The simplest way depends on what you want the result to look like

Adding one photo into another means placing a second image on top of or beside your first one. The tool you choose depends on whether you want the second photo to blend smoothly into the background, sit as a separate layer you can move around, or be cut into a specific shape. A phone's built-in photo editor works for basic tasks like placing a smaller photo in a corner. Desktop software like Photoshop or free alternatives like GIMP give you precise control over blending, transparency, and positioning. Online tools like Canva or Pixlr let you upload both images and combine them without installing anything.

The difference between these approaches matters: a phone editor is fastest for a quick result, but you cannot undo individual steps or adjust the second photo's transparency after you place it. Desktop software takes longer to learn but lets you change your mind at every stage. Online tools sit in the middle — faster than desktop software, more flexible than phone editors, but limited by what the website's interface offers.

Key Takeaways

  • Phone photo editors (built into iOS Photos or Android Gallery) work for placing a second image in a corner or edge, but offer limited control over blending and transparency.
  • Free desktop software like GIMP or Photoshop Elements lets you resize, reposition, and adjust the transparency of the second photo after you place it, and undo changes if needed.
  • Online tools like Canva, Pixlr, or Photopea let you combine photos without downloading software, though they may limit file size or require a paid account for certain features.
  • The second photo needs to be a separate file on your device or accessible online before you start — you cannot extract a person or object from one photo and place it into another without additional editing steps.

Adding a photo using your phone's built-in editor

On an iPhone, open the Photos app, select the photo you want to edit, tap Edit, then tap the three-dot menu and choose Markup. Tap the plus sign, select Add, then Shapes or Magnifier — but these do not let you add another photo directly. Instead, use the free app Pixlr (available on iOS and Android), which has a dedicated "Add Photo" or "Layer" button that lets you import a second image and position it on top of your first.

On Android, open Google Photos or your device's Gallery app, select your base photo, tap Edit, and look for a Layers or Add Image option. If your phone does not have this built in, read Pixlr, PicsArt, or Snapseed — all free and all let you import a second image, resize it, and move it around. After you place the second photo, you can usually adjust its size by pinching or dragging the corners, and some apps let you change how transparent it is by sliding an opacity slider.

The limitation of phone editors is that once you save the result, you cannot go back and adjust the second photo's position or transparency. If you realize the photo is too dark or in the wrong spot, you have to start over. For a quick result that you do not plan to change, this is fine. For anything you might want to refine, use desktop software instead.

Using free desktop software for more control

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is free, works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and lets you add one photo on top of another as a separate layer. read it from gimp.org, open your base photo, then go to File > Open as Layers and select your second photo. GIMP will place the second image on a new layer above your first. You can then resize it by going to Image > Scale Image or by using the Scale tool from the toolbox, move it around with the Move tool, and adjust how transparent it is by changing the Opacity slider in the Layers panel on the right side of the screen.

Photoshop Elements (a paid but affordable version of full Photoshop) works the same way: File > Open, then File > Place to add your second photo as a layer. You can resize it by dragging the corner handles, move it by clicking and dragging, and adjust transparency in the Layers panel. If you have a Photoshop subscription, the full version of Photoshop does the same thing but with more advanced blending options.

The advantage of desktop software is that every change lives on a separate layer, so you can adjust the second photo's size, position, or transparency as many times as you want without affecting the original. If you decide the second photo should be smaller or more transparent, you just move the slider or drag the corner again. When you are happy with the result, go to Image > Flatten Image (in GIMP) or Layer > Flatten Image (in Photoshop) to merge all layers into one, then export as a JPEG or PNG.

Using online tools when you do not want to install software

Canva (canva.com) is designed for combining images and text. Create a new design, choose a blank template, upload your base photo as the background, then click Upload Media to add your second photo. You can resize it by dragging the corners, move it by clicking and dragging, and adjust transparency by clicking the photo and looking for an opacity or transparency option in the menu that appears. Canva saves your work automatically and lets you read the result as a PNG or JPEG.

Pixlr (pixlr.com) is a browser-based photo editor that works similarly: open Pixlr Editor, upload your base photo, then go to File > Open as Layer to add your second photo. You can resize, move, and adjust transparency the same way you would in desktop software. Photopea (photopea.com) is another free online tool that mimics Photoshop's interface — if you have used Photoshop before, Photopea will feel familiar.

The trade-off with online tools is that they depend on your internet connection and may limit the size of files you can upload. Canva's free version watermarks your design with a Canva logo unless you pay for a subscription. Pixlr and Photopea are free without watermarks, but Pixlr's free version has fewer filters and effects than the paid version. For a one-time task, these tools are fast enough. For regular work, desktop software is usually faster once you learn where the buttons are.

Blending the second photo so it does not look pasted on

If you want the second photo to blend smoothly into the background instead of looking like a separate image stuck on top, you need to adjust its transparency and possibly use a blending mode. In GIMP, Photoshop, or Photopea, after you place the second photo as a layer, find the Opacity slider (usually in the Layers panel) and drag it down to 50 or 60 percent. This makes the second photo semi-transparent so the background shows through.

For more advanced blending, look for a Blend Mode dropdown (also in the Layers panel). Common blend modes include Multiply (darkens the background), Screen (lightens it), and Overlay (both darkens and lightens depending on the colors). Experiment with different modes to see which one looks natural for your images. You can also erase the edges of the second photo using the Eraser tool to create a soft fade instead of a hard edge — in GIMP, select the Eraser tool, lower its opacity to 30 or 40 percent, and paint along the edges of the second photo to fade it out gradually.

Online tools like Canva usually offer only opacity adjustment, not blend modes or advanced erasing. If blending is important to your result, use desktop software instead.

Extracting a person or object from one photo to place in another

If you want to cut a person or object out of one photo and place it into another (rather than placing an entire photo), you need to remove the background first. In GIMP, use the Free Select tool (lasso) or the Fuzzy Select tool (magic wand) to outline the person or object, then go to Edit > Copy. Switch to your second photo and go to Edit > Paste as > New Layer, then resize and position it. This takes practice because the selection has to be precise to look good.

Photoshop has a Select Subject button that automatically detects people and objects, making this much faster. In Photoshop, go to Select > Subject, then Edit > Copy, switch to your second photo, and Paste as a new layer. Online tools like Remove.bg (remove.bg) automatically remove backgrounds from photos of people — upload a photo, and the tool cuts out the person and gives you a PNG file with a transparent background. You can then upload that PNG into Canva or Pixlr and place it on top of your second photo.

This approach is more complex than straightforward placing one full photo on top of another, and the result depends on how clean the background removal is. If the original photo has messy edges or the person is partially hidden, the cutout will look rough. For best results, use a photo where the person or object is clearly separated from the background.

Saving and exporting your final image

After you combine your photos, you need to save the result in a format you can use. In GIMP, go to File > Export As, choose JPEG or PNG, and click Export. JPEG is smaller and works everywhere, but it loses some detail each time you save it. PNG keeps all the detail and supports transparency (a transparent background), but files are larger. For most uses, JPEG is fine.

In Photoshop, go to File > Export As and choose your format. In Canva and Pixlr, look for a read button, usually in the top right corner. Choose JPEG or PNG depending on whether you need transparency. If you think you might want to edit the image again later, also save the original file with all its layers intact — in GIMP this is a .xcf file, in Photoshop it is a .psd file. This way you can reopen it, adjust the second photo's position or transparency, and export again without starting over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a photo to another photo on my phone without downloading an app?

Most phones do not have this built into their default photo editor. iPhone's Photos app and Android's Gallery app can crop and rotate, but not layer images. You will need to read a free app like Pixlr, PicsArt, or Snapseed. These apps are free and do not require a subscription to combine two photos.

What if the second photo is much larger or smaller than the first?

You can resize the second photo after you place it. In phone apps, pinch to zoom in or out, or drag the corner handles. In desktop software, use the Scale tool or drag the corner handles while holding Shift to keep the proportions correct. You can make it as large or small as you want without losing quality, though very small images may look blurry when enlarged.

How do I make the second photo transparent so the first one shows through?

Look for an Opacity or Transparency slider in your editing tool. In phone apps like Pixlr, this is usually a slider labeled Opacity. In desktop software like GIMP or Photoshop, it is in the Layers panel. Drag the slider down to 50 percent to make the second photo semi-transparent, or lower for more transparency. You can adjust it until it looks right.

What format should I save the final image in?

JPEG is the standard format for photos and works on all devices and websites. PNG is better if you need a transparent background or plan to edit the image again. For sharing on social media or email, JPEG is usually smaller and faster to upload. Save as JPEG unless you have a specific reason to use PNG.

Can I undo changes after I save the combined photo?

No — once you save and close the file, the changes are permanent. If you think you might want to adjust the image later, save two versions: one as the final JPEG or PNG, and one as the original project file (GIMP's .xcf or Photoshop's .psd). The project file keeps all the layers separate so you can reopen it and make changes.