Working with layers to combine images
Let’s combine a photo of a Croatian Sunset with a photo of a CroatianWall Both were taken at a national park near Pula, Croatia.
- To begin the exercise, just select the images on this page and them to your desktop. So Open CroatianCoast in Gimp or Photoshop
- Next, import Coatian Wall
2.a = Photoshop: File > Place embedded (select) CroatianWall.jpg
2.b = Gimp: File > Open Layers
In both PS and Gimp, the new layer arrives with Free Transform already on, so you can resize he wall in a way that is the best fit.
Now we want to remove the white space around the wall and make it transparent, so we can see the Adriatic Sea behind.
Special step PS: Usually need to switch to a “rasterized” view for editing. Layers > Smart Object > Rasterize (bottom).
Special step Gimp: Add an “alpha channel” to the layer with Layer. >. Transparency > Add Alpha Channel. This Alpha channel allows parts of the photo to be transparent.
Now its possible to edit the wall. We need to cut out the white space. Make sure you have highlighted the correct layer on the layers pallet.
Photoshop: Select tool PS Magic wand tool, click on white spaces and then hit your keyboard delete command. This should reveal the underlying layer.
Gimp is similar — use the Fuzzy Select Tool, click on white spaces and then hit your keyboard delete command. Problems? Some versions of Gimp are not working on some versions of the Mac OS. In that case, use the eraser tool rather than the fuzzy select tool.
Zoom in and out and touch up parts of the wall layer with an eraser.
You can also resize (PS Edit / Transform, Gimp = Image / Scale ) or do other things to the layer.
Since its a sunset, you might darken the wall layer ( Image / Adjustments / Brightness and Color ) or just turn down the brightness )
Save your psd file as a backup.
Save or export your final combined file as a png or jpg. and post it on your portfolio site as Ex 2.6
More info
Photoshop tutorials
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/combining-images-basics.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/ps-layers-basics.html
Gimp tutorial on combining photos