2 Best Ways to Create a Collage in Google Docs

Many folks consider Google Docs as a tool to create and edit documents. However, it’s more than that. You can add images and perform basic image editing tasks in Google Docs too. You can even create photo collages in it. We shall share two ways to create a collage in Google Docs in this post.

The beauty of adding a collage in Google Docs is that, firstly, it saves space, and secondly, collages are easy to move as compared to individual images. You need to move or edit one single image, i.e., a collage instead of multiple images.

Let’s check two methods to create a collage in Google Docs.

Method 1: Create Collage in Google Docs Using Google Drawings

Google Docs doesn’t offer a direct way to create a collage. You need to take the help of Google Drawings to create a collage for Google Docs. Don’t worry. You don’t even have to leave the Google Docs page. Google Drawings can be easily accessed from within any Google Docs document.

Note: This method works on the desktop only.

Let’s check the steps in detail.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs document for which you want to create a collage

Visit Google Docs

Step 2: Click on the Insert option present in the top menu bar. Select Drawing from it, followed by New.

Step 3: The Drawing window will open. Click on the Image icon to add your first image for the collage.

Step 4: Select the source from which you want to insert your image. You can upload from your computer, using a URL, Google albums, and Google Drive. You can even search directly on the web using the Search option. Click on the image to select it. Then, click on the Select button at the bottom.

Step 5: The image will be added to the Drawing template. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to add as many images as you like. Don’t worry if the images appear over one another.

Step 6: Once you have added all the images, you need to arrange and edit them. Here are some editing tips to make a beautiful collage in Google Docs.

Move Image

When you add images, they might appear over one another. Just select the image that you want to move and drag it to a new location.

Resize Images

To resize an image, select the image first. A blue border along with tiny boxes will appear on the image. Using any of the four boxes available on the four edges, change the size of the image. You can use the boxes available in the center of the box as well but with that, the width height ratio of your image will not be maintained.

Rotate Image

Select your image and hover your mouse over the circular section of the blue box. When the cursor changes to a plus (+) sign, using your mouse rotate the image in whatever direction you want it.

Tip: You can also right-click on the image and select the Rotate option from the menu.

Reorder Images

Sometimes, you may want to bring an image forward to another image or move it backward. For such situations, right-click on the image and select Order. Choose your desired image order from the menu.

Tip: Check out how to put an image or text on top of another image in Google Docs.

Apply Border Color, Size, and Style

If you want, you can apply individual border colors to your collage images. For that, select the image and click on the Border color icon in the menu bar. Select the color of your choice. To change the border size and style, click on the icons next to the Border icon and choose the width and style of your border.

Tip: Find out how to adjust the transparency of an image in Google Drawings.

Crop Image

If your image has an extra area, you can remove it. So, right-click on the image and select Crop from the menu. A black box will appear around the image with a few slightly darker dashes present on edge and in border’s center. Using those, drag the image inwards and hit the Enter button to crop it as per need.

Tip: You can enable Crop from the top menu bar as well.

Crop Image in a Shape

Besides regular cropping of an image, you can crop it into a shape as well. For that, select the image. Then click on the tiny arrow icon next to the Crop icon present in the top bar. Select the desired shape for your image.

To rearrange the picture in the shape, double-click on it, and drag the image.

Add Text

You can also add text to your collage. For that, click on the Text icon in the top bar to activate the text mode. Then draw a typing box using your mouse and start typing inside it. Select the text to change its font style, color, etc.

Tip: Refer to our guide on how to change the background of your collage in Google Docs.

Step 7: Once your collage is ready, click on the Save and Close button at the top to insert it into your Google Docs document. You can edit your collage anytime after inserting it into the document.

Click on the Actions option and select Download > PNG/JPG if you want to download your collage and use it outside of Google Docs.

Step 8: When inserted in Google Docs, the collage will behave as a single image. You can perform further editing tasks on it just as you would do for any regular image. You can add a border, resize, move, crop, etc. In case you want to edit your collage, click on the collage and hit the Edit button. You will be taken to the Drawing screen, where you can edit it, as shown above.

That’s how you can create a collage in Google Docs.

Method 2: Using Google Photos

If you don’t like the above method or your photos are available in Google Photos, you can create a collage in Google Photos and then insert it in Google Docs. We have covered the steps for creating a photo collage in Google Photos on mobile and PC in a separate post. Do check that.

You can use this method on mobile and PC both. On PC, once you have created a collage using Google Photos, click on the Insert option in the top bar in Google Docs document and select Image followed by Photos.

Your images present in Google Photos will show up. Click on the collage that you want to add to Google Docs.

The collage will be added to your document.

On mobile, download the collage created in Google Photos on your device first using Save to device button. Then launch the Google Docs app and open your document where you want to add the collage. Tap on the add (+) icon and select Image. Navigate to the collage that you downloaded from Google Photos on your phone.

Use Google Docs Creatively

Google Docs offers various other interesting features to customize your documents. For instance, you can even add a watermark to your collage or any other image. Similarly, you can even sign your Google Docs documents without any third-party tool.

Next up: Did you know that you can download any image from Google Docs on your mobile or computer? Check out how to do so from the next link.