‘You’ll soon discover just how simple it is
to create a seamless composite image.’
Combine multiple images to create a
well-blended photograph
We’re going to
show you how to create one realistic composite image from three separate shots.
Using layer masks and the trusty paintbrush tool, we’ll take you through all of
the necessary steps to cut out and construct your own composite photograph in
Photoshop. Follow our step-by-step guide with helpful tips focusing on blending
colour tones and blur, you’ll soon discover just how simple it is to create a
seamless composite image.
You can follow along at home using the same
three shots as us, or alternatively you can shoot your own starting images.
It’s important to remember when photographing your subjects for a composite,
that the direction of light and colour temperature will need to match closely
in every image. This will help to ensure that all of your images can blend
together flawlessly in Photoshop. For our composite construction, we are using
three images that have all been backlit, this will make sure that all three
layers share in the same highlight and shadow areas.
To get started with this tutorial, you can
download two of the start images from the CD. To use the same bokeh effect
background, please visit the free stock photography website www.sxc.hu and simply type the code 1340675 into the search bar. You can now
follow along with the steps to construct a composite like ours.
Before:
You can combine multiple images together in Photoshop to create a composite
After:
Learn how to construct your own composite image by following our nine simple
steps
1.
Layering
Use the model.jpg
file as your start image then using the move tool, drag your background file on
top. Click Apple+T to free transform the new layer and slowly drag out the
sides to ensure it fits the edges
2.
Layer mask
Click ‘Add layer
mask’ at the bottom of the Layers palette, a black box should appear next to
your background layer. Now select the paintbrush from the tools palette and
select a medium size with a soft edge.
3.
Add in the back ground
Change the foreground
to white and the brush opacity to 40-50%, then start painting back in the
background. The image’s blown-out background light lets you blend loosely
around the model
4.
Match colour tones
To correct
mistakes, switch the foreground back to black and brush it out. Now match the
colour tones between images – click on the background first and go to
Image>Adjustments>Colour balance.
5.
Adjust tones
Work through the
colour sliders to change the background tones. You can now click on the model
layer and go to colour balance. Click preview, and use the sliders to match her
skin tone to the background.
6.
Add another image
Open the
hairpiece.jpg file. Drag the image onto the working composite and add a black
layer mask. Then re-adjust the paintbrush size, switch the foreground colour to
white and paint back the hairpiece.
7.
Resize
You can switch
the foreground colour to make corrections as you go. Now select Apple+T to
rezise the hairpiece and move it into position. To match the colour tones click
on the hairpiece layer and go to Colour Balance.
8.
Alter perspective
Adjust the colour
balance sliders until the hairpiece matches the rest of the image. You can now
opt to alter the perspective of the hairpiece via
Edit>Transform>Perspective, slowly drag in the sliders.
9.
Add blur
Finally add a Gaussian
blur to the hairpiece so that it blends in with the rest of the image via
Filters>Blur>Gaussian, drag the slider up between 1-2 pixels. Now you can
flatten your layers and save your composite.
