Blending with Layer Mask

One of the ways to blend two images together is to use the Blend Modes in Photoshop. Another is to use a Layer Mask. With  a Layer Mask and a Gradient you can get very beautiful results. You can blend photos with opposite content seamlessly. You will also need a few other skills like cutting out an image, but nothing difficult. I will also show you the Channel Mixer in passing.

This is the effect I intend to create.

I will be using this free stock image. You will find it here

It belongs to day-seriani

I will also use this free stock image. You will find it here

It belongs to mjranum-stock

For convenience I have extracted the dancer from the background. You can use the Quick Select Tool,

  Pen Tool,  or even the Magnetic Lasso

You can also use the entire image if you wish. But cutting this image from its background has its advantage.

Step 1 : Press CTRL+A, then CTRL+C (Select All, Copy). A line of marching ants appear.

Step 2 : Press CTRL+V to paste the image into the forest path photo. Press CTRL+T for free transform. Then keeping SHIFT+ALT pressed drag a corner handle to resize. Press Enter when finished. If for some reason the selection persists press CTRL+H to hide it.

Step 3 : Click the Layer Mask button. A Layer Mask forms next to the layer thumbnail on Layer1. Layer 1 contains the cut out image of the dancer.

Step 4 : Click the Gradient Tool. The Foreground/Background colors are set to the default Black/White.

At the top is the Gradient Editor. Click the Radial Gradient. Linear Gradient, the first one, is set by default.

Step 5 : Click the small arrow to reveal the default presets in the Gradient Editor.

Click on Foreground to Transparent.

Step 6 : Drag the Gradient down just covering the image of the dancer.

This is how the image and the Layer Mask in the Layers palette looks like. It looks quite ok, but the complexion should be toned down a bit. It looks too pinkish. 

Step 7 : Click the New Fill or Adjustment Layer button.

Step 8 : Click on the Channel Mixer.

Step 9 : The Channel Mixer appears.

Step 10 : Change the Default setting to Black & White with Red Filter (RGB). I am choosing this because I wish to treat the Reds in the complexion.

The Output Channel changes to Gray. Note that the Red has a value of +100% while Green and Blue have 0%. Leave the Constant alone.

The image looks like this.

Step 11 : I have decreased the Red channel to +75 from 100 and increased the Green channel to +25 from 0. All the channels should add up to 100%.

Step 12 : Change the Blend Moe of the Channel Mixer Layer to Soft Light.

The finished image.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here

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Blending with Layer Mask

Sometimes it pays to revisit the Layer Mask in Photoshop. You can blend two images seamlessly together with a Layer Mask. No special expertise is required. You can also do it in any version.

Here are two free stock images I found on http://www.deviantart.com/#. You can use any image of your own.

Step 1 : Drag the second image over the first till it covers the image below entirely. The Background is the first image and the second image is on Layer1.

Step 2 : Click the Gradient Tool from the fly out, then click on top to bring up the Gradient Editor.

Step 3 : The Gradient Editor opens. Click the first Gradient in the top row to select it.

Step 4 : Press Shift and drag from bottom to top. You will be able to drag up in a straight line.

Both the photos have been blended seamlessly. It works for any two images.

Let me show you another example.

You have to use the Move Tool to drag one image on top of the other.

Step 1 : I have opened another two images in Photoshop. Use the Move tool to drag one image onto the other.

Step 2 : After dragging, I find that the girl's image is smaller than the one of the highway. This can happen.. Press CTRL+T. Corner handles appear around the image of the girl.

Step 3 : Press SHIFT+ALT and drag any corner handle. The image will increase in size proportionately till it covers the one in the Background. After resizing press Enter.

Step 4 : Look in the Layers palette. The girl's image is on top (Layer1) and the highway the Background.

Click the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers palette and a Layer Mask forms next to the Layer thumbnail on Layer 1.

Step 5 : Click on the Gradient Tool and then at the top bring up the Gradient Editor.

Step 6 : Click the first Preset.

Step 7 : With SHIFT key pressed drag the Gradient Tool straight up.

This is how the image looks.

Step 8 : Make sure that the Foreground Color is set to Black. If not press 'x' and then 'd'.

Step 9 : Click the Brush Tool.

Step 10 : Click on Brush in the top panel. From the drop down set the Hardness to 0. The Master Diameter can be changed with the [ (left bracket key) and the ] (right bracket key). The left bracket decreases the size of the brush tip and the right bracket increases it.

Step 11 : Make the Brush tip small by pressing the [ (left bracket) as you get near the face. If you accidentally wipe away a portion, change the Foreground to White and paint back the mistake.

And this is my finished image.

Other photoshop tutorials are here.

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