Sometimes, you need more than one photo to tell a compelling story. From vacation snaps to fine art, creating a collage has always been a great way to share multiple images.
People used to make collages by sticking several prints and physical cut-outs on the same piece of card. Today, the process is much easier — particularly for Apple iPhone users.
While there is no built-in collage maker on iOS, there are countless third-party apps that are dedicated to the task, and many more that provide this feature. The question is, how do you use them to craft your own artwork?
In this guide, we’re going to show you how to make a collage on your iPhone in four simple steps.
Designing a collage on iOS is easier than you might think. You don’t need to buy expensive software, and you definitely don’t need any graphic design skills.
The process can be broken down into the following steps:
Let’s take a closer look at each stage of collage making now.
As we mentioned earlier, there is no collage making option in Photos. But search for “collage maker” on the App Store, and you will discover a vast list of editing apps that provide this option. Many of these tools do a decent job.
However, we have a word of advice here: the best photo collage apps are not the specialized tools.
As a rule of thumb, creative image editing tools and social media are generally more proficient in this area. For instance, Pixelcut has loads of great collage templates to choose from. You can also build collages in Instagram, although here you have fewer creative options.
Here’s our pick of the best apps for making collages on iOS:
1) Pixelcut (Free) — Easy-to-use photo editor with loads of collage layouts, plus creative options incl. stickers and background editing
2) Google Photos (Free) — Photo backup app with built-in collage maker that arranges photos automatically
3) Layout by Instagram (Free) — Collage app with a few simple layouts, allows you to post online
4) PhotoGrid (Premium) — Dedicated photo and video collage maker with lots of templates
5) PicCollage (Premium) — Collage maker with free and paid layouts
If you plan on making collages regularly, you might want to download more than one of the apps on this list. For instance, you could use Pixelcut as your primary image editor, and use Layout by Instagram to supplement your creative options.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that different apps give you access to different layouts.
A key ingredient in any successful collage is a good layout. While you can theoretically use any arrangement, certain styles tend to be more visually pleasing.
If you’re aiming to use your collage on social media, you also have size and format to consider. For instance, Instagram stories conform to the general shape of a smartphone held in portrait mode. Creating a collage in any other shape means precious screen space will go to waste.
This is why it’s a good idea to use an app with plenty of templates. With Pixelcut, you have a range of layouts to choose from — including plenty that are optimized for stories.
If you don’t need to fit the constraints of social media, you can pick from many other templates, including ones with circular and oval windows for your photos.
To browse through the options, simply hit Collages on the home screen and use the tabs at the top of the screen to view the different categories.
In theory, you can include any picture in a collage. And if you choose the right app, there’s no real limit on the number of photos you include.
That said, the best collages tend to include no more than three or four photos. Any more, and the images end up being too small to see properly.
Ideally, those pictures should either complement one another or tell a story. For instance, you could put together artistic shots with a similar style, or multiple snaps from a family day out. Collages made up of random or even clashing photos are rarely easy on the eyes.
Another factor to consider is the format of the photos you choose. If you pick out photos that are portrait, landscape, and square, you may find it more challenging to fit them together neatly in a single layout.
So, it’s a good idea to pick images in the same aspect ratio if possible.
If you really can’t bear leaving out a specific shot in a different format, you could try cropping your images. Square format often works for this; you can simply cut out some of the sky or the side of your shot, and concentrate on the main focal point.
Pixelcut can handle this for you. When you create a new collage, the photos you select from your camera roll will automatically slot into the spaces within your chosen template.
If you want a different crop, you can always adjust the positioning of each image within its frame using the collage tool.
Once you have selected your layout and chosen your photos, the final step in the process is to fine-tune your collage.
Most basic collage layout apps provide templates that can’t be changed. But more advanced photo editing apps allow you to switch things up a little.
In Pixelcut, you can choose a custom color, a custom gradient, or insert any image as a backdrop. If you don’t have a suitable iPhone photo on your camera roll, you can grab something from the built-in stock library.
In addition, the app allows you to choose exactly how each photo is presented within the collage. You can assign a background to each individual image, and round the corners of each image frame.
All these collage options can be found at the bottom of the screen when you create a new collage.
The creativity doesn’t stop there. Pixelcut has a range of freestyle tools that help you to apply a creative twist.
Within the editor, you can insert text in many different fonts, slap on stickers, and even add your own watermark. Just as importantly, you can apply each of these options with a couple of taps.
Once you have completed your collage, all that remains is to share it with the world (or just your friends).
Collages are great for sharing a whole heap of photos in your Instagram and Snapchat stories. You can also use collages to show off products in your online store, spice up your business website, or add some interest to your printed flyers.
Wherever you plan to publish your collages, Pixelcut makes it easy to share. The app provides one-tap export presets for most major sites, including social and ecommerce platforms.
You can access them by hitting the share icon in the top right at any time.
Pixelcut can do much more than collages. Powered by AI technology, the app allows you to remove backgrounds, make adjustments, and even create art — all with a couple of taps.
The best part? It’s free to download, and full access is super affordable.
Try Pixelcut for yourself today and discover why 10 million small businesses are already using the app!
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