What is the short answer?
Add exactly nine photos, choose Grid and a square canvas, order the images from strongest to supporting details, then refine every crop before exporting.
Which nine photos should you choose?
Build a set with variety: people, places, details and one or two wide scenes. This works for a trip recap, a month in photos, a product collection or project progress. Remove near-duplicates so every cell adds information.
How should you order the grid?
Place the strongest or most recognizable image first, then distribute similar colors and subjects instead of clustering them in one corner. Use the arrow controls to change order without re-adding files.
How do you prevent awkward crops?
The Grid layout uses proportional cover crops. Select each photo and reposition it so faces, text and product edges remain visible. Avoid excessive zoom because nine small frames already reduce the apparent detail in each image.
How much spacing should you use?
A modest, consistent gap separates the cells and makes mixed photos feel intentional. Zero spacing creates a denser mosaic. Keep corner radius and background color consistent across the whole collage.
What output works for sharing?
A square canvas produces a familiar 3 by 3 result. Standard output is practical for messaging and feeds, while 2× HD gives extra pixels for larger displays or later cropping. JPG keeps a photo-heavy collage smaller; PNG preserves lossless edges at a larger file size.
Which sources support this guide?
These primary references support the format, browser-processing and output guidance above. CollagePlus also tests each workflow against the current tool.