Combining the best of two images

using layers in Photoshop

presented by Ken Hanson

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Los Alamos Photo Club

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/la-photoclub/info

The problem

• Grandsons showing off by jumping over stairwell

• One hesitated, detracting from action shot

• Want to combine two photos from sequence, taking best

parts from each

The desired result

The procedure

• Make similar adjustments in two images in LR

– good idea to incorporate lens geometrical corrections

• Bring two photos into PS

• Choose one to be in front

• Right click on Background Layer; select Duplicate

Layer; rename it “front”

• At bottom of Layers Palette, click on Create New Layer

• Go to other photo and select all (Ctrl-a), and

copy (Ctrl-c)

• Go back to front photo; select blank layer and paste into

it (Ctrl-v); rename this layer “back”

The procedure – 2

• Align image layers

– select both layers (click on one, then Ctrl-click on other)

– Click on Edit > Auto-align

• select Auto, then OK

• layers will be shifted to align their backgrounds

• check result by clicking on visibility eye to turn off back layer

• Create mask for back image

– click on Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All

– OR click on mask icon at bottom of Layers palette, double click

on mask to bring up Properties panel; click on Invert

– mask should be filled with black to hide image; only front image

shows

Foreground color

The procedure – 3

• Use Brush Tool to paint in mask to reveal back image

– make Foreground color white

– select Brush Tool and adjust brush width and hardness

– click on mask for back image

– paint areas in image where you want back image to show

Zoom in on details

Zoom in on details – mask in blue overlay

Working with masks

• Mask acts on its associated image;

“white reveals, black conceals”

• Start with white or black mask

• To select areas to reveal or conceal

– use Brush Tool

• set brush attributes - size and hardness - according to desired

effect

– set Foreground and Background colors to default white and

black, respectively

– with mask selected, stroke brush to add or remove parts of

image from scene

Working with masks

• Some tricks

– switch Foreground and Background colors by typing x to add or

subtract from mask

– display B/W mask by clicking on it while holding Alt

– type \ to display selected mask in color superimposed on image

or by clicking on it while holding Alt-Shift

– use Mask panel (double click on mask) to

• invert mask, feather edges, add to mask a selected color range

– may help to turn off mask so you can see back image (right click on

mask, select Disable Mask OR Alt-click on mask)

– zoom in on image to accurately paint details

– blur edges of mask to blend border between two images (set

feather in Mask Panel to around 1 pixel)

– a tablet can help in drawing accurate masks

– another way to create mask is from a selection

Same masking technique useful in many effects

This presentation is on line

• Slides for this presentation

– LAPC web site:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/la-photoclub/files/

(you need to be a member of Yahoo and la-photoclub)

Online tutorials

• Useful online presentations

– Layers

https://www.video2brain.com/en/lessons/understanding-

layers

– http://tv.adobe.com/watch/adobe-evangelists-julieanne-

kost/basic-layers/

– Masks