Find out how to Merge / Mix Two Pictures in Photoshop

Should you’ve ever needed to learn to merge two photographs in Photoshop, this information will present you three pretty easy and elementary strategies you need to use to mix photographs creatively.

As with most duties in Adobe Photoshop, there are a number of methods to attain the identical consequence. A few of these will suit your particular wants higher than others, so experiment a bit and see what works finest for the ultimate inventive consequence you need.

It’s additionally doable to mix two or extra of the choices beneath collectively to create a extra advanced picture composition. We really clarify tips on how to do a primary model of this for strategies 2 and three beneath. (It’s also possible to report the steps to make an Motion like these.)

Additionally word that the next strategies have been organized so as of issue from extra advanced (and highly effective) all the way down to the only, although the fundamental picture becoming a member of steps described in Methodology 1 (Layer Masks) apply to all three picture merging choices.

Alternatively, in the event you don’t have the time or inclination to make use of Photoshop in your desktop, there are additionally cellphone app choices accessible for each Android and iPhone that assist you to do a fast inventive mixing of two images.

Able to get began? Right here’s tips on how to mesh two images collectively utilizing Adobe Photoshop. 

Methodology 1: Use a Layer Masks

To begin issues off, let’s have a look at Layer Masks. That is most likely probably the most versatile and common technique of merging two photographs in Photoshop. It additionally comes with the advantage of letting you manipulate precisely how and the place two photographs mix collectively.

With the opposite two strategies we’re going to cowl beneath, this final trick isn’t fairly as straightforward.

You’ll be able to really do a ton of stuff with Layer Masks, and to cowl all of it will imply an entire separate tutorial only for this particular technique, so right here we’ll concentrate on the necessities for understanding this course of simply.

What’s the function of masking a layer?

Layer Masks mainly management the transparency of a layer, however with one very helpful twist: as an alternative of a complete layer being given a sure stage of transparency, the Layer Masks technique helps you to apply it at completely different ranges throughout completely different components of an overlaying (layered) picture.

That is performed by utilizing black and white gradients. Should you fill a part of an overlying layer with white, it would stay seen, and in the event you fill it with black, will probably be hid to point out the background picture

Mainly, you need to use masks to cover and present components of each superimposed photographs very selectively. Right here’s the step-by-step course of:

Step 1: Choose a background picture and a high layer picture that you simply wish to merge collectively. It’s vital that each photographs have the identical dimension and that they each use the identical shade area possibility. Open each of them in Photoshop.

Step 2: Now that you simply’ve opened up each photographs, you’ll see their respective tabs alongside the highest of your Photoshop window.

To make your images merge, all that you must do is click on the Transfer device on the left icon menu, and click on the picture you need because the overlay.

Holding down the left mouse button and the shift key whereas dragging, transfer it over the picture that shall be your background after which launch. Holding the shift key facilities the picture.

Step 3: Now you may have two layers in the identical picture tab and it’s time so as to add the Layer Masks.

You are able to do this by transferring all the way down to the layer masks button on the backside of the layers panel the place your two picture layers are listed on the decrease proper of the display. It vaguely appears to be like like a little bit digital camera icon (with a hole circle in the course of it).

Click on on it and also you’ll see a white Layer Masks sq. kind subsequent to your layer picture icon within the layers panel.

You now have a clear Layer Masks between your two footage. It’s also possible to change which picture you wish to use for the overlying picture by clicking it and transferring it up or down after unlocking whichever picture was set because the default background by Photoshop.

Now, choose the Gradient device on the left of the Photoshop display.

Step 4: Ensuring that the clean layer masks field subsequent to your overlay picture is chosen, now you can merge by deciding on the gradient device (in your keyboard press G for fast entry).

Earlier than you do that although, on the backside left of the Photoshop display, you’ll word two overlapping packing containers, one white and the opposite black. You can also make white or black be on the forefront by urgent both D or X in your keyboard and switching everytime you like.

Step 5: With the gradient cursor device, merely click on on the fringe of any a part of the overlay picture you wish to substitute with the background picture, after which whereas nonetheless holding the mouse button down, drag the gradient line alongside till you’ve reached the place you’d just like the overlay picture to stay, then unclick.

Bear in mind to ensure that your foreground field (decrease left nook) shade is about to black in order that the underlying picture will seem as you play with gradient.

Step 6: You’ve simply mastered the fundamental artwork of utilizing a layer masks with broad gradient shifts. If you’d like a extra exact edit, I’ll present you tips on how to merge images realistically in Photoshop utilizing the comb device. 

As a substitute of utilizing the gradient device, choose the comb device on the left panel of Photoshop, and on the high of the display, set the comb thickness and hardness (decrease hardness means a extra soft-edged brush stroke).

You’ll be able to then use this brush device throughout your overlay picture to extra particularly take away components of it and present the underlying picture, or undo any errors by reverting to black with white within the foreground, (Urgent D or X to modify the 2 little packing containers within the decrease left nook) and re-revealing the overlay picture.

Congratulations, you’ve simply discovered tips on how to use Photoshop layer masks merging in two alternative ways.

Methodology 2: Use a Mix Mode

With Mix Modes, two photographs are layered collectively and also you regulate the transparency of 1 or the opposite to make components from each seem as components of the identical picture.

In different phrases, Mix Modes are a broader technique of merging photographs in Adobe Photoshop, however may be very helpful for a fast job.

Step 1: Simply as we described above for the primary technique, open two images that you simply’d wish to merge.

Step 2: With each images open, now you can drag one picture over the opposite simply as we instructed in technique one above. As soon as these photographs are layered, you possibly can change which one you need because the overlay picture simply by switching across the two layers within the Layers panel (whichever one is the highest layer shall be your overlay).

Step 3: Together with your overlay picture chosen, you possibly can choose from any one among quite a few mix mode choices within the Layers tab on the suitable, proper subsequent to the Opacity slider. Mess around with any of those choices to see which one creates the very best outcomes.

It’s also possible to modify opacity for both of the 2 images by transferring the slider left to proper.

Step 4: It’s also possible to cycle by way of the Photoshop mix modes together with your keyboard for faster workflow by urgent V in your keyboard to activate the transfer device, after which holding down the Shift key whereas urgent the + or – keys in your pc to scroll up and down.

Bonus step: It’s completely doable to layer greater than two photographs collectively and regulate each Mix Modes and Opacity or Fill (see beneath) between all three of them one after the other till they mix in simply the suitable approach so that you can like the tip consequence.

This is a little more sophisticated as a result of it means you’ll have a bigger vary of composition components and objects, and also you’ll have to verify they don’t crowd into the entire composition. If you wish to strive it, nonetheless, the modifying course of in Photoshop is simply the identical as for 2 footage.

Congratulations. You’ve simply discovered tips on how to mix photographs collectively into a brand new composition utilizing this technique. Now let’s transfer onto adjusting opacity and fill together with your Mix Modes and layered photographs.

Methodology 3: Use Layer Opacity

Layer Opacity choices are even less complicated to make use of than Mix Modes, and in reality, the 2 may be easily mixed to create a extra fine-tuned picture overlay. Mainly, Mix Modes and opacity choices go aspect by aspect as methods to mix photographs in Photoshop.

What Layer Opacity helps you to do is change the opacity of the overlying layer picture in order that it’s solely partly seen on high of the background picture. The rationale that Opacity works with Mix Modes is that the visible consequence it creates will range relying on which mix mode you utilized to the picture layers first.

If you wish to know tips on how to fade two photographs collectively in Photoshop, then Layer Opacity is the device you’ve been searching for. 

Each Mix Modes and Layer Opacity trigger one picture to turn into seen over the picture beneath it, however Layer Opacity will increase or decreases the transparency of the overlying picture. Right here’s the way it’s performed:

Step 1: Open up two photographs in Photoshop simply as we described within the steps for Layer Masks, after which be a part of the photographs as layers in the identical approach we described underneath our Layer Masks part above.

Step 2: Now that you’ve got your photographs in layers, with one because the background and the highest layer because the one you wish to merge over, you possibly can choose the highest layer by clicking on its thumbnail within the layers panel and play with its opacity.

That is positioned simply to the suitable of the Mix Modes field within the decrease proper panel in Photoshop, and may be modified with a little bit slider that goes from 0% to 100%.

Step 3: You’ll be able to regulate the general look of your merged photographs by deciding on completely different Mix Modes after which enjoying with the opacity stage whereas any of them is lively on the layer you’re modifying.

Experimenting with these two choices helps you to create a composition that you simply’re most proud of.

Keep in mind that a picture layer locked as Background can’t be edited – you need to first unlock it by clicking on the padlock subsequent to its thumbnail in order that it turns into simply one other modifying layer.

Step 4: Proper beneath the Opacity slider, you’ll see one other slider for Fill. This additionally modifications opacity however in a barely completely different approach: Whereas Opacity creates completely different results relying on the Mix Mode it’s reacting with, Fill will change absolutely the opacity of the pixels and shapes within the overlay layer that you simply’re modifying over the background.

Bonus step: It’s also possible to apply the Layer Masks merging course of described in Methodology 1 to 2 or extra photographs that you simply’ve been modifying with Opacity/Fill layers and Mix Modes. This mixture of strategies may be helpful in making a composition that’s extra easily merged amongst a number of photographs.

It’s additionally nice for making massive areas of 1 complete layer disappear through layer masking. It’s also possible to add Layer Opacity that we cowl in our subsequent step to Mix Modes with Layer Masks.

Right here’s one instance of a three-layer picture merge that I created utilizing all three above strategies.

FAQs About Merging and Mixing Pictures in Photoshop

How do I merge a number of photographs into one in Photoshop?

There are a number of strategies for merging a number of photographs in Photoshop. To merge a number of photographs, use the Layer Masks, Mix Mode, or Layer Opacity instruments to regulate the merge perform.

The Layer Opacity device is the only technique to merge a number of photographs.

How do you mix photographs in Photoshop?

Adobe Photoshop encompasses a very efficient Mix Mode that means that you can layer two or extra photographs and management the opacity of every.

With the Mix Mode device, you mix two photographs seamlessly to look as a single picture. The method is fast and easy and some of the common strategies of mixing photographs in Photoshop.

Are you able to mix Mix Mode with Layer Opacity?

It’s additionally doable to create a single picture from a number of photographs utilizing a mix of Photoshop mix/merge instruments.

To realize larger management over the subtlety of a merge, mix any or the entire Mix Mode, Layer Masks, and Layer Opacity in Photoshop.

Find out how to sew photographs collectively in Photoshop?

Photoshop has a one-touch edit that allows you to be a part of a number of photographs collectively. You’ll be able to create a panorama and mix photographs with a clean transition by deciding on Picture › Picture Merge › Panorama Merge. 

Panorama merge is the quickest technique to learn to connect two footage collectively in Photoshop. 

Find out how to create a Photoshop morph between two photographs?

A fast technique to learn to joint picture in Photoshop is to make use of the Auto-Mix Layers command. This command helps you to auto merge two footage right into a single picture. 

You’ll be able to combine and fuse images by deciding on the layers you wish to work with then clicking Edit > Auto-Mix Layers. The Panorama possibility stitches photographs into a bigger panorama whereas the Stack Pictures possibility makes use of the picture editor to mix photographs which works finest with layers which can be aligned like two portraits with the identical profile.

Find out how to merge two images with similar background on-line?

You’ll be able to merge two images on-line utilizing net apps like Fotor, PhotoKit, and even Adobe’s beta browser-based Photoshop app. These on-line editors have extra restricted instruments which suggests they work finest with photographs which have easy or equivalent backgrounds. 

Ultimate Phrases

The three above picture merging strategies for combining photographs in Photoshop can be utilized to merge photographs collectively into many alternative compositions.

We’ve coated solely the necessities of understanding every of them and becoming a member of collectively all three strategies, however there’s an unlimited quantity of room for experimentation past that.

In different phrases, now that you simply perceive these fundamentals, simply have enjoyable and discover.

Seize two or extra photographs, ensure you don’t save something to the unique copies, and begin seeing what sort of new artwork you possibly can create from mixing strange footage collectively.