How to Create a Side-by-Side Photo on Your iPhone: Easy Methods

Is your iPhone storage constantly full? It might be time to declutter your photo library. CleanMy®Phone is an app designed to help you free up gigabytes of space by removing photo clutter.

Try it for free on the App Store. This smart app, powered by AI, quickly identifies and removes duplicate and similar photos, making your iPhone photo library perfectly organized in just minutes. It’s also compatible with your iPad.

Thinking about creating compelling photo combinations? Whether it’s a before-and-after comparison or a creative collage, your iPhone offers numerous ways to combine two or more photos into a single, unique image. You can achieve this directly on your iPhone without additional apps for simplicity, or explore options like Canva for more advanced features.

This guide will walk you through several methods to combine photos on your iPhone, including using screenshots, the Shortcuts app, and Canva, allowing you to choose the best approach for your needs.

Simple Ways to Combine Photos on Your iPhone

Like many iPhone users, you probably take countless photos. But have you explored creative ways to use them beyond just storing them? Combining photos is a fantastic way to express your creativity and share memorable moments with friends and family.

Creating photo collages allows you to transform ordinary photos into visually engaging stories, and it’s surprisingly easy to do right on your iPhone. Here are straightforward methods to combine multiple photos into a single image using just your iPhone.

How to Combine Pictures on iPhone Without Downloading an App

While the App Store offers apps for almost everything, you don’t always need a separate app to combine two or more photos on your iPhone. You can effectively combine photos using built-in iPhone features: screenshots and the Shortcuts app.

These methods are ideal for quick photo combinations and might not suit every scenario, but they are excellent for creating fast photo collages directly on your device.

Using the Screenshot Method to Create a Photo Collage

This technique works best for quickly combining photos already in a Photos app album. Note that you need to use an album other than the ‘Recents’ album, which organizes photos chronologically. Here’s how to use screenshots to make a photo collage on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Photos App: Launch the Photos app on your iPhone and go to ‘Albums’. Select an album, excluding ‘Recents’, that contains the photos you want to combine.
  2. Add Photos to Album (If Needed): If necessary, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and select ‘Add Photos’ to include more photos in your chosen album.
  3. Arrange Photos in Desired Order: Tap ‘Sort’ and then ‘Custom Order’ to manually arrange the photos.
  4. Reorder Photos: To reposition a photo, press and hold it, then drag it to your preferred location. Once you’re satisfied with the layout of your photos on the screen, prepare to take a screenshot.
  5. Take a Screenshot: Simultaneously press and hold either volume button and the power button to take a screenshot of your screen displaying the arranged photos.
  6. Crop Your Screenshot: Open the screenshot in the Photos app. Tap ‘Edit’ > ‘Crop’. Drag the crop corners to frame just the photos you want in your collage, whether it’s a side-by-side photo or a collage of multiple images.
  7. Save Your Collage: Tap ‘Done’ to save your newly created photo collage to your camera roll.

Keep Your Photos Organized with CleanMy®Phone

Experimenting with photo layouts can quickly fill up your iPhone storage. CleanMy®Phone is a useful app to manage your photo library, ensuring it stays clutter-free so you can focus on creative projects. Regularly using CleanMy®Phone can help you manage your growing photo collection efficiently. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Download and Open CleanMy®Phone: Get CleanMy®Phone from the App Store and open it on your iPhone.
  2. Start Declutter Scan: Tap ‘Declutter’ > ‘Scan’.
  3. Review Screenshots: Tap ‘Screenshots’ to view all your previous collage attempts and other screenshots.
  4. Select Photos to Delete: Deselect any screenshots you wish to keep.
  5. Check Other Categories: Explore other categories like ‘Duplicates’ to remove similar or identical photos.
  6. Clean Up Photos: Once you’ve made your selections, tap ‘Clean’. The selected photos will be moved to the ‘Recently Deleted’ album in your Photos app. Remember to empty this album to permanently free up space.

For further cleaning, use the ‘Organize’ feature to find and remove similar photos, helping you streamline your photo library even more.

Add Text and Drawings to Your Combined Photos Using Markup

Your iPhone has a built-in tool called Markup that allows you to personalize your photo collages before sharing them. Whether you’re creating side-by-side comparisons or adding creative touches to your photo combinations, Markup is a handy tool. You can use Markup to add text, drawings, or shapes to your collages for extra personalization. Here’s how to use Markup:

  1. Open Your Collage: Open the collage you created using the screenshot method.
  2. Enter Edit Mode: Tap ‘Edit’ at the top right corner.
  3. Access Markup Tool: Tap the pen icon, which is the Markup tool. Choose a pen style and select a color and thickness.
  4. Add Annotations: Draw directly on your image. Tap the ‘+’ icon for more options, such as adding text boxes, signatures, or shapes to your photo.
  5. Save Your Edits: Once you’re satisfied with your additions, tap ‘Done’ twice to save the edited photo to your library.

Combine Photos on Your iPhone Using the Shortcuts App

For those who frequently combine photos, the Shortcuts app offers a more streamlined and efficient method. It’s particularly useful for creating side-by-side before-and-after photos. Once set up, you can combine photos with just a single tap. Here’s how to create a shortcut to combine two photos on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Shortcuts App: Locate and open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. It might be in the App Library if you haven’t used it before.
  2. Create a New Shortcut: Tap the ‘+’ icon at the top right to start a new shortcut.
  3. Add Select Photos Action: Tap ‘Add Action’. In the search bar, type ‘Select Photos’ and choose the ‘Select Photos’ action under ‘Media’. Toggle on ‘Select Multiple’ to allow choosing more than one photo.
  4. Add Combine Images Action: Tap ‘Add Action’ again. Search for ‘Combine Images’ and add this action.
  5. Configure Combine Images: Choose your preferred arrangement for the photos (Horizontally for side-by-side, Vertically, or Grid) and adjust the spacing between photos as needed.
  6. Finalize Shortcut: Tap ‘Done’ to save your new shortcut. Name it something like “Combine Photos Side by Side” for easy access.

Now, to use your shortcut to quickly combine photos, especially for creating a side-by-side image:

  1. Open Shortcuts: Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
  2. Run Your Shortcut: Tap the shortcut you created, such as ‘Combine Photos Side by Side’.
  3. Select Photos: Choose the photos you wish to combine from your photo library and tap ‘Add’. The shortcut will automatically combine the photos according to your pre-set specifications, and the finished image will be saved in your photo library.

How to Combine Two or More Photos Using Canva

If you enjoy combining photos and want more creative control, numerous free apps offer greater flexibility than the built-in iPhone tools. Canva is a top recommendation for this. The free Canva app provides all the necessary tools to create impressive photo collages and combinations on your iPhone, with optional premium features for advanced users.

While Canva’s interface might seem a bit complex initially, it’s actually quite intuitive once you start exploring. Creating an account allows you to access your projects on both your iPhone and desktop, which is especially useful for more detailed editing on a larger screen.

Here’s how to use Canva to combine photos and create collages:

  1. Download and Open Canva: Download Canva from the App Store and launch the app.
  2. Start a New Project: Tap the ‘+’ button to begin a new design. Select a pre-set image size or choose ‘Custom size’ for a specific dimension.
  3. Choose a Grid Layout: Tap ‘Elements’ and then select ‘Grids’. Browse and choose a grid layout that suits your collage needs.
  4. Add Photos: Tap the ‘+’ icon within the grid and select ‘Camera Roll’.
  5. Select Images: Choose the photos from your library you want to include in your collage and tap ‘Add to page’.
  6. Arrange Photos in Grid: Drag each selected image into a grid square. Double-tap on an image to adjust its position or crop within the frame.
  7. Customize Further: Enhance your collage by adding text overlays, stickers, or graphics from Canva’s extensive library.
  8. Save Your Collage: Once you’re happy with your design, tap the download icon and then ‘Save Image’ to save your collage.

Other Apps for Combining Photos

While Canva is highly recommended, there are many other excellent apps available for combining photos on your iPhone, offering various features and creative options. Explore apps like PicCollage, Layout from Instagram, and MOLDIV to find one that fits your style and needs.

Whether you opt for screenshots, Shortcuts, or a dedicated app, your iPhone offers powerful tools to combine photos creatively. Experiment with these techniques and don’t forget to manage your photo storage regularly!

Want more free space on your iPhone? Get CleanMy®Phone and declutter your photo library today.

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