Fun Free Photo Programs Rachel Shankles, LMS Lakeside High School Library Hot Springs, AR Arkansas Alpha Epsilon, AR Past President

Web 2.0 Free Software ShapeCollage.com and Photovisi.com

Makes photo displays in common shapes like circles, hearts, etc. Has one free version to download (or a pro version to pay for) You download it and then use the icon on your desktop to access the program Make a folder on your desktop and put just the photos you want to use for that one collage into the folder This program allows you to dump the whole folder at once into the collage upload system

Go to website first Click to download the free version to your desktop and it will leave an icon Close the website and click on the ShapeCollage icon Go to File in top left menu Go to Add photos or Add Folder I like to upload a whole folder at a time, very convenient and fast so navigate on the next screen to your desktop or wherever you stored the folder with the photos you wanted to use in this collage I have to use the tiny green up arrow in the location bar of that window to go to my Desktop which is where I place folders I will be working with

Highlight the folder name, click the ok button The photos load on the left pane of the screen On the right click on the ‘Shape and Size’ tab You can make your collage the shape of a rectangle, heart or circle by placing a dot by those or put a dot by “More” to see the other shapes like Paw prints, butterflies, star, puzzle piece, cat When you put a dot by ‘More’ a smaller box pops open and click on the down arrow by ’Custom’ Next select and highlight your shape. Like the paw print and click on “Done” Click the ‘Preview’ button and see the photo shapes go into the shape of the paw, but you won’t see the photos there Now hit the “Appearance” tab and click on a photo (navigate to one in your files) to use as the background of the whole collage (possibly a photo of your mascot or the front of your school or your school entry) Hit “create” when you are finished experimenting and it will ask you where to save the jpeg (photo) file you have created. Name it like pcollage1 and notice where it is saving, then hit ok. It shows you the photocollage but you can close out and find it where you saved it for a bigger and better look.

http: \\photovisi.com

Photovisi collage Click to ‘Start here’ on opening page This program runs from the web and is not downloaded to your computer Select a template that has the same amount of photos as you have put in your folder to use Some take 7 to 10 photos and others can handle up to about 25 Some have background pix you select and others have white backgrounds

Pick a format: I like the one on middle bottom with the background pix

Add Photos and other Directions Watch out for the advertising Find the plus sign for ADD ITEMS You can navigate to you folder in My pictures or on your desktop You can load them one at a time or highlight several and hit ok Next set the background photo or color Select the resolution you need (leave at default is ok) Download it – select Save on popup and name it Be careful navigating the part where they try to sell you posters, mugs, etc. This may take a minute Next → Click here to download your collage Then select save and name it and save to your hard drive OR open to print it Next → Click here to download your collage → Click here to get your collage printed on mugs, posters and more!

Samples ShapeCollage Photovisi

Other Samples

Uses in the Classroom Events in history Book Reports Book Talks Screen savers Backgrounds on your computer screen Displays and bulletin boards PR for events you take pictures of like clubs, contests, guest speakers Place mats for banquets Print out with plotter for large posters or Print in color and take to Michael’s or Hobby Lobby to have blown up to posters on foamboard

Contact Info Rachel Shankles is a library media specialist at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas Home: School: Home: Cell Wiki: FaceBook: Shankles08 or Rachel Shankles