Last week I mentioned that I’d be playing along with Amber of Starfish Jewelry and taking a photo each day to document our summer. Did you do it too? Here is our week in snapshots:
I’m linking up at Starfish Jewelry Designs : click the button below to link up too.
I’ve been asked a few times how I create my photo collages {you can see more examples here and here}. And now I will give out my secret.
That’s right. There’s no fancy photoshop steps involved : just Google’s pretty amazing free photo-editing software called Picasa.
There are lots of different ways to edit your photos and as I get more into photography, I’m learning more about how important editing is. But Picasa has been a great resource for me {especially since it is simple and free} and is what I often use for my photos on the blog. You can download it HERE.
Once you have it installed on your computer, import your photos either from your camera or from a file on your computer. You can learn more about the editing features on the picasa site, but feel free just to play around – they make it pretty easy. Okay, on to the tutorial :
When you open picasa and have photos uploaded, it will look something like this:
Now you can select the photos you would like to put in your collage
click on a photo, then click the ‘pin’ button to add to the ‘que’ to be used in the collage
Once all of your photos have been selected, click the collage button
decide how you would like your photos displayed from the options {I used GRID}
When you are happy with the collage, click create collage.
If you’d like to add text to your collage, click text
then select your font, size and color and type in the desired text
When you collage is finished, you can upload to an online photo printing store, email it to your family or friends, print at home or export it {which is what I do to use on my blog}.
Pretty easy, right? Have fun with it!
{just a few more examples}
I love Picasa too, but since Google took over I am finding weird glitches. I just made a collage for my child’s class, and it took forever. Here’s why. It kept doubling the kids to make the collage the right number of kids. Who wants a collage with a child in the photo twice in exactly the same picture? I do not want Picasa doing things I am not asking it to do. Then when I add text it looks great as it is preparing to edit and create the collage. Then when it is done the text is partially out of the box. It keeps moving my photos around. Oh my. Anyone have any advice to save my sanity? Thank you!
That was so helpful. Clearly Picasa is user friendly, but navigating it for the first time it was nice to have some guidance!
Thank you! I’ve had Picasa all this time and never used this feature. Just posted my first collage photo. Love it!
Can this be used to create inspiration boards, as well?
I have been trying to work out how to do this for so long. You made it so simple to follow these steps and I have already created my first collage! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for this tutorial, Emily. I have been using Picasa for YEARS and had no idea how to do this. It’s so easy! You are so wonderful to share your creativity and ideas.
Who knew?!!! I have been using Picnik forever and am so glad to see there is another way of making collages. I love how easy it was, can’t wait to give it a try!
Thanks SO much for this tutorial! I used it today!
http://thisnestisbest.com/2011/07/06/fourth-of-july-re-cap-a-pirates-life-for-me/
i have the same question as lauren from above. i uploaded my collage to blogger and it was small so i was wondering how to make it larger! any help? thanks
See reply above – hope it helps!
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I had no idea about a downloadable version of Picasa! It’s great!
Thank you Emily! This is wonderfully simple and I appreciate how it’s free!
thanks so much for this tutorial! one question, when i upload them to blogger they are small, like the size of a normal picture (even when i choose the large size) any tricks for making them larger? i wasn’t sure it that was on the picasa or blogger side. thanks!
Not sure about blogger’s side of things, but I noticed in the left hand column of Picasa, you can create a custom size under the “Page Format” drop down. I created a “Blog Collage” size to utilize the exact width of my blogs columns.
Thank you so much for this! I have been wondering for a long time how to do it~
Love your pictures!! Your babies look are so stinkin’ cute! Thank you so much for the Picasa tutorial- Im going to try it :)
I just wanted to thank you for teaching me about the collages on Picasa. We have had our pictures on Picasa for years, but I haven’t played with the collage feature. Thank you so much. You are so appreciated. Blessings to you!
I pretty much love you for this. I use Picasa online albums and also had no idea this was possible. THANK YOU!!!
i’ve enjoyed reading your blog and have wondered how you get the corners of your pictures rounded. Is that picasa too? Thanks for sharing.
Cool! Never did that in Picasa before…
Can you share what program you use for your graphics? Since you don’t use photoshop? I assumed…I’d like to make personalized chore charts and stuff with the pretty chevrons, etc…
Yes!!! You made my day with this tutorial! I am super exciting to start making collages on the family blog. :)
Great captures! I Love the collage option on Picasa and use it all the time!
Echoing the thanks for the tutorial… used it tonight for my blog. Love it!
Thank you for the tutorial! The collage looks super easy and it will be super useful too! I appreciate all the work you put into helping those who read your blog.
Thanks for the tutorial! I used to use Picasa and got away from in since I got a new Mac. I will have to try it again!
I also linked up on The Starfish Blog!
Hope to see you there again next week!
I just made a collage for a blog post I have been meaning to finish for over a month. THANK YOU for the Picasa tutorial. It was so easy! I will be using this A LOT for future blog posts!
Hi Emily!! Love the collage! I may have to try that for next weeks snapshots!! I love the waterslide, so fun!! Was that in your backyard? Thanks so much for linking up! xoxo
thanks for sharing the collage making info. this is great info.
Wow- I have Picasa and use it occasionally, but I’m so glad you posted these tips! I had no idea this was an available option. Thanks!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have a tendency to over-think things and this helps simplify my life!
can’t believe this was there all along…i’ve used picasa for forevvver!!! thanks for the info, and ps—your family is just too cute. what a lucky momma you are!
-mer
Thanks for the tutorial on creating a collage in Picasa. I have played around with that feature a bit and have gotten frustrated. This should definitely help! Thanks again!
Thank you for sharing this!! : )
I LOVE your tutorials! You speak our language, and make them so easy to follow. Thank you! Now I just can’t wait ’til you teach us how to create an online signature. I know you don’t use one but a girl can dream.
thanks, adorable!
d e n i s e
i heart picasa. cute summer pics!
thank you thank you thank you.
I’ve alway wondered how people do that and I already have Picasa, guess I really don’t know what it is capable of. Thanks for another great tutorial.
Thanks for the tutorial. I love using Picasa but I have not done a collage with it yet. I will now, thanks to you!!! Your Summer is looking like a lot of fun so far. Enjoy…
GREAT tutorial!! Thank you so much! Looks like y’all are having a fun start to your summer :)
Okay, sad but true fact: I use Picasa all the time and had no idea you could do this. In fact, I was editing a post in Livewriter and kept thinking, “I THOUGHT I saw a collage button somewhere around here,” and it occurs to me now that I had probably just seen it in Picasa because I was clicking back and forth to it.
Thanks for the “aha!” moment. : )
we’ve had our pictures on picasa for a while and i never knew you could do this. thanks so much!
Thank you, thank you for this…..I can’t wait to try it!
Blessings!
Abby
i was JUST thinking that i really want to learn how to make these fancy collages i keep seeing everywhere. thanks so much for another wonderful tutorial!!
little one swinging looks so much like you
&
at the risk of breaking your heart, i do believe she looks a little grown up….
and to date myself i’ll go ahead and throw this in…picasa is the bomb!