Word’s usability is not limited to writing and editing text. You can add tables, charts, images, and simple graphs to beautify your writing and make it easier to read. If you think a little outside the box, why not use Word to design photo collages?
It’s true that Word may not have all the features and tools of a design/graphics application, but this doesn’t stop you from creating a large collection of your favorite photos. With a little creativity and a few tips and tricks from this article, you’ll be able to do it in no time.
Additionally, you can save your design as a template/layout and simply change the images in the collage. But first things first, let’s see what it takes to create a collage in Word.
Make a collage in Microsoft Word
As noted, Word does not offer a ready-to-use collage layout or template unless you download a third-party one from the Internet. This means that you will have to do everything from scratch. Initially, it may take a little longer, but you will get a completely personalized final result.
Use developer options
Step 1
Open a new Word document, click Archiveand select Option in the blue menu on the right. Choose Customize the ribbon in the pop-up window and make sure to check Developer option in the “Customize the ribbon” p. Click OK to confirm when you finish.
Note: This step applies to those using Microsoft Word 2013 or 2016. If you have a different version, the first step may not be necessary. Mac users will need to click the Word option in the upper left corner, then click preferences and View to activate developer options.
Step 2
With the Developer option enabled, go to Developer tab and select Image content control. Click the icon and add as many images as you want, then click the center of the image to add images from a file.
Step 3
Once the image is inside the slot, you can drag the sides to resize it and match the layout. There is also the option to tilt the images a bit to create a more interesting layout. Simply take the image and move it left or right to get the desired angle.
Use word tables
This method can be used on any version of Word and applies even if you use the free cloud/app-based version. Here are the necessary steps.
Step 1
With a new Word document open, select the Insert tab and click the Table Dropdown menu.
Depending on the number of images you want to insert, choose the table layout. Can fit table to page if necessary.
Step 2
You’ll get a relatively small text box at the top of the screen. It is advisable to expand it to cover the entire page. This way, you get extra space to insert the images.
Also, feel free to use the Table Design to change the design color and select a background fill. See all available styles by clicking the arrows in the toolbar. There is also the option to get a different border style.
If you choose a border style, use the pencil tool and click on each border to apply the style. This is where you can get creative as you don’t need to style all the edges.
Step 3
With the basic layout in place, it’s time to insert the images into your Word collage template. Select the collage panel/slot where you want to insert the image, click Insert and choose “File Image.”
Unless you resize the image before importing it, it will not fit in the collage slot. If it is too large, select the image and resize it to fit the collage.
Tips and Tricks for Image Manipulation
Word offers a surprising number of image manipulation tools and effects to make images stand out. You can make brightness and color corrections, add artistic effects, or change image transparency.
Additionally, there are about thirty image effects and borders that you can apply. You can adjust each of the applied effects from the Format Image menu on the right. Click on the Effect and select the arrow to reveal the adjustment sliders.
When you’re done designing, click the little floppy disk icon to save the collage. Name the document, add some tags, and choose the destination and file format.
You should know that file formats are one of the disadvantages of making a collage in Microsoft Word. Specifically, documents are saved in different text formats (.doc, .docx, .dot, etc.). That said, you can export the collage to PDF, which might be a better option if you want to print it. However, you will not be able to upload the collage to certain social networks.
Using smart art
The built-in SmartArt feature is another way to add photos in various layouts in Microsoft Word. To use SmartArt, follow these steps:
Step 1
With a Word document open, click the Insert tap the ribbon and click smart art.
Step 2
A drop-down menu will appear; click Image. Choose the layout you would like to use. It will appear in the document once selected.
Step 3
Add your photos to the template.
Your photos will automatically resize to fit inside the template, creating an image collage.
Collage made of words
During our testing, it took us about ten minutes to make a Word collage, but you can spend much more time perfecting the design. And there’s an interesting trick to fix Word’s inability to export JPEG or PNG files.
Instead of exporting the document, you can take a screenshot and get the collage in JPG or PNG. Depending on your computer’s specs, you could end up with a social media-ready HD collage.