The following provides a step-by-step process of creating a collage using Picnik.
Step 1 - go to Picnik
Step 2 - On the home page, click on collage.
Step 3 - Choose the collage layout. In the image below, you'll see "basic" and premium:
For the purposes of this tutorial, I've used the 1st layout under basic. Note: You do not have to have a pro account to access any of the "basic" options.
Here's what the right hand side of the page looks like (see below). This is where you will drag and drop the photos you want in your collage.
Step 4 - Select the photos. At the bottom of the page, you'll see that Picnik offers a variety of options with respect to where you pull your photos from. Here are the options:
For the purposes of this tutorial, I've opted to get my photos from my Flickr account.
Step 5: Because I had selected Flickr, here's what the bar at the bottom looks like (see below). I will next make my selection as to what photos I want in my collage by clicking on the photo (one by one) and dragging it into one of the gray boxes.
Step 6: As you can see in the image below, I've dragged two photos into the gray boxes. Once a photo has been uploaded, you can move the actual photo itself inside the gray box. If you're not pleased with the photos you've selected, simple click and drag a new photo.
Step 7: Once you've selected your photos, you can get further creative by adjusting the spacing, the color of the frame, etc... Those functions can be found directly underneath the grid options:
Spacing: By sliding the spacing bar, I can make the frame larger or smaller.
Color: Directly to the right of the spacing bar is a color box. This is where you would choose the color of your frame.
Proportions: By using the slider, you can adjust the spacing between the two photos.
Kookiness - By using the slider, you can adjust how the photos appear in the collage.
Roundedness - You can round the corner of the photos by using the slider.
Columns and Rows - by using the slider under columns and/or rows, you can change the layout.
When you're finished with your collage, click on the "done" button in the right hand corner.
Another neat feature is that once you've clicked done, your can then do just about anything creative with the collage. For example, I opted to add a frame (drop shadow) around my collage. Here's what that looks like:
If you missed it, yesterday, I had shared a collage of some of the after pictures from my Atlanta home staging projects. Here's what it looks like (see below). Ginger Foust, an incredible stager out of Oakhurst, California, shared how she used Picnik to create a collage for a post card. It's not only an incredible collage, it's a very clever marketing tool.
Here's what Ginger created:
And now, check out what Kathy Burke, a home stager serving all of the East Bay in California created:
Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392
RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011
Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.
With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.
Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta
Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:
Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com
Blog: Atlanta Home Staging
- Kitchen Transformations
- Short on Space? Keep it Simple
- Tips on Selling Your Home From a Professional Stager
- Curtains. Should they stay or go?
- How to dress up your coffee table and end tables when selling
- Quick tips for table settings
- How will buyers remember your home?
- Atlanta Home Staging Consultations - Check out what the homeowner did
- Atlanta Loft Gets Home Staged
- How to ensure your home appeals to a broad base of prospective buyers
Picnik really is an awesome site, I use it for family photos but will start using it for business too
Kathy, you have impeccable timing! I was just getting frustrated trying to learn how to do this on my own when I decided to take a break and do a little puddle jumping here in the rain. And what do I stumble upon? THANK YOU!!!!! As always, an incredible description of exactly what to do! Bookmarked, liked & suggested!
Kathy - I knew the basics of Picnik collage, but didn't know it could be tweeked and taken to the next level! Thanks so much for the tutorial! I've also bookmarked (etc!). I really like how Ginger turned this into a postcard - a great marketing tool!
Thanks for taking the time to share this information.
Wow. Had no idea Picnik existed or what all it could do. Thanks Kathy. I will be messing around with this today.
Great instructions Kathy and thank you for adding my example. I'm consider teaching brief lunch and learn classes to local agents on using Picnik and Picasa but still unsure if that's worth my time. Tell me do you copy screen shots to do this type of instruction?
Marcy - I, too, use it for family photos. One year, for Christmas, I had taken pictures of our friends, used the "sketch" tool, printed and framed them as gifts. They were a huge hit.
Laura - I'm so glad I posted it when I did. Thanks for "suggesting", "Liking", etc...
Sally - there's so many options within Picnik. It's incredible.
You're welcome, James.
Randy - I've made flyers for my agents on some of the homes I've staged in Atlanta. You'll find many way in which to use Picnik.
Ginger - I was more than happy to include your example. It's awesome. As for the screen shots, I use a program called "Jing." I absolutely LOVE Jing and use it all the time for a variety of things. FYI - when I typed in Jing.com, I was taken to a page that explained who their hosting is with. I did, however, find a site called TechSmith where they provide a download. Similar to Picnik, Jing has a free version and a PRO version for $14.95. If you'd like, we can arrange for a time for us to hook up on the phone and I can take you through how to use it. It's not that difficult to learn, but... it's made far easier to understand when someone can walk you through it.
Kathy
Thank you again for taking the time to do another tutorial for us non-techy stagers!! xoxoxo
Kathy, you are great. Thank you so much and I will take you up on that offer. You are a true master of SIF!!!
Kathy.....GREAT step by step and it works soooo well!! THANK you for including the collage I put together after seeing your first post yesterday. It was really very easy and I can see soooo many ways to use this as a marketing tool!! Your very generous to share this!!!
Kathy -- Thank you once again for sharing your incredible talent with us! Now I think I can give this a try. P.S. When is the book coming out? :-)
Kathy- Ok, Ginger has shamed me into getting off my behind and make a video for my website and now you've done the same with getting me to do a collage. THANK YOU!!!
Thank you so much Kathy for getting my attention re picnik. I'd heard of picnik but had never gotten there. Now I will and your easy to understand tute is very appreciated. Thanks for sharing.
Sue of Robin and Sue
Very cool - thanks!! Bookmarked and coming back to experiment with this!
I alwyas appreciate tips on making my photos look better.
Now THAT is really clever! I love Picnik but have never used that function. I'm off to check it out now. Thanks a bunch for the great tutorial! I love Active Rain!
Hi Kathy, thank you for sharing, this is great learning, hope to see you soon!
Thank you for this post. It is absolutely fabulous and straightforward to follow.
Kathy I love Picnik, it is one of my favorite tool. Great tutorial for those not using the service yet.
Thanks for the info, just what I was looking for. Thanks, Shirin
Wow! I had no idea this existed. Thanks for sharing.
I use some other free software for this - but this seems useful. I have saved the link to your post for detailed review - and will try Picnik...
Thanks a lot.
I've used Picnik collages a lot and I love the ability to reconfigure the layout by shifting sizes. The ones you've shown are attractive representations. Love it!
wow bookmarked for a rainy day - thanks for the tutorial Kathy
sincerely,
grace
Very nice - while I have used picnik for some time, that is not a feature I have played around with, yet.
Hi Kathy - What a wonderful tutorial! I've used Picnik for awhile but haven't explored the full possibilities. I'm DEFINITELY going to set up some experimenting time this week! Thanks again! :)
Thanks for the tip and some great examples of collages, Kathy! I really haven't used Picnik much, but this feature looks like it might be a real timesaver.
Kathy, thank you for taking the time to teach me how to save time and open some new creative doors with Picnik! This is a super great tutorial!
Thanks for the tutorial! I've wanted to try Picnik, but hadn't gotten around to it. Now I'll be able to do so and feel more comfortable with it. Thank you!
Great info . . . I've only dabbled in Picnik and always use Picasa web albums. Never tried a collage or creating one for a postcard, but I had wondered how to do that! How do you do those screen shots with the arrows -- is that the Jing thing (ha, ha) you were talking about? I should go to Techsmith for that? And, as Ginger asked, do you think offering this kind of seminar (once I learn it) has any value to agents?
I use Picnik all the time. I like using the collage feature but sometimes prefer to just use single shots that I alter on Picnik.
Kathy, you make this look so easy. I'm anxious to try it. Thanks for the tutorial.
Kathy:
Thanks for the tip. I just have to read your blog over a few times so I understand. I'll give it a try and if I don't get it, I'll come back to you for more instructions. Thanks.
Thank you for this post, I tried and tried to do this a while back and couldn't figure out how to get more thanone picture into picnik. Now I know, thanks.
Picnik is a great site...I have used many times and I refer this to all of my agents...
Hi Kathy - Picnik is a wonderful tool. I love using it for many of my editing requirements.
Wow, I'll surely give it a try. I sometimes wondered how my FB friends created collages. Now I know! Thanks!
Jane Pacheco
Thanks. Have not done this on any platform. will give it a try and give you a heads-up if I do anything close to what you were able to do.
Kathy: this is a well deserved Feature. Congratulations. I have used Picnik for a collage and it turns out just as you say. Now I am going to print your instructions to keep handy. Thank you.
I love picnik! I have bookmarked this and will follow to create a collage - thanks for the post! Congrats on the feature!
A sincere thanks from me. . I know the time it takes to do this.. .you are a jewel.
I'm subscring to your blog so I wont miss the next one. .
Kathy, great tutorial for Picnik users. Thanks for the information.
Howdy and morning to you Kathy
Kathy, I sure do like using the Picnik site! I sure did not know about using this feature. I'll sure be going to play around with it now though, that's for sure! Thank you mighty kindly for taking the time to write this mighty fine blog post explaining just how to use this collage feature. It sure will come in handy in many ways, seeing that I'm also a reenacter and take a lot of photos at the many different events that I attend and take part in.
PS. I just subscribe to your mighty fine blog!
Have a good one
Dale in New Hampshire
I love sharing. I'm so glad that many have found this tutorial useful. Please know that should there be any questions, you can always drop me an email.
Regarding the screen shots included in this tutorial - I've since learned, through Wikipedia, that Jing is a screencasting computer program launched in 2007 as Jing Project by the TechSmith Corporation. As mentioned, it's super easy to use.
Kathy
Thanks, Kathy, I've been trying to learn joining pictures with an old imaging program I have and just can't grasp it. This looks so simple I'm sure I'll have no trouble. (Bookmarking just in case)
Kathy,
This is a wonderful and very helpful post. Thanks so much for the easy step-by-step instructions. I have used Picnik but have never made a collage... so this will be fun to do. I have also bookmarked. I really like the results of yours and how you enhanced it. Great job Kathy and Congratulations on the Feature!
WOW! I love Picnik and used it to create the header for my websites and blog, but I hadn't gotten into collages! Thank you for this awesome tip, cannot wait to play!!!
I just LOVE Picnik, I use it all the time and can't imagine ever being without it!
Good morning, Kathy. Excellent tutorial. I have used Picnik for adding shadows to images, but I had no idea that it had a collage feature. Thanks for the heads-up!
I've only used picnik for editing my photos. Now I have even more reasons to be using this great tool. Thanks for all the great tips!
Kathy: That's a great idea for a brochure for you. I've used it for both sold homes & listings & I love it. Great tutorial.
I have never used Picnik. Now I have to try this!
Kathy - Incredibly useful information. I went to a memorial on the weekend and someone put one of these together with older photos. It is amazing the tools we have to us that we don't use until we read it on a post on AR.
Bookmarking for future. These are some very nice displays used.
I have never used Picnik, but, I can tell you after reading this post that I am going to experiment with this site. Thank you for the great information Kathy.
I had heard of Picnic, but had not ventured out to actually use it.
I will now. Thanks.
Kathy
Thanks for the great information. I'm going to try it out now.
Thanks Kathy. That's very usable info that you provided. Book marking now!
Thank you so much for sharing.
Much thanks, Kathy....I've used Picnik to place borders around my website photos, but never tried the collage feature. I'm bookmarking this one....great job....Carolyn Huggins
So neat! I've actually never tried this and am sure it will come in handy...bookmarked!
Kathy, I love it! Is it simple to add your name to the photos like you did here? I've seen a few here on AR put their name on their photos.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. Hopefully, I can apply your tutorial to create an interesting and exciting collage for my website and newsletter.
Thank you Kathy. Bookmarked.
Glad to read that so many have bookmarked this post.
As for adding your name to your photos - yes, it's super easy. I had written a tutorial. Here's a link: How to watermark your photos using Picnik.
Kathy
Kathy thanks for a great tutorial. Bookmarked it.
Wow I never even knew this site existed!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
I love Picnik. I have not bought a premium account. I did bookmark your article as a reference.
I appreciate your sharing of this great tool!
Didn't know about picnik! Thanks.
Great post Kathy. Just saw this through a reblog. Always wanted to know how to do. Thanks!
Hi Kathy,,,Thanks to Kristine, I just discovered this post. I was not familiar with Picnik, but I am planning to check it out today. Have a Great Week!
Kathy- I also learned about your post from Kristen... thanks for the tutorial. Can't wait to put it to good use.
Kathy,
Awesome. It looks great. I have used picnik before however, the uploads take a bit long since I have to upload every single picture instead of a batch. Do you have to edit every single picture with your website address or is there a bulk system?
I love the way you used the site to enhance your work and pictures. Very nice job.
Hi, Anja. Here's what I do.
I upload all of my pictures to Picasa. Given that I take approximately 100 photos at each staging, I select which ones I want to add to my Picasa Web Albums. Typically, that equates to a dozen or so photos. Then, I go over to Picnik and I bring up in "library" the Picasa web album I had just created. Next, I edit each of those photos individually.
Hope that helps. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.
Kathy
Kathy, the way you put this blog post together speaks VOLUMES as to your professional capabilities. I saw this thru Kristine Ginsberg's feature and thought I'd let you know how terrific yours is, too.
I love taking photos, it's a passion of mine. Have to get a new decent camera and have just scratched the surface on which Canon I want.
Thank you Kathy for the tip on the website!
Thank you Kathy - I so love it when I don't have to try to figure things out on my own. I already have Piknik. Now off to make a collage!!!
THANK YOU! I LOVE Picnik but have not had the time to figure out how to figure out their collages! I am going to keep this article and your advanced one up on my computer until I can sit down, work through it, and learn it. It's such a great tool and perfect for those of us who are not the greatest with Photoshop (or just don't have time to figure it out). I have a wonderful and easy to use Canon Powershot digital camera as well as an iPhone with a camera that is also easy to use. Picnik gives me the editing tools for those photos but I really wanted to learn the collage feature. So again, a HUGE THANK YOU for this. :) Have a wonderful day!
OMG, I LOVE this. I had a meltdown two days ago trying to work with Picasa. This is it!! Just did my first collage by going back and forth from your blog to picnik. I love all the features. The upgrade is so inexpensive, I think I must have that too. Thank you, thank you
Thanks for sharing this great information. Those pictures look dynamite in the collage.
I am going to be using this shortly. Thank you for the reminder and for showing us your final examples in this post.
Great information. I did not see it the first time around and glad someone re-posted it. I will have to use this now!