Wall photo collages have become more and more popular in interior design – and for good reason. Creating wall art from a photo or set of photos adds a level of dynamism to the wall space and doesn’t force you to find that “one” perfect picture to put up. Further, you can use your own artwork or favorite photos to make the collage a truly custom wall decoration. Whether you gather shots of vacations past or portraits of your kids, designing a wall art collage gives you creative control over your interior artwork.
Wall Photo Collage Customization Options
Your wall is a blank canvas so the only real limit to your customization options is your own taste and budget. There are a few key customization options to consider in the creation process. Here’s how to make the perfect wall picture collage with photos of your choosing.
Size & Space Customization Considerations
There’s only so much space on your wall, so you can’t really customize the total size of the collage you’re dealing with. When you determine the space available you have a few options.
- A small number of pictures to take up the space, such as two of your amazing photos enlarged and side by side
- A large number of pictures of uniform size, such as one photo broken into pieces or several themed photos together (Diptych – two panels, triptych – three panels, and quadriptych – four panels)
- Various sizes and numbers, such as a few larger pictures and a series of smaller pictures to take up the space in between
There’s no wrong choice, purely up to how you think it’s best to arrange a collage on your wall. Once you’ve picked the type of collage you wish to create, you can choose the type of photo.
Type Of Material Or Frame For Collages
Just like selecting the size and quantity of your photo collage elements, this is a personal choice that allows you to get the perfect look you’re going for. Keep in mind that sometimes your material may determine your framing options. We’ll dig into these options more in-depth later on, but here are some basic options you have:
Material Options
- Canvas
- Photo paper
- Metallic prints
- Acrylic prints
Framing Options
- Framed and matted
- Face mounted
- “Frameless”
How to Pick High-Resolution Photos For A Collage
How a photo looks on a camera or a phone screen and how it will look when printed 12” tall on a canvas can vary drastically. When you choose photos to enlarge for a photo collage wall art project, use these tips and tricks to get the best results from your own photo-taking skills.
- Use a camera with high enough megapixels to take high-quality work. Most flagship phones have at least 10 megapixels. High-quality cameras have 20-50.
- If your camera has an option to manually adjust for lighting, learn how to use it. Auto settings can only take you so far.
- If possible, increase focal length with a longer lens. If you are using a smartphone, consider a snap-on lens.
- If you’re working with RAW files, get some software that can help you process the photo.
- Calculate the biggest size you can get from a file. PPI is the measurement of how many pixels—photo building blocks—per inch are printed. Aim for 150-300 PPI. Multiply the length and width of the desired printed project each by desired PPI. This gives you a resolution measurement. If your photo meets or exceeds it, it will enlarge well during printing.
Tip: When you work with a professional printer, they can tell you if your photo is high-quality enough to enlarge for printing. ArtisanHD’s custom online print ordering system can even analyze the size of your digital photo or art file and tell you before you order if it’s high enough quality for the size you want to print.
By taking some extra time to photograph and process files, you can end up with high-resolution work that is ready to take its place on your wall as custom art.
How To Choose Which Collage Sizes & Quantity
While this is a personal choice and we always encourage everyone to customize their collage walls as they see fit, there are some do’s and dont’s in selecting the right type of collage for you.
Larger And Fewer Photo Collages
- Do: Make sure the pictures have a matching theme and have colors and styles that don’t clash with one another.
- Don’t: Choose pictures of different sizes or perspectives, an oblong picture next to a horizontal one may look funky.
Many Uniformly-sized Photo Collages
- Do: Choose a variety of photos that complement one another in some way.
- Don’t: Use too much padding if the pictures are framed, the dead-space between the photos stands out as it’s own visual element which is not ideal.
Many Different-sized Photo Collages
- Do: Cut out the different sizes you’re considering to scale from a piece of paper and practice arranging them in different ways until you find the best option.
- Don’t: The difference between what you’re picturing and the final wall collage can be bigger than you think, don’t forget to be open to changes before starting to hang the pictures.
How To Choose Wall Art Collage Printing Options
Not only is the content of your custom photo collage totally up to you, but the form of it is also. When you work with a professional printer like ArtisanHD, we offer many options to get the look you want for your collage.
Each style of print can be made to your custom dimensions. Create a 3 x 3 wall of all the same size or mix and match sizes for visually compelling photo collage wall art.
Once you have a space that will fit the photos you selected, start brainstorming a theme and design. Plot it out on your wall with tape or craft paper cutouts to know exactly the sizes you would like to order.
While this is a matter of taste, there are some practical reasons you may want to choose one printing medium or framing option over another. We’ve provided a helpful breakdown of your different options so you can know that you’re choosing the best option for you.
Canvas
A classic option for family-friendly portraiture is an unframed canvas. These typically stand an inch or two off the wall with the image hand-wrapped around the edges. Bright, vibrant, and immediate, canvas prints are an accessible option for families to print up their photos and easily hang them.
Framed and Matted
Another classic option that goes in and out of style is framed and matted photos. In recent years, monochrome frames with contrasting matting have become popular. Matching the tone and color of the frame and matte to the colors of the images in the photo collage is one way to signal a cohesive collection amidst them all. ArtisanHD can help you choose frames for the prints we produce.
Metal Prints
Metal prints are a unique way to give your prints a long life and shimmering touch. Prints are created by injecting ink directly into metal or curing ink with UV light during the printing process. With Dibond prints, the metal surface shows through lighter portions of the print, lending an artistic, metallic look to your photos.
Acrylic Prints
Acrylic prints are another option for long-lasting, realer-than-life color prints. These waterproof, UV-resistant prints offer a glossy finish and modern style for your artwork or photography.
Have ArtisanHD Print Your Photo Collage Wall Art
Photo collage wall art is a great way to integrate your personal images into the artwork of your interior design.
With many options for print style and size, choose something that matches your decor and gives you the high-resolution quality your photos deserve. We can print the photos in large format poster size for you, and even help you select the right material to print on.
Do you have a favorite photo that you’d like to see larger than life on your own wall? Make your home decor more personal by showcasing your own personal art when you arrange your custom photo collage wall print!
Reach out to ArtisanHD to learn more today at 1.877.948.0009 or Support@ArtisanHD.com.
Blog Updated May 24, 2021
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