | Publishing | Plan or access notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprout Social | Sent posts from the prior 90 days, plus pending, draft, or scheduled posts | Pinned posts are not shown in the preview | Not stated in the preview documentation | Documented for Professional and Advanced plans (Sprout Social support article, accessed October 7, 2026) |
| Kontentino | Instagram content created in Kontentino, which you can rearrange while unpublished | Only posts created directly in Kontentino appear | Not stated in the grid help page (dated August 12, 2026) | Not stated in the grid help page |
| Hopper HQ | Browser-based preview for arranging images | Not stated on the product page (accessed October 7, 2026) | The free planner is for visual planning only, with no direct publishing | Whether a subscription or account is required is not stated; check current pricing before you sign up |
Preview coverage
A preview is only as complete as the posts it includes. Sprout Social’s grid excludes pinned posts, so a profile with pinned content will not match the planner. Kontentino’s grid only shows posts you created inside Kontentino, which means posts made directly in Instagram or another tool will be missing. If your profile has a mix of sources, test the planner against what you already have before trusting it for a full layout.
Publishing versus planning
Hopper HQ’s free planner is explicitly visual only. Sprout Social and Kontentino are scheduling services, so their publishing features depend on the plan you hold. Keep the planning decision separate from the publishing decision: a tool that arranges tiles well may still leave the upload to you.
Rank #4
- One-Tap Open + One-Pull Close: The iPhone tripod features a Tap-to-Open mechanism that springs all three legs open the instant the base taps the ground — no prying, no unclipping, no two-handed struggle. One-Pull Close retracts everything in a single upward motion: lift the pole, legs snap shut, ready to pack. Solo traveler, street vlogger, or event photographer — set up in 1 second, pack up in 1 second, never miss the moment.
- 0.77lb Ultralight Build: The phone tripod stand uses ultralight construction to keep total weight at just 0.77lb (less than a full water bottle), so this is the tripod you'll actually bring, not leave at the hotel. Telescopic design extends from a 14" packed length to a full 65" shooting height, fitting cleanly into a backpack side pocket, carry-on bag, or large tote. Weighing-in-at-0.77lb portability means no bulge, no strain, and no second-guessing whether to pack it on a beach day, a day hike, or a cross-country flight.
- Zero-Wobble Tripod Base: The iPhone tripod stand delivers a zero-wobble triangular base that spans up to 17.7 inches wide, with aluminum alloy support bars and high-friction silicone feet that grip on hard floors, soft grass, beach sand, and rough outdoor terrain alike. Anti-tipping silicone pads lock load-bearing capacity in place so your phone stays framed even in light wind — no sandbag, no safety hand hovering underneath. Stability like this is what makes the difference between a shot and a missed shot.
- Built for Creators: The tripod for cell phone includes a cold shoe mount that connects directly to a microphone, LED light with no adapter required, upgrading any phone into a full recording rig. Dual selfie-stick and freestanding tripod modes switch instantly — selfie mode for run-and-gun vlogging, tripod mode for locked-down talking-head or product shoots. Cold shoe + Bluetooth remote + 65" height in one stick means one bag, one setup, zero compromise — for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram Reels, or live stream, whichever platform you create on.
- Flexible Adjustment: The selfie stick tripod supports 360° rotation and 180° tilt, allowing for effortless overhead, low-angle, and portrait-to-landscape switching. It's perfect for OOTDs, product reviews, beauty tutorials, or scenic shots. Its arms extend to fit devices up to 3.4 inches wide, compatible with iPhone 18/17/16/15/14 Pro Max. Integrated silicone pads ensure a secure grip, effectively preventing slips and scratches.
Choosing between them
- Choose A Color Story’s grid planning if you already edit on your phone, you want an edit-and-plan workflow in one app, and the current version still offers the feature.
- Choose a browser-based preview such as Hopper HQ’s if you only need to see a layout and do not need scheduling.
- Choose a scheduling platform such as Sprout Social or Kontentino if you need to publish from the same tool, and confirm that your plan includes the features you need.
Whichever you pick, do one test run with five or six real images from your profile before you commit a full month of content to the layout.
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Best Value
- Dual Cold Shoe Mounts: Attach microphones, lights, and accessories for enhanced photography or vlogging.
- Versatile Screw Design: 1/4" screw hole compatible with tripods, selfie sticks, cameras, and various accessories.
- 360° Rotation, 180° Tilt: Effortlessly switch between landscape and portrait mode with adjustable angle design for precise control.
- Universal Phone Compatibility: Fits smartphones from iPhone 14 to Galaxy S23 Ultra, accommodating devices within 2.16" to 3.7" width. For best results, avoid clamping directly on the side buttons. Adjust the position slightly higher or lower if your phone has thick cases or protruding buttons.
- Secure Grip: Thick non-slip silicone pad ensures stability even with a thick phone case.
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