Written by Steve Patterson. In this Photoshop Effects tutorial, well learn how to take a single photograph and turn it into a collage of polaroids, with each polaroid containing a small section of the overall image.
You can use this effect with lots of different types of images, whether its a photo of one person or several people. Its great for photos of family or friends, vacation photos, or even as a creative effect for wedding photography. This is a very easy photo collage effect to create, and as well see later in the tutorial, much of the work is simply repeating the same few steps over and over again until youre happy with the results.
This version of the tutorial is for Photoshop CS5 and earlier. Photoshop CS6 and CC (Creative Cloud) users will want to follow along with our fully updated Collage Of Polaroids tutorial.
Heres the image that Ill be working with in this Photoshop tutorial:
The original image.
And heres what the image will look like when were done:
The final result.
Lets get started!
Step 1: Duplicate The Background Layer
The first thing we need to do for this effect is duplicate our Background layer. With our image open in Photoshop, we can see in the Layers palette that we currently have just one layer, the Background layer, which contains our original image:
The Layers palette in Photoshop showing the original Background layer.
To quickly duplicate the layer, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J (Win) / Command+J (Mac). Photoshop creates a copy of the Background layer for us, names it Layer 1, and places it above our Background layer in the Layers palette:
The Layers palette now showing the copy of our Background layer above the original.
Step 2: Add A New Blank Layer Between The Two Layers
Next, we need to add a new blank layer between our Background layer and the copy of it that we just created. Currently the copy is selected in the Layers palette (we can tell the layer is selected because its highlighted in blue). Normally when we add a new layer, Photoshop places the new layer above the layer thats currently selected, but we want our new layer below Layer 1, not above it. To tell Photoshop to place the new layer below Layer 1, hold down your Ctrl (Win) / Command (Mac) key and then click on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:
Hold down Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) and click on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.
Photoshop adds a new blank layer named Layer 2 between Layer 1 and the original Background layer:
Photoshop adds the new blank layer between the Background layer and Layer 1.
Step 3: Fill The New Layer With Black
Were going to use black as the background for our effect, so lets reset our Foreground and Background colors if needed by pressing D on your keyboard. This sets black as your Foreground color and white as your Background color, as we can see in the Foreground and Background color swatches near the bottom of the Tools palette:
Press D to reset Photoshops Foreground and Background colors to black and white if needed.
Now with black as our Foreground color and the new blank layer selected in the Layers palette, lets fill the new layer with black using the keyboard shortcut Alt+Backspace (Win) / Option+Delete (Mac). Nothing will appear to have happened to the image itself, and thats because Layer 1, which contains a copy of our original image, is blocking Layer 2 from view. But if we look at Layer 2s thumbnail in the Layers palette, we can see that weve filled the layer with black:
Layer 2s thumbnail in the Layers palette now shows that the layer is filled with black, even though we cant see it yet in the image itself.
Step 4: Add A New Blank Layer
With Layer 2 (the layer we just filled with black) selected, click once again on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:
Add a new blank layer.
Photoshop will add a new blank layer between the black-filled layer and the copy of the original image above it:
The new blank layer is added between Layer 1 and Layer 2.
Step 5: Drag Out A Rectangular Selection As The Inside Of Your First Polaroid
Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool either from the Tools palette or by pressing M on your keyboard:
Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
Then, with the Rectangular Marquee Tool selected, drag out a selection inside your image which will become the inside of the first polaroid (the part which contains the photo). Im going to drag my selection around the babys face. It doesnt really matter where you make this selection since youll be able to move it anywhere you like later:
Drag out a selection in the shape of the inside of a polaroid photo.
Step 6: Fill The Selection With Black
We need to fill the selection with black at this point. Technically, it doesnt matter which color we fill the selection with, but to keep things simple and since black is currently our Foreground color, lets use black. Make sure you have the new blank layer selected in the Layers palette, and then use the keyboard shortcut Alt+Backspace (Win) / Option+Delete (Mac) to fill the selection with the Foreground color, which is set to black. Again, nothing seems to have happened in the document, and thats because the image on Layer 1 at the top is still blocking everything else from view, but if we look at the thumbnail for the blank layer in the Layers palette, we can see that the selected area has indeed been filled with black:
The new blank layers thumbnail in the Layers palette now shows the selected area filled with black.
Step 7: Create A Clipping Mask From The Filled Selection
Were going to use the selection we just filled with black to create whats called a clipping mask for the layer above it. What this means is that the layer above it, Layer 1 which contains the copy of our image, is going to be clipped by our filled selection on the layer below it. In other words, the only part of the image on Layer 1 that will remain visible is the part directly above the section filled with black. The rest of the image will become hidden from view.
To create our clipping mask, click on Layer 1 to select it in the Layers palette. Then go up to the Layer menu at the top of the screen and select Create Clipping Mask. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Alt+Ctrl+G (Win) / Option+Command+G (Mac). Either way, Photoshop clips the image on Layer 1, keeping only the area above the black-filled shape below it visible and hiding the rest of the image, revealing our black background on Layer 2 in its place:
The image on Layer 1 is now clipped using the black-filled shape on the layer below it.
If we look in the Layers palette now, we can see that Layer 1 is indented to the right with a small arrow pointing downward on the left. This indicates that the layer is being clipped by the layer below it:
The Layers palette showing that Layer 1 is now being clipped by the layer below it.
Step 8: Add Another New Blank Layer Above Layer 2
We need to add another new layer, and we need it between the black-filled layer (Layer 2) and the layer containing our filled selection (Layer 3). To do that, click on Layer 2 to select it and then click once again on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:
Add another new blank layer directly above the black-filled layer (Layer 2).
Photoshop adds the new layer between Layer 2 and Layer 3 and names it, surprisingly enough, Layer 4:
The new blank layer, Layer 4, is added between Layer 2 and Layer 3.
Step 9: Drag Out Another Rectangular Selection As The Border Of The Polaroid
With your Rectangular Marquee Tool still selected, drag out another rectangular selection, this time around the outside of the original selection, which will become the white border of the polaroid. Keep in mind that polaroid photos have some extra space at the bottom of the border, so add some extra space at the bottom of your selection:
Drag a selection around the outside of the original selection to create the border of the polaroid.
Step 10: Fill The Selection With White
Since the border of a polaroid is usually white, lets fill our selection with white. Make sure that you have the new blank layer, Layer 4, selected in the Layers palette. Then, since white is currently our Background color, lets use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Backspace (Win) / Command+Delete (Mac) to fill the selection with the Background color (white). Press Ctrl+D (Win) / Command+D (Mac) when youre done to deselect the selection. We now have our first polaroid in our image:
Fill the selection with white to create the first polaroid.
Step 11: Add A Drop Shadow Layer Style
We have our first polaroid, and were going to use it to easily create as many polaroids as we want. But before we do anything else, lets add a slight drop shadow to it. We wont be able to see the drop shadow just yet, since were using a black background, but we will see it once we start piling polaroids on top of each other. To add our drop shadow, with Layer 4 selected, click on the Layer Styles icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:
Click on the Layer Styles icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.
Select Drop Shadow from the list of layer styles:
Select Drop Shadow.
This brings up Photoshops Layer Style dialog box set to the Drop Shadow options in the middle column. Im going to set my shadow Angle to about 120° and then lower the Opacity value at the top all the way down to about 30% so my shadow isnt too intense:
Lower the Opacity of the drop shadow to 30% and set the Angle to around 120°.
Click OK to exit out of the Layer Style dialog box. As I said, we wont be able to see the drop shadow just yet thanks to our black background, but dont worry. Well see it soon enough.
Step 12: Rotate The Polaroid
Im going to rotate my polaroid to add a bit more interest to it. In order to do that, I need to select both layers in my Layers palette which make up my polaroid. I already have Layer 4 selected, which makes up the outside of it, but I also need Layer 3 selected, which makes up the inside, so with Layer 4 selected, Im going to hold down my Shift key and click on Layer 3, which will select both layers at once (theyll both appear highlighted in blue):
Use the Shift key to select both Layer 3 and Layer 4 in the Layers palette.
Then with both layers selected, Im going to bring up Photoshops Free Transform handles around my polaroid using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+T (Win) / Command+T (Mac). To rotate it, all I need to do is drag my mouse cursor anywhere outside of the Free Transform handles. The mouse cursor will change to a rotate cursor with curved arrows on either end of it. As I drag my mouse, the polaroid will rotate:
Click and drag anywhere outside of the Free Transform handles to rotate the polaroid.
You can also move the polaroid to a new location if you wish by clicking inside of it and dragging it around the screen with your mouse. Im going to leave mine where it is for now and simply rotate it. As you drag, youll notice that the border of the polaroid moves and rotates but the image inside of it does not, and thats because were not moving the actual image. It remains fixed in place. The only thing were moving is the polaroid itself, and this is whats going to allow us to create our final effect, as well see.
When youre happy with the location and angle of the polaroid , press Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) to apply the transformation.
Step 13: Group All Three Layers Which Make Up The Polaroid
We have our first polaroid created and rotated into place. Now were going to use it to create as many polaroids as we want. Before we can do that though, we need to group all three layers which make up the polaroid , which are the top three layers in the Layers palette. Layer 1 contains the image itself, Layer 3 contains the inside of the polaroid , and Layer 4 contains the outside of it. In order to group them, we need them all selected. We already have Layer 3 and Layer 4 selected, so once again hold down your Shift key and click on Layer 1 to add it, so all three layers are selected and highlighted in blue:
Select the three top layers in the Layers palette at once.
Then, with all three layer selected, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+G (Win) / Command+G (Mac) to group them. Youll see all three layers disappear from the Layers palette and be replaced by a layer named Group 1, which contains a folder icon to indicate that its a Layer Group. If you click on the right-pointing triangle to the left of the folder icon, the group will open and youll see your three layers inside of it:
The three layers which make up the polaroid are now inside a Layer Group.
Step 14: Duplicate The Layer Group
Were going to use this Layer Group to create our second polaroid , and were going to do that by duplicating the group. First, click once again on the triangle to the left of the folder in the Layers palette to close the group so your Layers palette doesnt get too cluttered. Then simply click on the group and drag it down onto the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette:
Duplicate the Layer Group by dragging it down onto the New Layer icon.
When you release your mouse button, youll see the copy of the Layer Group appear above the original:
The copy of the Layer Group appears above the original.
We now have our second polaroid.
Step 15: Move And Rotate The Second Polaroid With The Free Transform Command
Just as we did with the original, were going to move and rotate this second polaroid using Free Transform (I didnt actually move my first one, but you may have, so lets pretend I did as well). First, twirl open the newly created copy of our Layer Group by clicking on the triangle to the left of its folder icon. Just as before, youll see all three layers inside of it which make up the polaroid . We need to select the bottom two layers which make up the inside and outside of it, so click on one, then hold down Shift and click on the other to select them both:
Select the bottom two layers inside the copy of the Layer Group.
Then with both layers selected, press Ctrl+T (Win) / Command+T (Mac) to bring up the Free Transform handles around the polaroid . At the moment, it looks like theres only the one polaroid in the image, and thats because both of them are directly on top of each other. Click inside the polaroid and drag it to move it to a new location, and youll see that you do in fact have two. Drag this second one to wherever you like in your document, and then rotate it just as before, by moving your mouse anywhere outside of the Free Transform handles and dragging your mouse to rotate it left or right. Youll see that once again, were only moving the polaroid itself. The image inside of it remains fixed in place, and now that weve added a second polaroid , were displaying more of the full size image:
Use Free Transform to move and rotate the second polaroid .
Youll also notice that with the second polaroid overlapping the original, we can now see the drop shadow, which gives the image a bit of depth. When youre happy with the location and angle of your second polaroid , press Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) to apply the transformation. We now have two polaroids completed:
Two polaroids have now been added to the image.
Step 16: Add, Move And Rotate More Polaroids As Needed
At this point, we just repeat the exact same process over and over until weve added enough polaroids to reveal enough of the original image. First, drag the top-most Layer Group down onto the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette. This will create a copy of the last polaroid you made. Then twirl the new Layer Group open by clicking on the arrow to the left of its folder icon and select the two bottom layers which make up the inside and outside of the polaroid. Press Ctrl+T (Win) / Command+T (Mac) to bring up the Free Transform handles, click inside them and drag the image into a new location to reveal more of the overall image, then move your mouse outside of the handles and drag to rotate the new polaroid. Press Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) to accept the transformation, then repeat the process again until youve added enough polaroids that youre happy with the results.
Theres no right or wrong placement of the polaroids , so dont be afraid to play around with it, and you can always go back and move or rotate any of the polaroids at any time by selecting its Layer Group, twirling it open, selecting the two bottom layers, then using Free Transform to move and/or rotate it again.
Im going to add, move and rotate more polaroids here with my image, and after creating about 16 polaroids, moving and rotating each with the Free Transform command, here is my final result:
The final result.
And there we have it! Thats how to turn a photo into a collage of polaroids with Photoshop!
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