How to Create a Photo Collage Template in Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is a powerful layout design application. InDesign is also highly integrated with the other programs of the Adobe Creative Suite, such as Photoshop and Illustrator. This makes the program ideally suited for users who want to templates for layouts that will display photo collections and other graphics. Create a great-looking photo collage using just a single shape.

Open InDesign and create a new document from the “Create New” portion of the welcome menu. Set the “Orientation” to landscape and set a size for your collage. Click “OK.”

Select the Rectangle tool from the Tools panel to the left of the layout. This shape will serve as the frame and border of any photo that you place inside of it. You can resize and reposition the rectangle by using the Selection tool from the Tools panel. Click on the Rectangle to select it. Click and drag the anchor points on the sides to resize it and click and drag inside of it to move it around the layout.

Select “File > Place” and locate a photo to place it inside the confines of the rectangle. Resize and move the photo by clicking on it with the “Direct Selection Tool” from the Tools Panel. This will show you what the photos will look like in the collage layout.

Insert more rectangle shapes of various sizes and orientations until the layout is full. Add frames of other shapes by inserting them from the tools nested with the Rectangle tool. Repeat the “File > Place” process in each shape for a good look at how the layout will look as a photo collage.

Rotate some of the shapes by selecting them with the Selection tool and then switching to the Rotate tool. Click and drag in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion outside of the shape to rotate it in that direction. This will add variety to the template and break up the images for a more organic aesthetic.

Save your template by selecting “File > Save As” from the application menu. You can replace the photos any time you want with the “File > Place” command.