Hello, patrick!
You wrote on Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:33:04 GMT:
To all who replied, my thanks.
Patrick, I tried your "tutorial" and it works great. In fact, I found I could lasso with a relatively large feather setting and get 90% of the collage without even worrying about layer masks. Now I will spend some time working on the fine tuning steps I might make.
Thanks,
Colonel Blip.
E-mail:
p> This might do it. It looks long and complicated but the process is a p> real delight. Hope it helps!
p> **************
p> PREPARING THE IMAGES:
p> Prepare each image independently before creating the collage. Try to p> match the overall levels and
p> tones of the images.
p> Size all images to the same dpi.
p> Do not crop the images tightly. You want each image to comfortably p> overlap its surrounding
p> images to allow for cropping and composing in the collage. p> Have all your images loaded in PS to start the collage.
p> CREATING THE COLLAGE:
p> Create a New File for the collage. Size it to your final image size and p> set its resolution to the
p> same as your individual images. Fill it with white. p> Select the Move tool. Drag the images into the collage one at a time. p> At this point, don’t worry
p> if some images hide others. Just leave at least a small bit of each one p> showing so you can click on
p> it later to select it.
p> Each image will be automatically loaded into its own layer. When you p> release the cursor, the
p> collage image will be active. You can then move the newly imported p> image, dragging it to where
p> you want it. You’ll also be able to size, rotate, move and hide or p> reveal portions of each image
p> independently later, below.
p> Bring in the images in order of their precedence. That is, position the p> images you feel the
p> strongest about first.
p> Name each layer as you bring it in so you can easily select the p> individual images to work on
p> them.
p> EDITING THE COLLAGE:
p> With the Move Tool still selected, check the Auto Select Layer box in p> the Options Bar. Now
p> when you click on an image in the collage, you will automatically select p> its layer to move it.
p> Ctrl-A on the layer for the image you want to work on. (That will p> select all the image.)
p> Ctrl-T to get the Transform function. That will let you size, rotate, p> distort, position, etc the
p> individual image within the collage.
p> Now comes the fun part – blending the images.
p> Create a layer mask for the new layer and paint black in the mask with a p> large, soft brush to block
p> portions of the new image and reveal the image(s) in the layer(s) below. p> Paint white to restore
p> portions of the new image if you block too much. Because you have not p> erased or cropped any
p> portions of any of the images, you can go back and forth between them to p> further position, size,
p> rotate or block/reveal different portions of them. p> As you paint either black or white, you can lower the opacity of the p> brush to blend the edges of
p> the new image with the others.
p> (OR: With the layer mask active, Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur at 3-20 p> radius to feather the edges of
p> the mask.)
p> When you’re satisfied with each image, Lock All on that layer so you p> don’t accidentally mess it
p> up while working on the new images.
p> GILD THE LILLY:
p> I frequently fill the new, bare collage image with a dull pattern or p> image (leaves, for example) to
p> act as a filler where some images may not overlap entirely. p> Generally, avoid straight edges between images. Irregular shapes work p> well for me.
p> You can flip individual images to improve their orientation within the p> collage.
p> Sometimes you’ll see a smirch in the collage and can’t tell which layer p> it is on. Hide each layer
p> successfully until you see the smirch disappear. That’s the layer you p> want to work on.
p> **************
p> If something is not clear or didn’t work, ask again.
p> Good luck! . . . . patrick
p> "Colonel Blip" wrote in message
p> ??>> Hello, All!
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