How to use the new Google Photos collage styles (and say goodbye to boring white grids)

Google Photos is not only an exceptional cross-platform photo storage app, but also a handy tool for making and creating collages, movies, and animations from your photos and videos. As for collages, you can now customize them and decorate them with colorful templates.

The new custom collage styles first appeared in September 2022 and included designs from artists such as Chantell Martin and Lisa Congdon. The December 1st update added designs from other artists such as DABSMYLA and Yao Cheng Design.

You can create collages from the Google Photos web app in any browser, but you’re bound to the grid style that Google assigns automatically. To customize the collage style, you need to use the mobile app. The mobile app also gives you more photos to choose from since it can use your device’s local photo library, not just images uploaded to Google Photos.

If you already have the app installed, update it to make it as convenient as possible.

Install or update Google Photos: Android (Free) | iOS (free)

Step 1. Select photos

To start a collage, you must first select a group of photos. From the Photos, Search, or Library tab, find and select all the images you want to include in your collage. You need at least two photos to start a collage, but no more than six to use custom collage styles.

On the Photos tab, you can click on the checkmark next to a date to select all content from that segment. You can then click photos at any time to add or remove them from the collage until there are more than six. Or press and hold on an image to check it out, then select the rest.

You can do the same for views sorted by date in the Search or Library tab. Alternatively, you can click the action overflow icon (three dots) in the top right corner, then click Select and start selecting content. You won’t see a checkbox next to a group of dates when viewing an album, as they are not sorted that way.

Step 2: Add Them To Your Draft Collage

With two to six images selected, click the Add To button or the plus (+) button. On the Photos tab, you’ll see “Add To”in the expandable toolbar at the bottom. In the Search and Library section, you will see a plus icon on the top toolbar.

Then select “Collage”from the actions.

Step 3: Customize Your Collage

The app will load your selected photos into a basic collage design. Below is a carousel of templates to choose from. Scroll until you find what you like. You’ll see Google’s default options as well as styles created by famous artists.

If you are a Google One subscriber or a Google Pixel user, there are no restrictions on your choice of styles. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use more than 30 additional designs unless you pay for a Google One membership starting at $1.99 per month.

After selecting a style, you can reorder the images in the layout by dragging them to the desired location. You can also adjust the position in each frame by swiping the photo in any direction as long as there is room to move it. The pinch to scale and rotate also works.

If you’re not happy with the original selection, you can click on the image to edit or replace it. According to Google, “Google One members and Pixel users can also use advanced editing features such as Portrait Light or HDR in their collages.”