Layering pictures?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard Crowe on November 16, 2009 at 2:10pm

hi there. I did a multiple exposure shot a while back as can be seen here - http://www.picturesocial.com/photo/multiplicity-1?context=album&...

Is this the kind of thing you are wanting to do? Like everything in ps there are several ways to do this and it is usually just a matter of playing around with it to see which you like best. I did this using 5 shots. It is essential that you uses a tripod so that the background remains the same. If it is a simple shot where the subject were to line up and not overlap you can just start with the first image as the background, then pick the next image and do Ctrl A to select it and then copy and paste it on top of the background one. Using the eraser tool delete the area of the seconf image where the subject from teh first one had been covered. You just keep repeating that until you have done as many images as you had taken.

If it is a bit more complicated where the images you are using overlap, I find it best to use a masking software and cut the subject out and past them onto the background image. If masking is not your thing you can also do this using the Quick Selection tool in ps. Use it to trace around the subject then copy and paste it onto the background image and repeat as necessary.

Because the background is the same in all the shots it doesnt matter if you dont cut out the subject perfectly - as long as you place it in the same place as it was in the original shot. Once you have finished you can either feather the edges or use the blur tool set to a low % to remove any sharp unnatural edges. Also you can burn in some shadows if necessary too.

I'm sure others will have there own way of doing this too. Thats why its good to just play around to get something you are comfortable with. When I did my shot it was the first time I had tried it and I wasnt following a guide or anything. There was a fair bit of trial and error, but someimes that is the best way to learn! :) Good luck! Cheer, Richard

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mario Alonso on November 16, 2009 at 2:39pm

You helped a lot!
Thanks :D

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sean on November 16, 2009 at 4:06pm

I used the pen tool to keep the curves as smooth as possible. I also shot from different angles so the it would look semi natural that he was 20 feet above me. To make the shadows I use his image that had been cut out, locked transparent pixels, black paint, then unlocked, gausian blur, change later to multiply, and lighten the layer opacity to taste.

• ▶ Reply