|
This lesson demonstrates how to blend two images using the Eraser Tool. To work along exactly, download the start images Here. Unzip the contents and open them onto Photoshop’s workspace.
My lesson here demonstrates how to blend images using Layer Masks
Note
When choosing your own (face) subjects, ensure both sets of eyes are similarly placed - approximately the same width apart.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Alternatively, activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
1/
Your choice of images will be open on Photoshop’s workspace.
2/
From the toolbar, activate the Move Tool. 
Then double-left-click the cat image, and drag it onto the woman image.
Note
To save your PC’s resources, delete the original cat image.
Your Layers palette will now resemble the following.
Detailed Layers Lesson Here!
3/
To see the woman’s face beneath the cat layer; lower the Opacity of the cat layer to around 65%, or thereabouts.
 
Now, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Free Transform and the cat image will be surrounded by a transformation bounding box, illustrated below.
Hover your cursor over one of the (eight), outer manoeuvring handles, and when you see the cursor change to the following icon. 
Left-click and gently pull the boxes, to resize your image. Your looking to reshape the cat image, warping and stretching it, making it larger - or smaller, until the cat’s eyes are directly over the woman’s eyes. This technique quickly improves with practise.
Tip
Pressing the Shift key whilst simultaneously resizing the cat’s eyes, resizes the image proportionally
To move the cat image in its entirety; hover your cursor over it, and when you see the black triangle (below centre image), drag the image to a new position.
  
When you are satisfied the cat’s eyes cover the woman’s eyes, click the following Commit transformation tick.  
Or press Return/Enter.
Note
To help you match both sets of eyes, reduce the Opacity of the cat layer; additionally, for precision - apply the Free Transform command to both images.
4/
When you are satisfied both sets of eyes correspond, as close as possible; it is time for the next step.
From the toolbar, activate the Eraser Tool, and set the following attributes. Lesson.
Note
For perfect blending; be prepared to spend a little time, and change the brush’s Size, (Master Diameter), Opacity and Hardness, as you work. Additionally, altering your brush from Hard, to Medium - or Soft, provides more control with the blending
process.
 
Working on the cat layer.
Erase the unwanted areas of the cat image; being very careful not to remove parts that cover the woman’s eyes and forehead area.
You will find this easier if you zoom into your image.
After you have removed the unwanted areas of the cat image, you are ready for the next step.
5/
To blend the transition line between the cat and woman’s face, reduce the Eraser Tool’s Opacity to 10%, and the Hardness to 20%, then left-click - one click at a time - until the areas are nicely blended.
If necessary, reduce the settings further; additionally, change the brush from hard to Soft.
6/
From the Layers palette, still working on the cat image layer; increase the layer’s Opacity to around 77%.
Experiment with the Opacity setting, until you are happy with the result.
7/
From the Layers palette, change the Blending Mode from Normal to Luminosity, illustrated below. Blend Mode Lesson.
 
Experiment with different Blending Modes and see how they effect your image.
   
Tip
At any stage previous to merging the layers, you can activate the Free Transform Tool and reposition, or resize, your images.
8/
From the toolbar, activate the Blur Tool.
And set the following attributes.
Now, carefully, and slowly, soften any remaining transition lines.
9/
When you are satisfied with your final result, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Flatten Image. My lesson Here demonstrates how to optimise and save images.
Wendi E. M. Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
|
|
