How to Create a Collage in Photoshop CS4

Individual pictures can be aligned and separated in a collage, or overlapping and angled.

Photo collages are multi-functional items. They can be used as a gift, decoration or even as a part of a presentation at work. Instead of paying someone to compile the collage, or a website to arrange the pictures, learn how to make photo collages from the home or office computer. Adobe Photoshop CS4 is a useful program for doing just that.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Photos

1. Open Adobe Photoshop CS4 and create a new project by choosing "File" then "New" from the menu at the top of the program. Change the width, height and resolution to the dimensions that the project calls for.

2. Open one photo that is to be included in the collage by clicking on "File" then "Open" and then select the photo from the folder in which it is stored. Click on "Window" then "Arrange" then "Tile Vertically" so that it is possible to see both the collage background and the photo that is about to be moved to the background.

3. Choose the "move tool" from the toolbar, and ensure that the option box "Show Transform Controls" at the top of the program is checked.

4. Click on the photo and drag it to the collage background. Position the photo in the correct place on the collage and change size and/or orientation if needed using the transform controls. After the position and size are correct, double-click inside the picture to finalize the move.

5. Repeat Steps 2 to 4 for all other photos that are needed to finish the collage.

Tips & Warnings

• The collage can be further personalized by adding text onto the top layer using the text tool or by adding color to the background of the collage before placing any pictures using the paint bucket tool.

References

• Adobe Press