How do I make my screenshots look connected?
You can make screenshots look connected by continuing backgrounds, devices, shapes, images or other elements across multiple screenshots.
However, the space between screenshots is controlled by the app stores, not AppScreens. Apple and Google show different gaps depending on the platform, device and view, so it is not possible to create one perfectly seamless layout that connects everywhere.
Instead, you can adjust the positioning of your elements so they look more or less connected depending on the store preview or platform you are designing for.
Why is there a gap between screenshots?
The gap between screenshots is added by the app stores.
The spacing can look different across:
Apple App Store and Google Play
web, iPhone, iPad and Android
search results and app listing pages
ads and organic listings
different devices and screen sizes
This means a connected design may look perfect in one view, but slightly more spaced out or closer together in another.
Best ways to create a connected look
There are three main ways to make screenshots feel connected:
Goal | Best option |
|---|---|
Make the background flow across all screenshots | Use a panoramic background |
Continue one element from one screenshot to another | Use Continue on Screen |
Fine-tune how connected the screenshots look for a specific view | Adjust the element position manually |
Use a panoramic background
A panoramic background is the best option when you want the background to flow across your screenshot set.
You can use a solid colour, gradient, uploaded image, preset image or Unsplash image as a panoramic background.
To set this up, click Background in the top toolbar and choose your panoramic background style.
For more help, see How do I change the background?
Use Continue on Screen
Use Continue on Screen when you want an individual element to flow from one screenshot into another.
For example, you can continue:
a large shape or blob
a background-style image
a doodle, arrow or callout
a device mockup
a title or text element
a visual detail that should span multiple screenshots
To continue an element:
Move the element so it sits partly off the edge of the screenshot.
Right-click the element.
Click Continue on Screen.
Choose the screenshot you want the element to continue onto.
AppScreens adds the continued element to that screenshot.
Preview the result and adjust if needed.
Adjust the connection between screenshots
Because store gaps vary, you may need to manually adjust the element position after using Continue on Screen.
If the element looks too separated across screenshots, move the element further off the edge so more of it continues into the gap.
If the element looks too close, overlapped or cropped, move it back slightly.
The easiest way to adjust this is with drag-and-drop:
Hover over the element on the screenshot.
Click the move icon in the small toolbar.
Move or resize the element on the canvas.
Click Save positions or the green tick when finished.
If the element is hard to select, open Layouts & Elements and use drag-and-drop from there.
Use Exact Dimensions for finer control
Use Exact Dimensions when you want to adjust the connected element more precisely.
You can open Exact Dimensions by clicking the right-angle ruler icon beside the element.
For a continued element, adjust values such as:
X position
Y position
width
height
A common starting point when manually compensating for the store gap is to move the connected element by around 2% at the join.
For example, if you are manually positioning a continued element across two screenshots, you might start with values like:
first screenshot element: X / Left Inset: 2%
second screenshot element: X / Left Inset: -102%
Treat this as a starting point, not a fixed rule. The best value depends on the element size, screenshot size and the store preview you are trying to optimise for.
Adjust in small steps, then preview again.
Which store view should I design for?
Because the gap is different across stores and devices, choose the view that matters most for your app.
For example, you might optimise for:
iPhone App Store listing
iPad App Store listing
Google Play listing
search results
a specific device size
After adjusting your connected elements, open Preview & Export to check the result before downloading or uploading your screenshots.
Can I remove the gap completely?
No. AppScreens cannot remove the gap added by Apple or Google.
You can design around the gap by using panoramic backgrounds, Continue on Screen, and manual positioning adjustments, but the final spacing is controlled by the store and can vary depending on where the screenshots are viewed.