[Mac/iPhone] How to Make a Shortcut That Combines 16 Photos into One PDF

This post was automatically translated by AI from the Japanese original. The screenshots are in Japanese.

After trips and outings, I print my photos and stick them into my notebook.

The index print feature at convenience stores packs 30 to 40 photos onto one sheet, so each photo ends up pretty small.

So I make a file with 16 photos laid out on an A4 page and print that, but it’s quite a hassle…

That’s why I made a shortcut that lines up several photos and turns them into a single PDF in one go.

First, the shortcut recipe#

On A4, 16 photos gives a size that’s easy to stick into a notebook, so I recommend it.

I haven’t tried other numbers of photos, but I think it works the same way. Probably!

You can download it from this link.
Note: I don’t offer support if it doesn’t work. Please use the shortcut at your own risk.

The first part of the shortcut recipe (in Japanese)

The middle part of the shortcut recipe (in Japanese)

The last part of the shortcut recipe (in Japanese)

Get the photos. If none are selected, open a file picker.
Get the size of each photo. Rotate landscape photos by 90 degrees to match the portrait ones.
Arrange them in a grid. “Spacing” is the margin around each photo (set to 5).
Resize the arranged image to A4 (2480 px wide).
Convert it to PDF.
Optimize the PDF file size.
Save the file (it asks where to save it).

Once you open the shortcut, check “Use as Quick Action” in the right-hand panel.

Turning on the Quick Action option for the shortcut (in Japanese)

In Finder, select 16 photos and right-click.

From Quick Actions, choose the shortcut, named “Convert multiple photos to PDF” (the name is in Japanese).

Choosing the shortcut from Quick Actions (in Japanese)

Choosing the shortcut from Quick Actions

When the PDF is ready, it asks where to save it, so save it wherever you like.

The shortcut's details screen on iPhone (in Japanese)

Open the recipe in the Shortcuts app.

Turning on "Show in Share Sheet" (in Japanese)

Tap the “i” button at the bottom and turn on “Show in Share Sheet”.

Selecting photos in the Photos app and tapping Share (in Japanese)

In the Photos app, select the 16 photos you want in the PDF and tap the Share button.

Scroll down and you’ll find the shortcut’s menu item. Tap it.

Waiting while the PDF is being made (in Japanese)

Wait a moment while the PDF is made.

Then tap “Open” on the folder you want to save it in, and you’re done.

The finished PDF saved in the Files app (in Japanese)

Now I can put my photos together on my iPhone and then print them at a convenience store, which saves a lot of time ♪

My notebook setup, from someone who loves writing