To access more image blending and stacking options, you can either stack photos directly in the Photos app or download a third-party application.
The following guide will walk you through both methods step by step.
Overlaying Photos in the iPhone Photos App
The first method to overlay photos on your iPhone is by using the built-in Photos app. If you don’t want to download an extra third-party app, this is the easiest way to place two photos on top of each other.
To begin, you’ll need to turn the subject of the first photo into a sticker. The Photos app includes a handy feature that allows you to create custom stickers from your photos. Open the Photos app, navigate to the image you want, and tap it to open.
Now, press and hold the subject of the photo until it is recognized. When the subject is selected successfully, you’ll see a glowing white outline around it. Then, choose Add Sticker.
The subject will be added to your iPhone’s sticker collection. Tap the “x” icon to exit the sticker window.
Next, go back to your photo library. This time, select the second photo you want to use as the background layer and open it. Tap Edit > Markup (highlight pen icon). From the bottom toolbar, tap the + icon and choose Add Sticker.
Select the newly created sticker to place it on top of the current photo. Use the corner handles to resize the sticker as needed. Tap the blue Done button, and then the yellow Done button again to save the new photo.
Overlay Photos Using Third-Party Apps
If you want to overlay photos on your iPhone with more customization options, consider using the Union app.
Union offers a clean, easy-to-use interface with various photo blending and stacking options. You can download Union for free from the App Store.
- (Free, subscription available)
To stack photos in Union, open the app and tap Get Started. Choose Background > Photo and select a background photo from your library.
You can adjust the aspect ratio if needed. Once satisfied, tap the green check mark to confirm the background.
Next, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner and select Foreground > Photo to add the photo you want to overlay onto the background.
Once added, you can resize or move the photo as needed. With the Blending Mode icon (two overlapping circles) selected, swipe through the toolbar to choose blending styles such as Darken, Overlay, Soft Light, etc. This allows you to merge the images seamlessly.
Go back to the three-line menu and choose Mask > Erase to remove unwanted parts of the foreground, or Mask > Shape to adjust how the top photo blends into the background.
The main drawback of Union is that you cannot export full-resolution images without a subscription. A simple workaround for free users is to take a screenshot on your iPhone and crop the image to the desired area.
Overall, if you just want to quickly overlay one photo on another without perfect blending, using the Photos app’s sticker feature is the simplest solution. For example, it’s handy for creating memes on your iPhone.
However, if your photo doesn’t have a clear subject to turn into a sticker or if you want something more polished and artistic, a third-party app like Union is a better option for easily overlaying photos.
