The Letterville BullBoard: Photo Shop 6 question ?

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Posted by Arvil Shep' Shepherd (Member # 2030) on :

Help!!!!
I have recently loaded Photo Shop 6.on my computer.
And I am a Novice with this Program........Can any one give me a DETAILED step by step on how to blend and merge one photo in to another one ?????
Ala Ghost image etc.
Shep'

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Arvil Shep' Shepherd
Art by Shep
Oak Island, NC
shep@ec.rr.com
http://artbyshep.homestead.com/index.html
" As long as they say your name, you will live forever"

Posted by Rick Heine (Member # 2236) on :

For a basic overlay, Open PS, click Windows/View Layers. Open both pictures. Create a new layer for the second picture. Copy the first picture to the new layer of the second. Now adjust the opacity on the Layers menu bar.

I usually open a blank page for size I want to work and add layers above it before I start.

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Rick Heine
WebLevel Marketing
1939 NE Lakeshore Dr
Lees Summit, MO
64086

Posted by Adrienne Pereira (Member # 1046) on :

See? that's how!
haha, I knew it had something to do with layers...
I wish we could have an online course in PS, I would love to learn more about layers.

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Adrienne Morgan
Splash Signs
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www.splashsigns.com
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Benicia, CA
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[This message has been edited by AdrienneMorgan (edited September 10, 2001).]

Posted by Jim Schneck (Member # 1783) on :

Any time you paste (or drag) an object into an existing layer in PS it automatically adds another layer. Remember you have to select the layer you want to work on to add any effect to that layer. Each new type added also has its own layer.

Jim Schneck

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Jim Schneck

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Posted by Rick Heine (Member # 2236) on :

Yes, Jim is correct and that's the smoothest approach. I work it a little backwards. I like to go in, set up my needed layers and background, then haul in the images and type, directing each one to my chosen layer. What did we do before layers? So much pain I forgot.
I have used PS many times after hours to create huge collages for school, scouts, and soccer clubs involving semitransparent images and many layers. Kinda fun but don't forget to put a name on each layer if there is more than a couple. Will really save on the confusion later.

Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :

Here ya go Shep, some basics..

1. Open the images you want to blend/combine together.

2. Click on one of the images to make it active, doesnt matter which one. At the lower right corner of your screen you will see the Layer Palette. You'll see one layer there called "Background". That's the layer the image contains. Double-click on that layer in the palette and the "Layer Properties" box will pop up. Where it says "Layer Name" it will say "layer 0". You can either leave that there or give it a new name, doesnt matter cause you can always change it later. Click OK.

3. Click on the "Image" menu at the top of your screen and then click on "Canvas Size". This lets you change the size of the image, but it leaves the actual image the same size and adds empty room around it, ie: like adding more canvas real estate to a painting after you've already started painting. Specify a size that's large enough to fit the other image in there as well. You might have to try this a few times to get the right size.
Now you will see your image with a light gray checkerboard pattern behind it. That indicates you now have your image "floating" over a transparent background. Remember that step where I said to double click on the layer name? Had you not done that step, you would now have your image with extra white space around it which makes it a little tougher to change the background color easily in the future... not impossible, just not quite as flexible.

4. Now select the other image you have open. Just click on it to make it active. Pick the "Move Object" tool from the toolbar on the left (Has a + sign with a solid black arrow). Click on the image and drag it around.. see how it moves? Now drag it over onto the image you just increased the canvas size on. This creates a new layer on that image and puts "the other image" on it. This is the same result as copying and pasting the image, just less keystrokes.

5. Position the images how you want them using the "move object" tool, being sure to select the layer you want to move from the layer palette first.

Now, there's several ways to blend the images together, but one way I do it is by using a feathered selection and the eraser tool.

First, make sure the top layer is currently selected in the Layer Palette box.
Pick the "Magic Wand" selection tool and click in the "empty space" around the image. You will see a dashed marquee appear around the edges of the image.
Click on the "Selection" Menu at the top of your screen, and click on "Feather selection". For starters, specify a radius of 5 pixels. This number depends on the size of the image but you can always use the UNDO command and try it again with a different number.
The appearance of the selection will not change, but now you can pick the Eraser tool, then start erasing INSIDE of the selection marquee. You will notice along the marquee lines it produces a soft edge when you erase and the image on the layer below now shows through but it's blended.

Posted by Arvil Shep' Shepherd (Member # 2030) on :

Mike,
I think that I have this down......Now how do I merge them together ??????????
Shep'

Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :

Gday Shep,
Once you have the layers positioned, opacity set just so and have everything just the way you want it you'll need to "Flatten Image" in order to save it as anything apart from the native Photoshop file format.
The flatten option (in PS4 at least) is under the Layers popdown list.
You might want to save it as a photoshop file before flattening it so you can come back and tweak it again if required.
For starting out I can recommend the Photoshop For Dummies book, it has a pretty simple approach and will get you started with a few tips and tricks.
Great program huh? Incredibly powerful too if you want to start getting into the nuts and bolts end.
HTH,
David

Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :

Type photoshop tutorial in a search engine and you'll be flodded with info ... there's tons of sites out there with tutes
here's a few of the good ones

http://www.planetphotoshop.com/tutorials.html
http://www.teamphotoshop.com/
http://www.designsbymark.com/pstips/index.shtml
http://aqa-d.se/

Posted by Rick Heine (Member # 2236) on :

Nice part about 6 is you can do a Save As and save whatever is visble directly to a different format, then return to the PSD work in progress. Always save the working project as a PSD, then you can come back and work with the layers.

Posted by Roy Somers (Member # 403) on :

Adrienne, Look here for reviews on books about Photoshop.

Duh, Forgot the address. It's http://www.photoshopzone.com/

For tips and tricks and online seminars go here http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/index.html

Roy

[ September 10, 2001: Message edited by: Roy Somers ]

Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :

For whatever it is worth, (and it does not address the question itself), I'm studying Sams "Teach it yourself Photoshop 6 in 24 Hours".

I am able to follow their lead and that says a lot for the book.

Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :

Thanks Roy...I just upgraded to 6 and there is so much to learn I don't think I will ever find all the fun stuff it does....and I have barely started to learn things in Corel!

When ppl ask me what computer games I like to play I answer "GAMES!!???" Who needs games with all the hours of fun in these graphics programs!!

Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :

Shep, first save the file with the layers so you have the original image to come back to for modifying later on down the road.

Then use FILE > Save AS, and pick the file format you want to use for that image. Photoshop will automatically "flatten" the layers and create the image for you, while keeping the original file in tact.

If you are saving images for a website or to send via email, use the "Save For Web" option instead and you will be presented with another cool screen that allows further controls for optimizing the file size for faster download.
Every time you adjust a setting, the image will be updated on the fly so you can see exactly how it's going to appear before you save any changes.

Posted by Arvil Shep' Shepherd (Member # 2030) on :

Thanks Mike, and everyone who responded...
This sure is a great group of people.....

My attention now is focused on the terrible tragedy in the news today, my Prayers go out to everyone affected.
Shep'

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