Creating side-by-side photo comparisons on your iPhone is easy with the built-in Shortcuts app. This guide provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up a shortcut to effortlessly combine two images for comparisons, memes, or before-and-after shots. No need for third-party apps!
Creating Your Side-by-Side Photo Shortcut
While photo editing apps offer this feature, the Shortcuts app provides a free and convenient alternative. If you haven’t already, download the free Shortcuts app from the App Store. Here’s how to create the shortcut:
- Open the Shortcuts App: Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Plus Icon: Locate and tap the plus (+) button in the top right corner to create a new shortcut.
- Search for “Select Photos”: In the search bar at the bottom, type “Select Photos” and tap the action when it appears. This allows the shortcut to choose images from your photo library.
- Configure “Select Photos”: Tap “Select Photos” and ensure “Select Multiple” is toggled on to allow choosing two photos.
- Search for “Combine Images”: Search for “Combine Images” and tap the corresponding action. This action merges the selected photos.
- Customize “Combine Images”: Tap “Combine Images” and choose “Horizontally” to place the images side-by-side. Adjust spacing as desired.
- Add “Quick Look” Action (Optional): Search for and add the “Quick Look” action. This lets you preview the combined image before saving.
- Add “Save to Photo Album” Action: Search for and add the “Save to Photo Album” action to save the combined image to your camera roll.
- Name Your Shortcut: Tap the three dots icon in the top right corner. Name your shortcut (e.g., “Side-by-Side Photos”) and choose an icon for easy identification.
Using Your Shortcut to Compare Pictures
Now that you’ve created the shortcut, here’s how to use it:
- Run the Shortcut: Locate and tap your newly created “Side-by-Side Photos” shortcut.
- Select Your Photos: Choose the two photos you want to compare from your photo library.
- Preview and Save: If you added the “Quick Look” action, review the combined image. Then, the image will automatically save to your chosen photo album. You can now share or use your side-by-side comparison.
This simple method allows you to quickly create side-by-side photo comparisons on your iPhone without needing additional apps. Perfect for showcasing progress, creating memes, or simply comparing images.
