How to Create a Collage Image the Easiest Way

So you see, there are plenty of reasons to create a collage, and two distinct ways of doing so…

The important first steps of creating a collage

Regardless of the method of editing you choose – both options detailed below – there are a couple of things you should deal with first.

You’ll already know why you want to create a collage, but first think about how many photos you want to use and pick the very best with this goal in mind. Having a particular layout in your head will help, too, but of course this might change as you start putting the collage together.

But it’s equally important to first edit the images you want to use. This might involve more heavy-handed retouching to remove unwanted aspects, or simple edits to brightness and contrast – but, either way, it is better to use images that are already perfected rather than editing them within the collage itself.

The old fashioned way of creating a collage image

If you have access to professional photo editing software, perhaps like Xara Photo & Graphic Designer, then it’s relatively simple to put together a collage of your own design. While there are other methods that are quicker and easier – which we’ll get on to later – as with many techniques in photo editing there is a lot more control and customization allowed if you choose to do it with professional image editing software.

Here’s the process:

Once everything has been put in its place and adjusted as you want it, your collage is complete. Export the image to have the collage ready to use, but consider deleting all those photos and saving the grid (not exporting) without anything inside. This way you won’t need to recreate it if you want to make another collage.

Remember that the color, pattern or background of the created grid can be changed. It’s a blank, white layer of all its own, so it’s easy to add in further details should you want to.

The easy way to create a collage image

But, of course, you probably don’t want to spend all this time fiddling around with guides, grids, and photo sizes, so even if you do have professional software it might be better to opt for something cloud-based. Fotor is a great option, not only because it includes image editing as part of its package, but projects can be saved to the cloud and you don’t need to pay to make use of the basic tools.

As such we’ve used Fotor as an example, but most online collage creators will work the same:

And that’s it! So much easier, right? Best of all is that most online collage creation tools will allow you to quickly and easily edit the background for the collage, allowing you to experiment much more effectively than if you created it yourself.