How to make a photo collage on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often wonder how to combine multiple images into one composition without downloading heavy third-party apps. The built-in functionality of the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS provides powerful tools for basic and advanced image work right out of the box.

The standard Xiaomi gallery can create grids, add frames, and even apply filters to each frame separately, saving the device memory and time, as the entire process takes just a few seconds after selecting photos.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can create collages, look at the nuances of working with different versions of firmware, and learn how to use the hidden capabilities of an editor, and learn how to quickly share beautiful builds on social networks.

Standard Creation Tool in the Gallery

The easiest and fastest way to create a multi-picture composition is to use the built-in functionality of the standard Gallery app, which Xiaomi has integrated deep into the system, so it works stably and does not require an Internet connection for basic operations.

To get started, you need to open the Gallery app and go to the Photo tab, where you need to select the images that will be included in the final picture, and the system allows you to select images from different albums and shooting dates, which greatly simplifies the process of selecting content.

Notice the top bar or bottom menu (depending on the MIUI version) where the Create button or the three-dot icon appears, and this is where the Collage function hides, which activates the layout editing mode.

• 📸 Choose from 2 to 9 photos to combine into one grid.
• ⚙️ Click the menu button and select the “Collage” option from the action list.
• 🖼️ The system will automatically offer several options for the location of personnel.
• 💾 Keep the results in high resolution without loss of quality.

It is important to note that the number of photos available for selection can vary. Usually the system allows you to combine up to 9 shots in a single layout, but older versions of firmware can have a limit of 6 frames.

⚠️ Note: If you select more than 9 photos, the "Collage" option may not appear on the menu, in which case you will have to delete excess pictures from the selected area or use third-party applications.

Once you select the mode, you'll see an editor where you can change the aspect ratio, add text and stickers, and all the changes are applied in real time, so you can see the final result right away.

Setting up layouts and grids

One of the key features of the built-in editor is the flexibility of setting up the grid. Once you go into collage creation mode, the system will offer several automatic layout options, but the user is not limited to them.

At the bottom of the screen is a toolbar where you can choose the type of layout, and there are classic grids, free layout, and even options with an emphasis on one main photo, switching between them by instant swipe or tap.

For those who value accuracy, you can set a specific aspect ratio, like 1:1 for an Instagram post or 9:16 for Stories, which eliminates the need to frame an image in another editor.

With free mode, you can manually move the dividing lines, changing the size of each individual frame inside the collage, which gives you complete control over the composition and allows you to highlight the most important details.

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Twice click the dividing line between the photos to quickly align their dimensions or make them symmetrical.

Editing of borders and frameworks

The visual design of the collage is not limited to the location of the photos, but the boundaries between the images and the external frames that give the composition a complete look are important.

The editing menu has a "Frame" or "Frame" option, and you can adjust the thickness of the lines that separate the images, so you can make the boundaries almost invisible, or you can highlight them in white or black.

For minimalists, there's a boundary-cloaking feature available, in which the photos are all joined together, creating a single panoramic image or mosaic, and this is especially true for modern interface designs.

• 🎨 Choose background color for empty areas or frames.
• 📏 Adjust the indentations between photos with a slider.
• 🔄 Change the corners around the entire collage at once.
• 🖌️ Use shadows to create depth and volume effects.

Some versions of the HyperOS shell allow you to apply different styles of frames to different photos within a collage, although the standard functionality often offers global settings for the entire composition.

⚠️ Note: When you save a collage with complex frames and shadows, the final weight of the file may increase.

Also worth mentioning is the possibility of adding watermarks: If the camera settings activate the option to add a phone model or date, they can automatically be transferred to the final collage if you do not turn this feature off in the editor.

Addition of text and stickers

Creating a collage often requires explanation or emotional accompaniment. Xiaomi's built-in editor allows you to add text blocks and stickers directly on top of photos or onto fields.

To add text, you need to select the appropriate tool in the bottom bar, open the keyboard, and also the menu of font selection, and various styles of writing, colors and the ability to change the transparency of the text layer are available.

Stickers are a set of ready-made graphic elements: emojis, geometric shapes, location icons and popular memes. The sticker library is regularly updated, and also supports the download of custom images from the gallery.

Text blocks can be moved, scaled and rotated, and this allows you to create complex inscriptions that flow around objects in a photo, or add captions to each frame individually.

The path to fonts: Settings → Screen → System font

If standard fonts are not enough, you can download new ones from the MIUI theme store. Once the system font is installed, it will automatically become available in the collage editor.

Use of filters and effects

To make a collage look harmonious, all the photos in it must have a similar color gamut, the built-in tool allows you to apply filters to both the entire image at once and to each frame individually.

The Filter tab contains a set of presets, from classic black and white to bright and rich color schemes, and applying a filter to the entire collage equalizes the white balance and contrast of all elements.

However, if one photo is out of the general series, you can select a particular frame in the grid and apply the correction to it separately, and you can adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation and heat settings.

• 🌗 Use a black and white filter for dramatic effects.
• ☀️ Add heat and saturation for summer shots.
• 🌫️ Use the vignette effect to focus on the center.
• ✨ Add glare and graininess for retro style.

The effects are not destructive until you save, and you can always cancel the last action or reset all settings to the original state with a single button.

⚠️ Attention: The use of heavy filters with graininess or blur may slightly reduce the detail of the final image when exported.

For professional processing, it is recommended to align the exposure of all frames first, and then apply art filters, which will ensure the best quality of the final picture.

Preservation and publication of results

The final stage of creating a collage is to save the finished work, and the system offers several options: save it to the gallery, send it to the messenger immediately, or publish it on the social network.

When saved to the gallery, the image receives high quality, corresponding to the source. The file is saved in JPG format with minimal compression, which provides clarity even when viewed on large screens.

If you plan to send a collage to someone right away, you can use the Share button. The standard Android menu will open, where you can choose Telegram, WhatsApp or any other messenger installed.

It's important to remember the destination folder. All collages created are automatically sorted into a separate album of "Collages" inside the gallery so as not to clutter up the main camera tape.

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Use the “Send as a file” function in messengers if you need to transfer the collage without loss of quality for further printing or processing.

Alternative apps from GetApps

Despite the powerful built-in functionality, some users may need more advanced tools. GetApps app store, pre-installed on Xiaomi smartphones, offers a variety of specialized solutions.

In the store search, you can find apps like Layout from Instagram, PicCollage or Canva, which provide access to thousands of pre-made templates, cloud storage and sync between devices.

However, it’s worth considering that third-party apps often require more resources, contain ads, or offer in-app purchases to unlock premium features.The built-in gallery is devoid of these drawbacks.

• 📲 Canva – to create complex designs with graphics.
• 📐 Layout – for minimalistic and fast nets.
• 🎨 PicCollage – a huge base of stickers and backgrounds.
• 📸 PhotoGrid – video editor and collages in one.

If you decide to install third-party software, make sure to download it from the official GetApps store or Google Play to avoid viral software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)