How to make a before-and-after photo on iPhone

To make a before-and-after photo on iPhone, place the two source photos in one ScreenEdit canvas, arrange the before image first and the after image second, then match their scale and alignment before adding clear labels. Export the finished comparison as one PNG through the native iOS share sheet.

ScreenEdit treats this as a two-image workflow, not a dedicated before-and-after template. You choose the layout, align the photos, and add “Before” and “After” as manual text labels.

Make the comparison fair before you design it

A useful before-and-after image makes the change easy to judge. Start with source photos taken from a similar position, distance, and angle whenever possible. Matching lighting and framing also reduces distractions that can make a difference look larger or smaller than it is.

ScreenEdit can arrange and frame the photos, but it does not automatically match two different source images. The fairest comparison begins when the photos are captured.

Match the subject’s scale and alignment

Place the same visual reference in a similar position in both images. For a room, that might be a doorway or the edge of a wall. For a product, face, or object, align a stable feature and make the subject occupy a comparable amount of space.

Keep both photos complete when their surrounding context matters. If a crop is necessary, crop both images with the same comparison in mind. Do not crop the after photo more tightly simply to make its subject look larger.

Use shared top, bottom, or centre alignment to make differences easier to scan. Small inconsistencies in source orientation can remain visible; the goal is a truthful comparison, not artificial symmetry.

Choose a layout that matches the story

• Horizontal creates the familiar before-left, after-right comparison.
• Grid with two columns gives each photo an equal-width slot.
• Vertical supports a before-top, after-bottom reading order when the photos need more width.
• Free is useful for a more editorial arrangement, but uneven sizes can imply that one result matters more.

For most comparisons, Horizontal or a two-column Grid is clearest. ScreenEdit preserves each photo’s aspect ratio by default, so mixed portrait and landscape sources may leave different amounts of space inside their positions rather than being stretched.

Put the before image first

Order creates the story. In a horizontal layout, place “Before” on the left and “After” on the right. In a vertical layout, put “Before” at the top and “After” below it.

ScreenEdit includes controls for changing image order. Use them rather than relying on the order in which the photos happened to be selected. Reverse ordering can work for a deliberate reveal, but it should be made unmistakable with labels.

Add “Before” and “After” labels manually

ScreenEdit does not add comparison labels automatically. Add each label with the text tool and keep the treatment consistent:

• Use the same font, size, colour, and background treatment.
• Place both labels in equivalent positions.
• Keep them away from the part of the image being compared.
• Make them readable at social-preview size.

If the order is already obvious, the labels can stay small. Their job is to remove ambiguity, not compete with the photos.

Use spacing and framing consistently

Keep the gap between the two photos deliberate and apply the same border, corner radius, and shadow treatment to both. Different styling can unintentionally suggest that one image is more important or more polished than the other.

A simple solid background often makes a direct comparison easiest to read. A gradient or texture can work when it does not affect how viewers judge the photos themselves.

Choose one of the four fixed frame ratios

ScreenEdit offers 16:9, 5:3, 4:3, and 1:1 output frames.

• 16:9 gives a side-by-side comparison the most horizontal room.
• 5:3 creates a slightly tighter wide comparison.
• 4:3 gives the photos more height.
• 1:1 works for a compact comparison when both images remain clear.

The exported frame controls what is inside the PNG. X and Threads still control how their interfaces preview attached images, so check the post preview before publishing and open the image to confirm the complete comparison is present.

A before-and-after workflow on iPhone

1. Choose two photos captured from comparable viewpoints.
2. Import them into ScreenEdit from the Photo Library or Files.
3. Select Horizontal, Grid, Vertical, or Free layout.
4. Put the before photo first and the after photo second.
5. Match the subject scale and align a shared visual reference.
6. Add manual “Before” and “After” text labels.
7. Apply consistent spacing and frame styling.
8. Choose a 16:9, 5:3, 4:3, or 1:1 frame.
9. Export the finished comparison as a PNG and use the native iOS share sheet.

A strong before-and-after image does not exaggerate the change. It removes layout ambiguity so the real change is easier to see.