Have you recently returned from a nice vacation and are you looking for a practical and at the same time elegant system to be able to show friends, relatives and colleagues the beautiful photos you have taken during these days? Yup? Well, then why don't you try and do a good one collage? Yes, you read that right! By using some special programs, you can easily create beautiful collages and display them in public or share them online.
Di programs for making photo collages there are galore, for both Windows and macOS, both free and paid. There are also various online services available thanks to which you can create your own photographic compositions directly from the browser, without having to install anything on your computer.
Regardless of the platform to which they are intended and the possible license cost, all the programs to make photo collages that I am about to tell you can be used without any kind of problem even by those who, a bit like you, do not consider themselves exactly a great expert in computer science and / or photo editing. Happy reading and have fun!
Programs to make free photo collages
Let's go straight to the heart of the article and see some together programs to make free photo collages (at least in their basic use). I'm sure you won't be disappointed at all.
CollageIt (Windows/macOS)
One of the best you can turn to is CollageIt, a program available for both Windows and macOS through which you can make photo collages with some ease. Basically it is free, but the removal of some limits (for example the inability to cut images to insert in your projects) requires the purchase of the license, which costs $ 39,90, except for promotions.
To download CollageIt, go to its home page and click on the button Download placed in correspondence with the operating system in use on your computer: the logo on Windows if you use the Microsoft operating system or the Apple logo if you use a macOS.
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, april il .exe file just got it, click on the buttons Yes e OK, put the check mark on the box I accept the terms of the license agreement, click on your bottone NEXT four times in a row and click on the buttons Install e end.
If you are acting from a MacInstead, open the package .dmg you downloaded, drag the icon of CollageIt in the folder Applications say macOS, click on destroy the program icon and select the voice apri twice in succession (this procedure must be done only at the first start of CollageIt, to "override" the restrictions imposed by macOS on applications from non-certified developers.
After installing and starting the program, choose the model that you want to use among those available, drag the photos you want to make the composition with to the left of the program, adjust the parameters using the settings on the tabs layout e Gallery (on the right) and, if you wish, personality it background of the collage, by clicking on the appropriate button.
When finished, click on the button Export and specify whether to save the photo collage locally, whether to share it via e-mail, Flickr o Facebook or, again, if you set it as computer wallpaper.
ShapeCollage (Windows / macOS / Linux)
Another solution to create collages for free is Shape Collage, a program that allows you to mix images together in a rather simple and fast way. It must be said that in its free version there are some limits: it can be used only for personal purposes, it is not possible to act on the images that are present in the composition and it is not possible to remove the watermark applied by default to your works. To remove these limits, you need to purchase the paid version, which costs $ 40.
To download Shape Collage, go to its download page, click on the item Download placed under the name of the operating system in use (eg. Windows). Subsequently, if you use Windows, april il .exe file downloaded, click on the button Yes, then on the buttons OK, NEXT, Accept, Once again NEXT, Install e end, but will conclude the setup.
I invented a Mac, all you have to do is open the package .dmg that you got from the ShapeCollage site, drag the program icon into the folder Applications and, after going to this last position, right-click on the application icon itself and select the item twice apri (you need to do this only the first time you open it to "bypass" Apple's restrictions on non-certified software).
After installing and starting ShapeCollage, go to the folder where there are the photos to be used for making the collage, select them with the mouse and drag them, holding down the click, in the left part of the program window, under the heading Gallery. Next, check the box relating to the shape you want to give to the composition (eg. Rectangle, Grid, Heart, Etc.).
Now, click the button Manual and define in the appropriate text fields the values you want to give to indicate the size of the collage (if you prefer, you can leave everything set automatically by not changing the option that is set by default, that is Car). Also specify how many photos you want to use among those imported into the program (eg. All to use them all) and define the photo spacing using the appropriate option.
Then click on the tab Appearance, tap on white rectangle or on the item Gallery to choose the color or image to use as the collage background, and use the field Board to decide the color and size to give to the border.
Once all these aspects are defined, click on the button Crea and, if you are satisfied and have no other changes to make, click on the item Save Collage As ... from the menu Fillet (top left) to save your work in the format and position you like best. Simple, right?
Other programs for making photo collages
There are so many other programs to make photo collages that deserve to be taken into consideration. Check out the ones listed below.
- TweakNow PerfectFrame (Windows) —is a free software for Windows operating systems that is quite simple to use and thanks to which you can create beautiful photographic compositions by combining up to ten images with a hundred different predefined layouts. The program interface is very simple and highly understandable even though it is not translated into British. The software offers a good margin of customization thus allowing the user to choose collage background colors, photo margins and much more.
- Collagerator (Windows / macOS) - is a completely free to use program for Windows and Mac PCs that allows you to create different types of custom collages from templates. To use it, just start the program, choose the page format and orientation of the collage and one of five different types of collages. Then you have to upload the images, move them around and play with the theme options to get the perfect result. The resulting collage can be saved in the program or as an image on your computer.
- webGobbler (Windows / macOS / Linux) - this is a no-cost program for Windows, macOS and Linux that allows you to create photo mosaics taken from the Internet with a decidedly interesting final effect. The program provides users with different effects that allow them to obtain different results each time. You can also rotate images, add shadows, change colors, and much more. At the end of the operation, the software allows you to choose whether to set the collage as your computer wallpaper or as a screensaver.
Program to make photo collages with music
You came to this guide to find a program to make photo collages with music? Then take a look at the solutions listed below because they may be right for you.
SmartSHOW 3D (Windows)
If you have one PC Windows, you consiglio di provare SmartSHOW 3D: is an application characterized by a simple and intuitive user interface, which does not lack useful functions for the creation of fantastic musical photo collages. Among the most interesting features are fantastic three-dimensional effects, more than a hundred transition effects, support for major file formats and much more. It can be tested free for 10 days, using a maximum of 15 slides for each project; you have to buy the license (starting from 29,40 euros) to continue using it.
To download the SmartSHOW 3D trial, go to its download page and click on the green button Download. Then open the .exe file you have just downloaded and click on the buttons Yes, install e Start the software, but will conclude the setup.
After installing and running the program, choose to continue with the free trial and decide whether to start creating a new project, whether to create a presentation in 5 minutes using the ready-to-use templates of SmartSHOW 3D or if open a project already existing.
At this point, select the tab Add (top left) and choose whether to add to your project Photo and video, Collage, Titles o clip, using the appropriate tabs and drag the elements of your interest into the timeline at the bottom.
As for adding the music, you can select a song from music collection present in the program, take it from a file or register voice comments in real time. After choosing a song, you can possibly adjust it volume and fades and activate the automatic synchronization with the photos you added in the project you are working on.
To preview the output result, you can use the player located at the top of the window and, if you are satisfied with what has been done, save the video by going to the tab Crea and click sul bottone Create Video Presentation, to create a video for a computer, tablet or smartphone; Create DVD Slide Show, to make a DVD video (paid option) or Create Internet Videos, to make a video optimized for the web.
In conclusion, choose the output format you prefer (eg. REVIEWS, MPEG4, etc.), click on the button NEXT, choose also quality e resolution of the output file, decide whether to apply a filigree to the video and click on the button starts, to select the location to export the movie to.
Photo (macOS)
Gallery di MacOS includes a very useful function for making collages with photos and music. If you have a Mac, then, you can take advantage of the famous Apple program dedicated to managing and editing photos and videos.
To use it, open Photos by clicking on the icon stylized flower present in the bar Dock or in Launchpad and, after selecting the photos to include in the music collage (which is doable by holding down the key cmd as you click onpreview of the photos of your interest), click on the items Create> Slide Show> Photos from the menu Fillet located at the top left, in the macOS menu bar.
In the window that opens, type the title you want to give to the presentation using the appropriate text field and click on the button OK. Fully automatically, Photos will have created a slideshow with the previously selected images, also adding background music.
To customize the presentation, click on the icon two overlapping rectangles (on the right) to change the theme; click on the symbol of music note to change the music and on that of the stopwatch to customize video length, transition effects, etc.
When finished, click on the button Export located at the top right, choose an output format (eg. High Definition (1080p)) and the location to export the presentation to. Then click on the button Save to start saving the video. Easier than that ?!
Program to make photo collages online
You have no intention of installing software on your PC and hence, you are looking for a program to make photo collages online? No problem! There are many online services that allow you to do this and I have listed some of them below. Take a look!
canva
The first online solution that I recommend you to try is without a doubt canva, a very famous Web service through which it is possible to create many graphic works. It works after free registration and access to some advanced functions requires the subscription of a subscription starting from 109,99 euros / year.
To use it, go to the main page of Canva, click on the button SUBSCRIBE (top right) and register via your address email, your account Facebook or your account Google.
After registration, click the button Other (top right) and click the option Photo collage. In the new tab that opens in the browser, select the model you like best from those in the section Canva layout and replace the sample images with your photos, which you can upload using the button Uploads on the left (to upload images just click on the button Upload multimedia content and upload the ones you intend to use).
Then, drag the images you uploaded into the collage, so as to replace them with the example ones and that's it. If you wish, you can add some as well text, customize it background of collage, etc. using the appropriate buttons. When you are ready to do this, click on the symbol of freccia rivolta verse il basso (top right), select the output format you prefer and click on the button Download.
Other useful solutions to make photo collages online
If the solution mentioned above is not for you, you can try these other solutions to make photo collages online because they are very reliable services and tools.
- Photovisi - it is an excellent online service, available for free (in its basic version) and compatible with all web browsers and operating systems, which is very simple to use and which provides users with numerous and interesting functions. Depending on your preferences and needs, you can choose from many different layouts and, subsequently, indicate whether to download your creation to your computer or to share it on social networks.
- Photor - is a noteworthy web service when it comes to photo collages. In fact, it allows you to create collages in a very simple way using a series of preset templates. It is free in its basic use, but to access all its features you need to take out a subscription starting at $ 8,99 / month.
- Quick Picture Tools - it is a free and perfectly usable Web application from any browser, which offers an extremely simple and immediate solution to make online collages made up of multiple photos joined together.
For more information on how to make photo collages online, I refer you to reading the guide I dedicated to the topic.
App to make photo collages
I conclude the guide by listing a few app to make photo collages which can come in handy if you also want to act as a smartphone and tablet.
- Layout from Instagram (Android / iOS) - very famous app belonging to the category in question which is developed by Instagram (can also be used without being registered in the photographic social network), which allows you to create simple photo compositions using its "clean" and minimal user interface.
- Pic Collage Maker (Android) - app dedicated to making photo collages, which allows you to make them very easily thanks to its ready-to-use templates, which are free and attractive.
- ShotCut (iOS) - application dedicated to the creation of photo collages, which boasts hundreds of ready-to-use templates, some of which are free and others are only available by signing up for a subscription starting from 32,99 euros / year.
If you want to learn more about the use of these and other applications to make collages, take a look at the guide I have dedicated to the topic.
Programs for making photo collages
