Use Photoshop's Photomerge for More than Panoramas

Create a Collage from Multiple Images with Photoshop's Photomerge Feature

The Photomerge feature in Photoshop CS3 has evolved a lot since it was first introduced. It's a powerful tool for creating panoramas, but you may not think to use it when creating a panorama is not your goal.

In fact, the Photomerge tool can be useful anytime you need to combine multiple pictures into one file--such as a before and after comparison, or to prepare a photo collage poster like the thumbnail version you see here. And the nicest thing about it is how it places all your files into individual layers so they can be further manipulated as desired.

Here's how to use Photomerge in this way:

1. Go to File > Automate > Photomerge…

2. Under the Layout section, Choose Interactive Layout.

3. Under the Source files section, browse for the files you'd like to use, or load the files you have open in Photoshop.

4. Uncheck the box labeled "Blend images together." If you were creating a panorama, you'd want this box checked, but for simply combining images into one document you should leave it unchecked.

5. Click OK.

6. Wait several seconds as Photoshop Processes the files, then the Photomerge dialog will appear.

7. The images will either be stacked in the center of the Photomerge workspace, or in a strip across the top. Use your mouse and/or the arrow keys on your keyboard to position each image as you like it. Use the Navigator on the right side of the screen to zoom in or out if necessary.

8. When you are satisfied with the positioning, click OK, and wait a few seconds as Photoshop repositions the images within your layers.

9. At this point you can further manipulate the image.

Don't worry too much about alignment in the Photomerge dialog box. After the Photomerge is complete you can use the alignment features of the Move tool in Photoshop for more precise alignment.

If you're using this method to create a photo-collage poster with many images, it's a good idea to reduce the pixel dimensions of your starting images before you go into Photomerge, otherwise you are going to end up with an enormous image that will be slow to process and push the limits of your computer's resources.

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