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Layouts & Sizes There’s no standard size wall — that’s why CanvasPop offers a variety of sizes and layouts to fill any empty space. From 8' x 10' to 36' x 54' (and even larger!) we’ve got you covered. Whip a blank wall into shape with an artful arrangement of prints, paintings, plates, or photographs. Whip a blank wall into shape with an artful arrangement of prints, paintings, plates, or photographs. Taking a Photo Each Day Boosts Your Mood and Well-Being All Topics in Wall Art & Decor Wall Art & Decor.
- Wall Layout Tool
- Photo Wall Arrangement Software Free
- Photo Wall Arrangement Software For Windows
- Family Photo Wall Arrangement
- Picture Hanging Planner
- How To Arrange Family Pictures On Wall
- Design A Photo Wall Online
You could make a collage by piecing images together using a free photo editor, but it requires a lot of careful resizing and measuring, and really isn’t much fun. It’s much better to use a dedicated free photo collage maker, and there are some fantastic tools that make the job as simple as dragging and dropping, and make the process of creating an original design a real joy.
Modern phone cameras can take stunning print-quality photos, and you probably have some real gems stored on your handset right now – so why leave them there?
These are the tools – both web apps and desktop software – that will help you make gorgeous collages in moments, ready to print to canvas. Just get your photos ready with a free photo editor and you're ready to begin.
1. Fotojet
Feature-packed and fun; the best tool for making print-ready collages
Online photo collage maker Fotojet looks very much like Fotor and Canva (below), but is more flexible and fun to use than either, making it our number one choice.
To get started, click 'Collage' and choose either a grid or an illustrated design (in our opinion a simple grid-based layout shows off your photos better). Those marked with a crown are available to premium account holders only, but you can resize the image frames in any grid, so this isn't much of a drawback. You can also adjust the spacing and roundness of the boxes, and pick an aspect ratio for your canvas.
Click 'Add photos', then drag and drop them into the template. Once you’ve inserted an image you’ll be presented with a list of customizable Instagram-style filters to give your collage a bespoke look, plus advanced options for tweaking exposure, brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue. There’s a good selection of backgrounds to choose from too (either plain colors, or tasteful geometric patterns), plus clip art and text.
Once you’ve finished, you can save your creation as a JPG or PNG file (there’s no PDF option) at a compression setting and size to suit you. You can also share it via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Tumblr, or even print it directly from the browser. It's great fun to use, and easy to master.
Try it online: Fotojet
2. Canva
For printing to canvas, this online photo collage maker is a great choice
Like all the other browser-based collage makers here, most of Canva’s photo collage templates are free to use, but there are also premium designs available for a fee. These are clearly marked, so there’s no need to worry about creating a design, then being unable to export it without parting with a handful of cash.
To begin, set a new username and password, or sign in with your Facebook or Google account. Select 'Personal use' and you’ll be presented with a menu of project types, including social media graphics, banners, book covers, and presentations. Select 'Photo collage,' then 'See all collage templates' to see the full set of free options available. Alternatively, click 'Elements' and choose a grid, then start adding the images, borders, icons, and other items that will make up your collage.
To add your own pictures, click 'Uploads' and drag them from your desktop. You can then drag them straight onto your collage canvas. You can also add images from Facebook, or from Canva’s own library of free pictures. If you’ve chosen a grid layout, they will be resized and cropped to fit automatically.
Once you’re done, you can save your collage as a printable PDF, PNG, or JPG file, or make it public for others to use. You can even add crop marks and bleed space – an option that’s very useful for professional printing, and absent from most free collage makers.
The only drawback of Canva is that you can’t set the resolution of the output file (although you do have a choice of standard or print-quality PDFs). Beyond that, it’s a truly superb free collage maker.
Try it online: Canva
3. Fotor
Not just a great photo editor, browser-based app Fotor also has a module dedicated to making stylish collages from your best pictures
There are currently two versions of Fotor’s collage maker – one that uses Flash, and another built with HTML5. The former will soon be phased out in favour of the latter, but they work the same way.
Fotor's design isn’t quite as intuitive as Canva’s, but it’s still much quicker and easier than creating a collage from first principles. All of Fotor’s essential features are free, with extras available for a subscription fee. Premium membership also removes ads from the collage creator.
To get started, click 'Sign in' and either create a new account using your email address, or log in with Facebook (you’ll need an account in order to save your work as you move between tools). Once that’s done, click 'Collage', pick a template (those marked with a diamond icon are only available to premium account holders) and upload your pictures using the 'Import' button on the right. Click 'Fill in' on the left, and the spaces in your chosen template will be populated with the uploaded pictures – cropped and resized to fit automatically. It’s incredibly simple, and the quickest way to create a collage if you don’t mind letting the web app make creative decisions for you. Stickers and text let you give your design a personal touch before it’s exported. Unlike Canva, Fotor lets you choose the aspect ratio and resolution of your finished collage before saving it in JPG, PNG or PDF format.
Fotor is an excellent free collage maker, though its design is a little less intuitive than Canva, pushing it into a respectable third place.
Try it online: Fotor
4. PhotoPad
A desktop-based free collage maker that’s fast, if a little utilitarian
PhotoPad is a desktop collage maker, making it faster and more flexible than its browser-based counterparts. You don’t have to relinquish your email address or Facebook username to use it, either. Unfortunately, it looks a little dated, and lacks some of the features that make online collage makers so much fun, including stickers and filters.
Click 'Collage' to begin, and set up your canvas by choosing a size for the finished print. Next, pick the background that will show behind your images. Most of the patterns provided here are quite cheesy, but you can also use your own picture or a solid color.
Once that’s done, it’s time to choose a layout. There’s a great choice of grids (none are locked away behind a paywall), and you can customize the spacing between photos and roundness of the corners using a pair of sliders.
Click a space in your grid to add a photo from your PC. They will be resized to fit, and you can adjust the area to be cropped by clicking and dragging. Unfortunately there’s no way to add text or shapes within the collage editor, and neither are there any filters to give your pictures a fresh look before finalizing your design. If you really want to add extra elements, you’ll have to re-open the saved collage using PhotoPad’s main photo editor and make the alterations manually.
Download here: PhotoPad
5. piZap
A fun way to create collages for Facebook, but not the best for wall art
Unlike other browser-based free photo collage makers, piZap doesn’t ask you to part with your email address before you start creating your first design; just get stuck straight in. This is a handy time-saver, but has the disadvantage that you can’t save your progress and edit your creation at a later date.
First, pick a free design; there are options based around rectangles (our preferred choice), hearts, circles, and other shapes like stars. The latter options are better suited to greeting cards than wall art, and risk detracting from the impact of your photos. We’d also avoid the themed options, which are all rather cheesy.
Once you’ve picked a template, simply click each frame in turn to insert a photo. Not only can you upload images from your PC, you can also grab pictures from Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, and Flickr. The now-defunct Google Picasa is also listed.
Once your photos are in place, you can set a background color, adjust spacing, and add a drop shadow. There’s a good range of filters available, though they can only be applied to the entire canvas, not individual photos, and the clip art options lack subtlety. The remaining tools (paintbrushes and meme text) are fun for creating something silly to share online, but not for stylish wall art.
Once you’ve finished, the free collage maker only gives you one export option – a standard resolution JPG that’s fine for a small print, but not for a large canvas. Overall, piZap is best for making fun compositions to share on social media. If you want something to hang on your wall, the other tools here are much better choices.
Try it online: piZap
Wall pictures that are perfectly arranged and grouped can make an eye-catching statement in any room of your home. Learn the best way to arrange them to make the most of both the space and the pictures themselves.
Getting Started
The key to adding a group of pictures in your home is to match the right pictures with the right room. This will require some planning. There are many things to consider before measuring and hammering picture hangers.
- How to Arrange Decorative Objects
- How to Hang Pictures on Your Wall
- Does Each Wall Need a Picture Hanging on It?
Selecting Your Pictures
The first thing you need to do is select the pictures you wish to hang on the wall. Do you have enough pictures to create a grouping? If you don't have enough pictures for a grouping, you'll need to make a few select purchases to complete your collection.
Wall Layout Tool
Make sure you have enough photos to fill the space without having to spread them out too far, or clump them up together tightly. Ideally, there should be an inch or two between each of the pictures. Don't worry about the final number; the idea is to fill a space naturally not fit in a specific set of pieces.
Photo Wall Arrangement Software Free
Arranging New Pictures
If this is your first home and you have yet to accumulate enough pictures for a grouping, you have a couple of options. One is to place a single, focal point-style piece on the wall and slowly add pictures around it to produce the grouping over time. The second is to wait and hold off until you have accumulated enough pictures, then hang them all at once.
Frame It
Make sure the frames look good together as a grouping. You'll want to decide on a color or a group of colors for the frames. You may wish to go with a gold baroque and various gold ornate frames for a formal design. If your home is designed for casual living, then you might choose simplistic wood frames or if your décor is modern, black glossy frames.
The idea is to have at least one common element between all the frames. This may be the same shape, the same style or the same accent. This way you can add to your grouping over time, without worrying about finding an exact match for the other frames.
Mats Create Interest
Don't forget the matting. Mats offset the picture, giving it more weight and space. You can use a single mat, double or triple mats, provided you are consistent amongst all the pictures in the group. Color is also important when it comes to mat selections and hanging pictures in a grouping; try to find one common color in all the pictures and use it on all the mats. This may be as simple as white, or a more eye-popping red, depending upon both the color of the frame and the colors in the pictures.
Composition, Style, Theme and Color
Photo Wall Arrangement Software For Windows
A grouping of pictures becomes a focal point in your room, so play it up. Select pictures that have a common theme, such as a grouping of nature photos or a collection of black and white images. Use the style and composition of the pictures to provide continuity; you wouldn't group three abstract paintings in steel frames with reproductions of old master paintings in ornate gold-leaf frames.
It's important to decide on the theme you want. Perhaps you love the ocean and sailing. A collection of seascapes, beach houses, surf-fishing and sailboats will create a perfect grouping. If your furniture is dark wood with rich warm leather and your color scheme is golds, reds and browns, then you can repeat those colors with various pictures of sunsets.
Try to establish a color scheme to your grouping of wall art. Pick a color found in the room, and make sure that color is predominant in your pictures, such as picking up a shade of green from a throw rug and using some abstract paintings that feature it throughout the works.
Using What You Have
You might not have the money in your decorating budget to purchase new pictures and need to use what you have. The challenge with this kind of arrangement is to make a mis-match of frames and pictures come together. Create continuity between different styles and sizes of picture frames by painting them the same color. This technique works because the frames become a backdrop allowing the pictures to stand out.
Arrange the Pictures
Now that you have your pictures selected, you're ready to begin arranging them. Lay your pictures on the floor and begin arranging together.
Do a Trial Run
Using paper replicas of your pictures is a great way to figure out how they'll fit together on the wall, without committing or worrying about holes. Use either plain paper or color copies of your pictures to create replicas of your pictures. Try to get as accurate with sizing as you can, including the frame and matt. Use a little picture putty on the backsides to let you press and remove them easily from the wall.
Family Photo Wall Arrangement
Step back often to make sure they are just where you want them. When it's time to hang the real thing, remove them one by one and hang the pictures right in their place. This helps keep your lines from straying as you move from the replicas to the pictures themselves.
Create Balance
There are lots of different ways you can arrange photos in a space. Formal spaces may make use of three or more photos that are all the same size arranged into a square or rectangular grouping.
For more eclectic spaces, you can get a little bit more creative. Either arrange your pictures into a unique shape like a circle or cross, or try balancing the pictures by clumping small pictures together and balancing them with larger pictures. This is where you need to get a little creative, playing with the frames to find balance. You might place three smaller pictures to the right stacked on top of each other and then have two large pictures on the left balancing the others. If you're filling in a very large gallery wall with several different pictures, you may want to place larger pictures in the corners to frame the area, and fill in the interior with the various-sized pictures to complete the space.
If you have a hole to fill, consider framing a piece of fabric or printed cloth as a placeholder until you can find the right picture for the space. This is also a fun way to add a little extra color to the walls of contemporary, country and transitional homes.
Alternate Shapes
If you want to add some interest to the wall, consider using two different shapes, such as ovals and rectangles. Arrange them together by alternating the shapes, such as using a large rectangle on the left, with a smaller rectangle above a smaller oval just next to it. Finish with a larger oval on the right, or a large oval followed by a large rectangle. This creates some interest, while preserving the common theme.
Choose a Focal Point
Sometimes it helps to put a picture in the center to arrange the rest of the pictures around. This could be one large piece of artwork, one very bold color or a differing shape, such as putting a single oval picture in the middle of several rectangles.
Arrange by Tone
If you choose to group pictures together that have a common subject matter, rather than a common color scheme, pay attention to how you group the colors. Put darker paintings or pictures on the bottom of the grouping, while you place the lighter colors toward the top. Depending on how many pictures you have, you may want to gradate from light to dark in shades as well.
Hanging the Pictures
While it's always possible to simply put some picture hangers and hooks on the wall and arrange your pictures singularly, this isn't the only way to group and hang your pictures.
Picture Rods
Picture Hanging Planner
There may be times when you need to limit the number of holes you put in the walls. If you're confronted with this issue, but still want to create a gallery wall or other large arrangement, consider hanging the pictures from a rod. Use a curtain rod, wooden rail or piece of pipe and secure it to the wall or ceiling. Hang the pictures at varying heights along the rod using invisible fishing line. Be sure to hang the lowest pictures first, in case you need to layer pictures over the line up above.
Picture Wires
Similar to the picture rods are picture wires. String one long framing wire along the top of a wall, and either hang the pictures right on it without frames, or hang groups of pictures off the wire using fishing line.
How To Arrange Family Pictures On Wall
Picture Collages
Design A Photo Wall Online
If you want to hang large numbers of photos, but don't necessarily have the space, consider using some picture collage frames. Collage frames group photos together, some of one size, others of several varying sizes. You can hang a single collage, or group two or three together to get in a lot of artwork in a very small space.
Be Creative
A collection of pictures creates a focal point, so don't be afraid to try something different and dramatic when arranging and grouping wall pictures. Once you get it right, you'll be amazed at how something as ordinary as a collection of pictures can transform a space.