Photo merge for PSE2

[jcarlisi]

I'm trying to merge a scrapbook page that is 12 X 12 but was scanned on my 8.5 X 11 scanner. When I merge the photos you can see the parts where it was merged. Does anyone have a better suggestion on how to do this correctly so that the image looks like the original 12 X 12?

Thanks.

[Grant]

jcarlisi

I am not really sure what you want but if I am reading your correctly you want to do a montage. If this is so there are many ways to do this in Elements 2 & 3. Here is a fun way that is very easy. Lets say you have 5 images that you want to use. Simply open Photomerge and tell it you want to use these 5 images. Photomerge will fail telling you that they are not similar enough .... Doh! Now just drag each one onto Photomerges canvas and they will be linked into a montage. Move them around until you get the image you want. Once this is done commit the image and then crop it to your liking.

Grant

[jcarlisi]

Thanks Grant. However, the function that I'm looking to do is to stitch the pictures together, kinda like stitching a panaramic picture so they make one picture. Do you know how to do this? I use the "photo merge" option from the file menu which does it automatically for you. But you can still see the area where it was combined. Any ideas?

[Wendy]

I'm not too sure about what you are trying to do ... but are the photographs all of the same subject (like a pamorama would be) or are they images of different things that you are trying to blend together? ... and how many photographs are there.

If its difficult to explain then maybe you could do a link to what you have done so far with the images, that may help :)

http://www.pixentral.com/index.php


Wendy

[Chuck S.]

PhotoMerge is tricky - especially if the pictures were taken with the camera in automatic exposure mode. What you wind up with is a bunch of photos with slightly different exposure values, causing the colors and tones at the join points to be different and a distinct line to appear. The best way to fix this is not always available, i.e., go back and shoot all the pictures at identical aperture and shutter speed. If the pictures are already taken, then it may take some editing to minimize the effect. You may have to add a Levels adjustment layer or Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer to raise or lower each image to the point where they're equal, then do the merge. Sometimes, though, if they're close in exposure to begin with, the join line can be gotten out with the Clone tool or the Blur tool.

Just takes patience...sometimes lots of it.

Chuck

[Grant]

jcarlisi

Ok I understand a bit more what you want. The seams can either be avoided or mended. The avoiding is the easiest step but requires pre planning, making meticulous exposure and having the camera very level. Also tweaking the images before you do the merge will pay of in dividends. The hiding existing seams require individual using healing tools, smudging and so on. try you corrections on layers to enable you to have more flexibility.

Grant