Quick Answer
Making a collage for your Facebook cover photo is easy with the right tools. Here are the basic steps:
- Collect the photos you want to include in the collage.
- Use an online collage maker or photo editing app to arrange the photos.
- Resize the collage to fit Facebook’s cover photo dimensions of 820×312 pixels.
- Save and export the collage as a JPG or PNG image file.
- Upload the collage image to Facebook as your new cover photo.
Choosing Photos for Your Collage
The first step in creating a Facebook cover collage is gathering the photos you want to include. Here are some tips:
- Pick photos that represent your life, interests, family, friends, travels, etc.
- Aim for variety – mix portraits, landscapes, candid shots, etc.
- Choose high quality images if possible for best results.
- Curate the photos so they tell a visual story when arranged.
- Collect at least 5-10 photos to give you options to work with.
Don’t worry about the order or layout yet – just gather some great photos that capture the visual story you want your collage to tell.
Ideal Number of Photos
Most Facebook cover collages include anywhere from 4 to 9 photos. With fewer than 4 images, you may not fill the space well. With more than 9, it starts to get too busy. Shoot for 5-7 photos for ideal balance and visual interest.
Facebook Cover Dimensions
Keep the size of your collage in mind as you select photos. Facebook cover photos display at 820 pixels wide x 312 pixels tall on desktop, or 640 x 360 on mobile.
Any photos you use in your collage should be high resolution enough to look good when resized to those dimensions.
Creating the Collage Layout
Once you’ve gathered your photos, it’s time to arrange them into a collage. There are a few options for how to do this:
Online Collage Makers
Many free online tools allow you to easily create a photo collage. Some popular options:
- Canva – Provides templates and drag-and-drop tools to arrange your photos.
- Fotor – Collage maker with customizable grids and frames.
- PicMonkey – Lets you customize dimensions for Facebook covers.
- Ribbet – Fun templates and graphics to enhance your collage.
These tools make it simple to explore different layouts and rearrange photos until you find a look you love.
Photo Editing Apps
You can also use photo editing apps on your smartphone or computer to create a DIY collage:
- Windows: Microsoft Paint or Photoshop.
- Mac: Preview for basic collages or Photoshop for more complex designs.
- iPhone/Android: Layout, Pic Collage, PicsArt, or InShot.
Many of these apps include pre-set collage templates and grids to easily arrange your photos.
Design Considerations
Keep these tips in mind as you design your collage:
- Overlap some photos for a layered look.
- Rotate some images for variety.
- Vary photo sizes and shapes.
- Use 2-3 photos larger and others smaller.
- Leave some negative space between photos.
- Aim for visual balance overall.
Play around with the arrangement until you’re satisfied!
Sample Collage Layouts
Here are some examples of collage styles that work great for Facebook covers:
| Grid Layout | Framed Look |
| Overlapping Layout | Photo Stack Look |
Exporting and Uploading the Collage
Once your collage design is complete, it’s time to export it and upload it to Facebook:
- Export the image: Save or export your finished collage as a JPG or PNG file at the highest resolution possible.
- Resize the image: Use an image editor to resize the collage to 820×312 pixels to fit Facebook’s cover dimensions.
- Upload to Facebook: Log into Facebook, go to your profile, click “Update Cover Photo” and select your collage image file to upload.
Double check that your collage appears correctly in the cover photo viewer. Adjust or re-upload if needed.
Other Exporting Tips
- Try to keep your exported image under 100 KB for fast uploading.
- PNG files have transparent backgrounds, which can look nice with some collage designs.
- For print projects, export at the highest resolution possible.
Uploading a stunning photo collage as your Facebook cover image is a great way to showcase your favorite visual memories and your unique personality!
Mistakes to Avoid When Making a Facebook Cover Collage
Creating an eye-catching cover photo collage takes a bit of skill and finesse. Steer clear of these common mistakes:
Using Low Quality Images
Pixelated, blurry, or low-res photos will degrade the look of your collage. Always use high quality images, especially for any larger/focal photos.
Cluttering Too Many Photos
Cramming too many photos together makes for a cluttered, distracting cover. Pare down to your best 5-7 images.
Not Resizing Properly
Failing to resize to Facebook’s 820×312 pixel cover dimensions will crop or distort your collage.
Ignoring Visual Balance
Your collage should be visually balanced, with no one area drawing too much attention.
Using Busy Backgrounds
Complex backgrounds compete with your photos. Keep backgrounds simple.
Overdoing Effects or Filters
Subtle filters can enhance your collage, but overdoing effects looks unnatural.
Mixing Inconsistent Photos
For a cohesive look, include photos with a similar color scheme and style.
With attention to details like image quality, composition, and dimensions, you can create an awesome Facebook cover collage!
Collage Inspiration: Unique Cover Photo Ideas
Need some fresh inspiration for your Facebook cover collage? Here are unique theme ideas to try:
Travel Collage
Showcase favorite trips and destinations with landscapes, city shots, travel landmarks, and fun moments.
Family & Friends Collage
Celebrate the special people in your life with a mix of portraits, candid snaps, wedding photos, etc.
Pet Collage
Include cute photos of your dog, cat, or other beloved animals.
Nature Collage
Beautiful nature shots from hikes, parks, beaches and more.
Hobby/Interest Collage
Reflect hobbies like cooking, gardening, sports, reading, arts and crafts.
Party Collage
Capture fun memories from weddings, birthdays, holidays and other celebrations.
Childhood Collage
Nostalgic photos from your childhood and school days.
Food Collage
Artfully arranged images of favorite meals, ingredients, restaurants.
Pattern Collage
Collect photos with similar shapes, colors, textures or patterns for an artsy aesthetic.
Get inspired by images and memories special to you. Your Facebook friends will love getting a glimpse into your life!
Tips for Quickly Making Great Facebook Cover Collages
Short on time? Use these pro tips to easily create first-rate cover photo collages:
Rely on Templates
Use pre-designed collage templates in apps like PicMonkey and Ribbet as a starting point. Tweak to perfection.
Take Advantage of Grids
Grid overlays in Canva, Pic Collage and other tools make evenly laying out photos a breeze.
Save Frequently Used Layouts
Many collage makers let you save templates to easily reuse on future projects.
Use Stored Photos
Apps integrate with your camera roll or Facebook photos for quick import into collages.
Add Creative Extras
Quickly customize with frames, backgrounds, shapes, typography, illustrations.
Use Smart Resize Features
Tools like Canva automatically resize to Facebook’s cover photo dimensions.
Save and Reuse Elements
Maintain your brand by saving graphics, icons, text styles to reuse.
Take Advantage of Keyboard Shortcuts
Learn shortcuts for faster editing in your collage program of choice.
With practice, you’ll gain confidence and be able to create stunning covers in record time!
Common Questions about Facebook Cover Collages
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about creating collages for Facebook cover photos:
What size should my cover photo collage be?
Facebook recommends cover photos be sized 820 pixels wide x 312 pixels tall. Be sure to resize your finished collage to this dimension for best results.
What’s the ideal number of photos to include?
Aim for 5-7 photos in your collage. Fewer than 4 makes it hard to fill the space well, while more than 9 can start to look too busy.
What file type should I save my collage as?
JPEG (.jpg) or PNG (.png) are the best formats for Facebook cover photos. JPEG works well for photos, while PNG is better if your collage has transparent background areas.
How do I make my own collage for free?
Many free tools like Canva, PicMonkey, Ribbet and more allow you to easily create collages with templates, grids and design tools. You can also use Paint or Photoshop.
How can I give my cover collage a creative look?
Try overlapping photos in interesting ways, use filters subtly, include graphic elements like frames or shapes, rotate images, play with layout. Get inspired by examples you see online!
What apps are best for making collages?
Some top collage apps include PicMonkey, Canva, Ribbet, PicCollage, Fotor, PicsArt, Layout, Instagram and Microsoft Paint. Find one with features and tools that suit your creative style!
Conclusion
Creating a stunning photo collage as your Facebook cover image lets you share cherished visual memories with your community. With the right high-quality photos, smart composition, dimensions sized for Facebook’s timeline cover, and a visually appealing layout, you can quickly make an eye-catching collage that tells your unique story. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your arrangement, add extras like frames or graphics, take inspiration from examples you love, and enjoy the process of designing a collage that captures the essence of you. With the tips, tools and inspiration above, you’re ready to make a phenomenal DIY Facebook cover that wows.