Best Design for 18 picture team collage

[StorageLady]

I have been assigned the job of making a collage of my son's U-18 ice hockey team for the yearbook. I have 18 mediocre action shots which I cut out from the background to use in the collage.

Any tips on how to do this collage so that it looks pulled together and not a tangled mish-mash of shots?

I'd be happy to look at samples if you can point me in the right direction.

I've seen some nice sports collages - but they usually only have 5 or 6 pictures. Since I need to use all 18, I'm design-constrained!

Also.... I'm at PSE6.0 newbie. What a learning curve this is!!

[Karin Sue]

You might want to try posting an image with the 18 shots to see if it inspires anyone. What aspect ratio does the final collage need to be?

Possibilities:

scattered photos (white borders, drop shadows), maybe with a breakout in the center.

Color block grid, some photos taking more than one block, possibly some line art or other clip art on some.

Filmstrip the most mediocre shots around larger best one(s).

Do you have team colors, mascot image, photo of school or arena, etc, that you could incorporate?

[deedeeO]

Hi Storage Lady!! (sorry, don't know your real name??).... I would also make a post here, you'll get a bigger response: "Football Pics In Gallery" (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?p=364589&posted=1#post364589)
It is one of the biggest threads on this forum dedicated to only sports.

A bunch of us sports photogs have been keeping this thread alive posting ideas, techniques, all related to sports. Check it out for ideas.

Some details needed to help you out....what is the size of your finished project. One page in a year book or a 2 page spread? Poster size?

[StorageLady]

Well, I ended up turning the pictures into what look like trading cards and just lining them up on the page. Not terribly creative - but I'm such a newbie at this that I felt lucky just to get anything done!

I'm not sure how to post the results so that you can see it and offer suggestions for the futre. Aargh. I used to be computer literate, until I met PSE!

[deedeeO]

ooooo where is it?? I wanna see, I wanna see!!!