iPhone, with its optimized camera, lets you capture incredible quality pictures, which are better than usual photos from a regular phone camera. Yet it understands that they lack professional level touch. Hence, it has a suite of photo editing features in the Photos app, which lets you tweak them according to your requirements.
To add a richer effect, adding textures, objects, and such aspects to photos is an age-old yet green practice. Overlay lets you do so, and so if you are looking for how to overlay photos on iPhone, then I have mentioned the full-fledged guide for it!
How to Overlay Photos on iPhone Free?
Like a suite of photo editing features on the iPhone via the Photos app, you would feel many missing. Photo overlays are one such feature that seems missing, yet to your fortunation, it still needs to be added. You have the feature on and need to use the Overlay Photos iPhone shortcut.
Below mentioned are the steps for the same:
Step 1: Create a New Shortcut
Before using the Overlay feature on your iOS, update it to the latest version. This is because to use the feature, you should have the Shortcuts app, which isn't available for iOS versions below 13.
To add Shortcuts on your iPhone:
- Swipe down from the top of your home screen.
- Search for Shortcuts to open it.
- Tap the + icon at the top right to add a new shortcut.
Now, there's a prerequisite to add before you choose the shortcut to add.
Step 2: Toggle On Show in Share Sheet
Before adding the shortcut, ensure it's available in the Share Sheet. Hence, you have to enable the feature.
- Click the i symbol.
- A Settings window opens from the New Shortcut 1 section toggle on the Show in Share Sheet.
When you have enabled the feature, tap Done at the top-right corner to save changes.
Step 3: Choose File Formats
After saving changes, the previous window opens, from where you have to select file formats.
- Tap the Any keyword from the Receive Any input from the Share Sheet.
- Enable the Images and Media file formats and toggle off everything else.
After doing so, tap Done againto save changes.
Step 4: Add Select Photos Actions Twice
Overlaying photos requires at least two; hence, you must add the action twice.
Therefore, add the Select Photos icon:
- Tap the Search for Apps and actions box.
- In it, type Select Photos and choose it.
- Similarly, add another Select Photos action.
Thus, you would be able to select two photos at once.
Step 5: Add Action For Overlay Image
After enabling the functionality to use two images added once, it's a must to add the Overlay feature as well.
- Tap the Search box again.
- Type Overlay Image and select it.
After you add it, the Overlay Images on Photos option appears. Press Done to save changes.
Step 6: Select Variable For Images In Variable
You would be seeing the Overlay Images on Photos option. From it, the Images wordwould be bluish. This is because it's a variable where you have to select one.
- Long tap the images wordfrom the Overlay action.
- From the drop-down menu, choose the Select Magic Variable option and tap the Photos text below the first Select Photos option.
- Repeat the same step and choose the Photos beneath the second Select Photos option.
Now, let's proceed to the next step.
Step 7: Add Action For Save To Photo Album
In the shortcut window, you must now select the command to save the feature to the Photos app.
- Tap the Search box and type Save to.
- In it, select Save to Photo Album.
The next step is to make the shortcut ready to use it conveniently.
Step 8: Rename The Shortcut
Tap the shortcut's name where your screen is open and choose Rename from the drop-down menu. Set an easy name that is accessible and convenient to remember. This can be anything like Overlay Images.
Step 9: Overlay The Images
This is your foremost action step, where you would be using two images for overlay. Before proceeding with this step, to execute it effectively, you should make your pictures ready for overlay. This will help to use the feature with precision. If you don't know how the next section will help you!
- Go to the Photos app and tap the Share Sheet button (box from which an arrow appears).
- Select Overlay Images from the drop-down menu.
- You will be prompted to choose the images that you have for overlay.
The first photo you select will be your Overlay (the image that appears on top), and the second photo will go in the background.
Now resize the overlay and position it wherever you want! After doing so, tap Done to save changes.
Step 10: Lift Subject From Background
This is an optional step. It states that if you have one photo from which you must select only one object to overlay, then select the image. Further, use the Share option, tap the Lift Subject from Background option, and save the subject as a separate image.
You must start afresh by choosing this new overlay background once again and beginning the Overlay process. But the Lift Subject from Background feature doesn't always work, especially if the photo is complex. Yet, there's nothing to worry about; the method to prepare the image for overlay would help you!
If you are looking for how to overlay pictures on iPhone lock screen, then there's a simple workaround. Use the Overlay feature, as mentioned, and then set it as your lock screen wallpaper.
Top Things To Consider Before You Overlay Pictures on iPhone
iPhone has many photo editing features that help adjust the light, color, and such aspects of a photo. Besides, it provides certain advanced features as well, like Overlay, Vignette, and similar. Though it provides excellent functionality using the Photos app, there are certain things to consider before you go ahead. These help to ensure that the Overlay looks professional and doesn't give an impression of poor editing.
1] Remove Objects from Photo
When you want to overlay photos on an iPhone or any other device, it's quintessential for it to look professional and realistic. If the Overlay overlaps with any background object then it seems improper.
For it, you should ensure that the overlay you add must be in focus or add the effect correctly as you want. Therefore, when the image has various objects, remove the ones that aren't required to put overlays in focus.
To do so:
- Open Imagewith.ai Clearoff on your browser
- Click Upload Image and choose the background image of the overlay
- Tap the object you want to remove
- Click the Download button to save your image
You can also remove the object by marking it with the brush available. Further, it will remove the thing as if nothing existed before.
2] Remove Background from the Overlay Image
You don't need always to want to add a texture or foreground as overlays on a picture. Sometimes, you want to add an object like an animal or your photo to a background for effective overlays.
In such a situation, having a background, whether white or colored, would make the results deteriorate. Therefore, removing the background helps no matter how complex the picture is!
Follow the steps given below:
- Visit Imagewith.ai Outcut on your iPhone
- Tap Upload Image and select the overlay image which you want to use
- After the Uploading and Processing are completed, the background from your picture will be removed
Thus, your overlay is now cut out with crisp edges. You can edit the area you want to add/remove by using the Edit button. Moreover, you can even add a background like white, black, or colored from it.
3] Upscale Images To Make The Two of Uniform Quality
When using the Overlay feature, the two images must complement each other. Both colors must have similar contrast, dimensions, and tones for them to turn out better. It won't look good if one is of low quality and the other is of HD quality.
Even if both look similar, they should be of high quality so they look professional. You can do so for free and without a hassle.
Below mentioned are the steps for the same:
- Head over to Imagewith.ai Overscale on your iPhone browser
- Select the image and add it by the Upload Image option
- Tap Overscale and let the tool complete the processing
It will enhance the image in 2K resolution by using the 2x option, and similarly, 4x would upscale to 4K resolution, but that's paid. Similarly, enhance the second image; both would be ready for professional use.
Additionally, you can tap the arrowhead icon next to the Download button to choose the image format you want to save. The tools of Imagewith.ai stand distinct in terms of accuracy and precision.
Moreover, Imagewith.ai Overscale is one of the few tools that let you enhance transparent PNGs, and that doesn't add a black background to them while downloading.
Now, both your images are ready for Overlaying.
The Bottom Line
If you were looking for how to overlay photos on iPhone, then you would have got your answer! iPhones running iOS 13 and later have the Shortcuts app inbuilt where you can add it effectively and overlay it using the Photos app. For those running an older version of iOS, update your iPhones or use compatible third-party tools like Photoshop Express or Photo Director.
While you would have learned about Overlaying on an iPhone, ensuring that you have made both images ready for the purpose is essential. These include removing unwanted objects from the background image, removing the background from the Overlay picture, and enhancing photos you use for a professional and realistic look.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put a picture on top of another picture on my iPhone?
Once you have added the Overlay shortcut, go to the Photos app and select the images that you want to use. The first would be the one you want at the top, and the other will move to the background. After selecting, choose the Share Sheet button, Overlay, and complete the process.
How do I overlay an image on another picture?
You can overlay an image on another picture using third-party tools like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Photo Director, Fotor, etc.
How do I crop a picture onto another picture on my iPhone?
To crop a picture onto another picture on your iPhone, add the Overlay shortcut and use the feature to Superimpose images per your requirements.
How do I put two pictures together on my iPhone?
To put two pictures together on your iPhone side by side, use the Adobe Express tool. Further, if you want to combine them, then add the Overlay shortcut and use the Photos app to put two pictures together on your iPhone.
