The latest articles on DEV Community by Nicholas Xander Davis (@nicholasxdavis). https://dev.to/nicholasxdavis https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F1931156%2Fb8263d1e-c86f-4378-a952-3c295a9d6195.png https://dev.to/nicholasxdavis en Nicholas Xander Davis Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:59:06 +0000 https://dev.to/nicholasxdavis/instatools-for-instagram-posts-4bm https://dev.to/nicholasxdavis/instatools-for-instagram-posts-4bm <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Freptmpyskyay6avn89lr.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Freptmpyskyay6avn89lr.png" alt=" " width="800" height="450"></a></p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Ficuaq96w3wwn80cp8vmc.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Ficuaq96w3wwn80cp8vmc.png" alt=" " width="800" height="450"></a></p> <p>I built instatools, an open-source tool for creating Instagram graphics without AI. It comes with customizable layouts, typography, colors, and design elements, so you can create polished posts without starting from scratch or spending time learning a full design suite.</p> <p>The project has been tested and used over the past year across multiple Instagram accounts, including:</p> <p>Underground New Mexico: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/undergroundnewmexofficial/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/undergroundnewmexofficial/</a><br> Southwest Baddies: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/southwestbaddiesofficial/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/southwestbaddiesofficial/</a><br> Arizona Most Wanted: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arizonamostwanted/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/arizonamostwanted/</a><br> AZ Most Wanted: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/azmostwanted__/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/azmostwanted__/</a><br> Southwest Underground Scene: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/southwestundergroundscene/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/southwestundergroundscene/</a><br> Nevada Foos: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nevadaa_foos/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/nevadaa_foos/</a></p> <p>And several others.</p> <p>Most Instagram design tools either give you a full design suite and leave you to figure everything out, or use AI to generate graphics. InstaTools takes a different approach. It provides 24 ready-to-use layouts based on formats already popular with Instagram news, entertainment, meme, and sports pages.</p> <p>These include breaking news graphics, WorldStar-style gossip cards, match scoreboards, tweet cards, cutout photo compositions, and more. Choose a layout, replace the images and text, make adjustments, and export.</p> <p>No prompts, no AI, and no unnecessary steps.</p> <p>Local export is a core part of the project. Free layouts run entirely in the browser, and images are never uploaded during the editor export process.</p> <p>PNG exports are generated through a custom Canvas 2D rendering engine rather than taking screenshots of the page. The same Vue templates power both the browser editor and server-side renderer, keeping previews and API output consistent.</p> <p>The API also makes it possible to generate graphics programmatically using JSON input and receive a finished PNG in return.</p> <p>The idea behind InstaTools is simple: Canva is built for designing anything, and AI tools are built around generating something. InstaTools is built for people who already know what kind of Instagram graphic they want and just need a faster way to make it.</p> <p>Website: <a href="https://useinstatools.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://useinstatools.com</a><br> License: MIT</p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fpkgy7bnmk13oql32buus.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fpkgy7bnmk13oql32buus.png" alt=" " width="800" height="800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fbfll5gcf9icr6wzrec5g.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fbfll5gcf9icr6wzrec5g.png" alt=" " width="800" height="800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2F9k7mg9jilfukai988n99.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2F9k7mg9jilfukai988n99.png" alt=" " width="800" height="1000"></a></p> instagram opensource automation marketing