Paint 3D

How to Combine Two Images in Paint 3D

Open the first image, insert the second, and arrange both pictures on one canvas.

Beginner4 min read
Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 1:36

Open the first picture, then use Menu > Insert to add the second to the same project. Move the inserted picture while its selection is active and enlarge the canvas if you need extra space. The video shows the second image initially overlapping the first and then moving into place. Decide whether you want two images side by side or a smaller picture placed over a larger one before you set the canvas size.

How to combine two images in Paint 3D

  1. Open the first image

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 0:59

    Choose Menu > Open > Browse files and select the image you want to use as the base. For an overlay, open the larger background first. For a side-by-side layout, choose the image you want on the left. Note its dimensions if you need a precise final size. An image opened this way initially sets the canvas around itself.

  2. Prepare room on the canvas

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 1:08

    Open Canvas to check the width and height. If the second picture needs room beside the first, turn off Resize image with canvas so expanding the canvas leaves the base image at its current size. Unlock the aspect ratio if you only need more width. For a planned layout, two 600-pixel-wide pictures plus a 20-pixel gap need 1,220 pixels of width, before any outer margins.

  3. Insert the second image

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 1:28

    Go to Menu > Insert, browse to your second image, and confirm. It may first appear over the base image with handles around it. Drag it into the unused canvas space or into the part of the base photo where it belongs. Use the handles to resize it while selected. Check the proportions, especially if it contains a face, lettering, or a round logo.

  4. Align the images and save a copy

    Recreated Paint 3D view · Source video at 1:36

    Check the top edges, gap, and margins before clicking away. If the second image needs to stay movable, finish its position carefully before committing it to the canvas. Choose Menu > Save as > Image and inspect the full preview for clipped edges or blank space. Save an image copy with a new name, then open it to check that both pictures appear together.

Tips for combining photos of different sizes

For a tidy side-by-side layout, decide whether the pictures should share the same height or keep their original sizes. Resize copies first if you need matching heights without distortion. When one image overlaps the other, use a transparent PNG as the inserted file if you want its empty areas to reveal the image underneath. A JPEG’s solid background will cover whatever sits behind it. If you want an even gap and matching outer margins, decide those sizes before extending the canvas and check them again at full view.

Frequently asked questions

Why did my first photo disappear?

Using Open for the second file opens it as a separate document. Reopen the base picture and use Insert for the second one. If both images are already in the same project, the second may be covering the first. Move it aside while it is selected.

Can I rearrange the two pictures after exporting?

A normal PNG or JPEG stores the combined picture as one image. Keep the originals if you may need another layout. Before committing the inserted picture, use its selection handles to place it, and keep any useful intermediate project copies before saving the final image.

Watch the YouTube tutorial

Follow the original demonstration to see the controls in motion.

Watch on YouTube