How to Create Reels on Slate

Elevate your brand presence and recognition by using Slate for Reels on IG.

What's in this article:

• Why use Slate for Reels
• Does Slate hurt performance on Instagram? 
• Creating content for Reels
• How to edit videos on mobile
• How to edit videos on web
• How to create captions on mobile
• How to create captions on web
• How to add asset duration on mobile
• How to add asset duration on web
• Watermarking
• Safe Zones
• Photo editing for cover images
• Customer success stories

Why Use Slate for Reels?

When it comes to branded, short-form content that's ready for Reels, Slate is your go-to app. Slate combines flexibility, creativity and branded elements with an efficient, social-first user experience allowing anyone to make Reels easily, efficiently and on-brand.  Once you're done creating your latest Reel, just export it to Instagram or download for use later. 

Does Slate Hurt Performance on Instagram?

It's a question we had ourselves. Fortunately, thanks to a variety of discussions, it became clear that for Instagram, the most important thing you can do for your content is to build your brand. Brand recognition is what powers action and more so than any algorithm chasing methods (switching your focus every few months), building your brand will create an instant awareness and credibility to anything you do. 

Creating Content for Reels

To create eye-catching Reels, use these five Slate features:

1. Video Editing
2. Captions
3. Asset Duration
4. Watermarking
5. Safe Zones 
6. Photo Editing for Cover Images

1. Video Editing

Whether you use our timeline editor on mobile or on web, combining, trimming, and editing clips through Slate has never been easier with our video editing options. You can also use layouts to combine a video and photo or to have multiple clips playing at once. 

How to Edit Videos on Mobile

1. Open up the mobile app and select videos from 'Media' or 'Timeline' buttons in the toolbar.  If loading content through the 'Media' drawer, be sure to click the small movie icon at the bottom right of the drawer to select multiple videos
2. Once videos are added,  tap on the 'Timeline' button to trim, split, crop, reorder and edit your videos.
   
   
   
   

How to Edit Videos on Web

1. Click the 'Create Content' button at the top right of your web dashboard and select 'New Project'
2. Load your video clips into your media drawer and click each to add to the timeline.
3. Once videos are added, you can edit them from the video timeline by trimming, splitting, or duplicating them
   
   

 

2. Captions

Fast, seamless, and always in line with your brand’s look, Slate’s captioning tool on mobile and on web ensures that your Reels content stands out and stays accessible for all audiences. Simply upload your content on mobile, click the caption tool, choose your language, select your font and colors, and place the captions anywhere on screen.

How to Create Captions on Mobile

1. Upload a video
2. Click 'Captions' and select your language
3. Customize your captions by choosing your font, colors, size, and more
4. Make any text edits you need

How to Create Captions on Web

1. Upload a video
2. Click 'Captions' on the left hand toolbar and select your language
3. Choose your presets, customizations animations, and text placement
4. Make any text edits you need
5. If needed, when exporting, make sure to download the SRT file for other captioning uses
   
   

3. Asset Duration

For quick hitting text, sponsor logos, GIFs and graphics, asset duration is the key. Add some eye-catching elements to your video content with creative assets that pop on and off the screen according to your timing. 

How to Add Asset Duration on Mobile

1. Add any text, graphic, or media as a sticker to a video
2. Tap the element to set duration or go to 'Timeline' in the bottom toolbar and set duration there
   
   

How to Add Asset Duration on Web

1. Add any text, graphic, or media as a sticker to a video
2. Adjust the timing of the element in the timeline view by dragging the side handles of the element

4. Watermarking

In today's social media world, using watermarking filters is a go-to method of making sure any audience knows your content is actually yours.  By applying a simple watermark filter with your logo (or even a sponsor's logo) you can make sure that the brand stays top of mind no matter where the content is posted.

How to Watermark on Mobile

1. Design and load in a watermark filter and load it into your brand dashboard
2. Choose a piece of media
3. Scroll through and pick your preferred watermark filter from the 'Filters' button in the bottom toolbar
   
   

How to Watermark on Web

1. Design a watermark filter and load it into your brand dashboard
2. Choose a piece of media from your media drawer
3. Scroll through and pick your preferred watermark filter
   
   

5. Safe Zones

If you’re creating from your phone, make sure your content is clean by activating safe zones. Safe zones preview what content will look like when posted to social media by showing you where the native overlays will appear. It’s a helpful way to make sure none of your graphic elements will sit behind native overlay in platforms like IG and TikTok.

How to Use Safe Zones on Mobile

1. Click the three dots at top right corner of your screen
2. Toggle on 'Safe Zones' and choose your platform
   
   
   
   
3. When moving creative elements around your content, you'll now see the native navigation icons appear so you can avoid them. You can also long hold on your screen to see the safe zones preview
   
   

6. Photo Editing for Cover Images

Creating custom cover images can be a great to gain and retain attention by providing a preview or context to the Reel that's about to be watched. Organizations across industries use clean, branded cover images to increase their engagement. It's a simple step that can lead to big results. 

How to Edit Photos for Cover Images

1. Choose a piece of media you want to use as a cover image. This could be a photo or a screen capture of the video being used for the Reel
2. Apply branded fonts, graphics or filters to the image
3. Export the final image by clicking 'Share'
4. Open Instagram, and load it as the cover image for your Reel.

Customer Success Stories

Creating Reels with Slate is an efficient way to make high-quality, branded content quick. That's why users across the world have chosen Slate for their video content on IG. Examples of customers include the Dallas Mavericks who used Slate fonts and asset duration for an April Fools prank with nearly 15m views. 2K used our watermarks for Wrestlemania, and World Surf League showed off Kelly Slater's perfect 10 with some branded text. 

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FAQs:

Q: Will using Slate hurt performance on IG?

A: No. The best thing you can do for success on IG is to build your brand. This is a long-term strategy that plays into the strengths of Slate.

Q: Can Slate translate captions?
A: Not yet! Slate can only transcribe in the language being spoken in the video, and can only service one language per video.

Q: Can I use safe zones on web? 

A: No, safe zones are currently only available on mobile.

Q: Can I save my work as I go? 

A: Yes! On web, projects automatically save your work as you go. On mobile, go to the three dots in the top right corner to open up a menu and click 'Save Project.'  You can then access saved projects from that same menu.