How to make a Hockney “joiner” photomontage online
David Hockney's “joiners” turn dozens of ordinary snapshots into one shifting, cubist picture. Here's how to make one in a few minutes, entirely in your browser — no Photoshop required.
What is a joiner? (in brief)
A joiner is a single picture built from many overlapping photographs of one scene, shot from slightly different angles and moments. David Hockney made the style famous in the 1980s with grids of Polaroids. Edges don't line up, the same subject appears twice, and the result feels closer to how we actually see — in glances, not one frozen frame.
For the full background, see our complete guide: What is a David Hockney joiner? This post is the hands-on version — how to make one yourself.
What you need
- A handful of photos of one subject or scene — ideally taken by panning across it, or shot from slightly different spots and moments.
- A browser. We'll use Scatter, a free browser-based collage studio built for exactly this — a freeform “wall” you drop photos onto and arrange by hand. Nothing to install, and your photos never leave your device.
Step by step
- Shoot for the joiner. Point your phone at a scene and take 10–30 photos as you pan across it — overlap each shot with the last, and don't worry about matching exposure. Move your feet; shoot the same subject twice.
- Open Scatter and add your photos to the freeform wall.
- Lay the scene out. Drag each photo roughly where it belongs, rebuilding the whole view like a mosaic. Start from a corner and work across.
- Overlap and tilt. Let edges cover each other, and rotate tiles a few degrees so nothing lines up perfectly — that mismatch is the whole point.
- Build up the subject. Stack extra shots of the face, hands or focal point so they repeat — Hockney loved letting the eye travel.
- Add a caption if you like — a title or date in the corner.
- Export a high-resolution PNG and share it, or print it.
Tips for a convincing joiner
- Overlap generously. Gaps read as a grid; overlaps read as a joiner.
- Vary your angle. Slight changes in perspective between tiles create that cubist shimmer.
- Embrace imperfection. Uneven light and mismatched edges are features, not bugs.
- Keep one clear subject. A joiner works best when many fragments describe a single thing.
Why do it in the browser?
Photoshop can build a joiner, but it's slow, expensive, and overkill for a collage. A browser tool like Scatter gives you a freeform canvas made for arranging photos by hand, works on your phone, runs offline once loaded, and keeps every image on your own device. You can start free — Pro is a one-time $19 that removes the watermark and unlocks full-resolution export.
Make your first joiner in Scatter
Free, in your browser — no install, no sign-up, nothing uploaded.
Open Scatter ↗FAQ
Do I need Photoshop to make a Hockney joiner?
No. A joiner is a freeform photo collage of one scene, which you can build entirely in your browser with a tool like Scatter — no Photoshop and no install required.
How many photos do I need for a joiner?
Anywhere from about 10 to 30 works well. The more overlapping shots you have of the same scene, the richer the cubist effect.
Is it free?
Yes — Scatter is free to use in your browser. A one-time $19 Pro removes the watermark and unlocks full-resolution PNG export.
Do my photos get uploaded?
No. Scatter does its work on your device; your photos and projects stay in your browser and are never uploaded to a server.