ps help please...numpty alert !
Discussion
Im trying to merge a few images in CS2, I cant sem to get the final result I want.
For the sake of the post, imagine you are trying to to do a multi shot layer composite, and require all the layers to show fully.
If i set opacity in the layers pallette to 50% I can half see the layers, but not fully ?
Also, how do finalise the image ? Ive tried all the merge layers, flatten image and nothing seems to end up how I want it ?
I hate PS ,its so bloody unintuitive.
Sorry for the schoolboy q's.
For the sake of the post, imagine you are trying to to do a multi shot layer composite, and require all the layers to show fully.
If i set opacity in the layers pallette to 50% I can half see the layers, but not fully ?
Also, how do finalise the image ? Ive tried all the merge layers, flatten image and nothing seems to end up how I want it ?
I hate PS ,its so bloody unintuitive.
Sorry for the schoolboy q's.
Furyous said:
For the sake of the post, imagine you are trying to to do a multi shot layer composite, and require all the layers to show fully. If i set opacity in the layers pallette to 50% I can half see the layers, but not fully ?
You can't see all the layers fully at once - it would be impossible. Click them on and off in the Layers palette.Furyous said:
Also, how do finalise the image ? Ive tried all the merge layers, flatten image and nothing seems to end up how I want it ?
'Flatten image' works for me - maybe click on the topmost layer first?Simpo Two said:
You can't see all the layers fully at once - it would be impossible. Click them on and off in the Layers palette.
Understood, but if I then flatten image and save, its not the result Im after Simpo Two said:
- maybe click on the topmost layer first?
Tried that, all I get is two images with a couple of ghosts ?Furyous said:
More as a personal learning thing than a picture making exercise, what Im trying to achieve is a pic of the lounge with the dog in three/four differnt positions.
It maybe that layer masks are what I need to use, but Im a pretty much useless with ps tbh.
Yup, layer masks, or if you can't be bothered to work them out then you need to erase the relevant parts of each layer to make the dog show through.It maybe that layer masks are what I need to use, but Im a pretty much useless with ps tbh.
Furyous said:
More as a personal learning thing than a picture making exercise, what Im trying to achieve is a pic of the lounge with the dog in three/four differnt positions.
It maybe that layer masks are what I need to use, but Im a pretty much useless with ps tbh.
Layer masks are basically a 'non destructive' way to decide what parts of your layer will show - white is 100% opaque, black is completely transparent.It maybe that layer masks are what I need to use, but Im a pretty much useless with ps tbh.
If you have a number of shots of your dog you don't need to use layer masks, its just arguably the correct way to do it as you can fine-tune it afterwards.
Rough & ready approach: For each layer - use the lasso tool to roughly draw round the dog, then press Ctrl+shift+i to invert the selection (your selecting the rest of the layer, not the dog now), press delete.
Don't do this for the bottom layer or you will remove the background for all the other layers
After using photoshop for years its the other graphics packages that feel unintuitive
Woe betide any software that dosn't allow you to pan around the image by holding the spacebar 
Cheers.
If the shot is taken from the same place each time it's easier. As with everything on PS there are a few ways of doing the job.
A quick way is.
Align the photo's by adjusting opacity (by using refernce points that dont change in the background) so you can see the positioning of the layers one by one.
Keep your background layer at 100% opacity.
On the next layer up (which should now be aligned), get the laso tool and draw roughly around the dog (take into account the shadow cast by the dog) you dont want your mask to be close to the dog rather about 2 cm away from it all the way around.
When you've drawn the laso go to Select>Feather or apple+alt+d and depending on the resolution of the image feather by about 10 pixles and invert selection Select>Invert or apple+shift+i and hit backspace to get rid of everything bar the dog. The reason for the feather is to aim for a smoother and less noticable (can be seamless) blend between the top layer and the one below.
This should leave a layer with the dog you want above the background. Repeat as with further layers. You can flatten the layers by Layers>flatten or merge visible by apple+shift+e
It'll take some tweeking doing it this way and get right but you'll get the hang of that, there is nothing stopping you using a soft edge eraser and tweeking the layers.
A quick way is.
Align the photo's by adjusting opacity (by using refernce points that dont change in the background) so you can see the positioning of the layers one by one.
Keep your background layer at 100% opacity.
On the next layer up (which should now be aligned), get the laso tool and draw roughly around the dog (take into account the shadow cast by the dog) you dont want your mask to be close to the dog rather about 2 cm away from it all the way around.
When you've drawn the laso go to Select>Feather or apple+alt+d and depending on the resolution of the image feather by about 10 pixles and invert selection Select>Invert or apple+shift+i and hit backspace to get rid of everything bar the dog. The reason for the feather is to aim for a smoother and less noticable (can be seamless) blend between the top layer and the one below.
This should leave a layer with the dog you want above the background. Repeat as with further layers. You can flatten the layers by Layers>flatten or merge visible by apple+shift+e
It'll take some tweeking doing it this way and get right but you'll get the hang of that, there is nothing stopping you using a soft edge eraser and tweeking the layers.
Edited by RV8 on Saturday 8th May 23:12
Assuming the shots were taken on a tripod, all in exactly the same position, then drag all layers in to one psd. Erase everything from the first layer, bar the thing you want left in (your dog). Do the same with the other layers until you have something like this
Edited by 4hero on Sunday 9th May 00:05
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