Trouble with Fading an image into an Image

[MountainMan]

Is there anyone out there that could help me with a projct? It's really pretty simple - except when it doesn't work! And whatever I'm doing, ISN'T working!

Basically I have a photo of a field of flowers.
Next, I have a photo of a girl.

All I'm attempting to do is put the girl in the middle of the field so she looks like she was photographed there. I've been using the Gradient Tool with limited success. Could someone please post some step by step instructions on how to do this effect? I feel so dumb for not being able to do it, but I've played with it for three days now, all to no avail. Thanks so much in advance.

[ljameso1]

In this case I think you may have better luck copying and pasting her into the scene. Have you learned some ways of doing a selection?

[MountainMan]

When I just copy and paste, the girl just appears on top of the field of flowers. Isn't there some way to make her blend in a little bit more?

[Wendy]

Hi ...

What you need to do is select the girl using one of the selection tools and then copy and paste just her into the new file :)

I'm not sure if you know how to select something in an image so I am adding some instructions on how to do it using the Lasso.

Select the lasso tool (just the orginary one)
Set it to "Add to" (those little boxes up at the top of the screen ..hover your cursor above then and you will see the one I mean)
Zoom in very close using the zoom tool (it looks like a little magnifying glass) and start your selection.
Just go round the edge a little at a time and then do a sort of circle inside the person to join up to the beginning of the selection.
Now you can pause for a moment before continuing ..
To continue just start again and you will see that you are adding to the selection.

When you have gone all the way round stop and check your selection. Make sure that all of the person is selected.
If you have parts that need a little more adding in the use "Add to Selection" ... but if you need to remove a little then change over to "Subtract from Selection". Do this until you are happy with it.

Now do Edit>Copy then Edit>Paste and you will have the person on their own layer
You can them to a new background.

Wendy

[ken1]

I am taking the liberty to add to the excellent technique provided by Wendy. After you have selected the girl and placed her on her own layer, you can position her in the flower surroundings with the move tool, and/or the arrow keys on the keyboard. In order to make this appear more realistic, so that she does not appear suspended in air, you may have to select a patch of flowers, place the flowers on a layer, and cover part of her with flowers. As I visualize it, the layer at the top of the stack will be the patch of flowers, covering part of her.

If you are so inclined, post the 2 pictures, and , perhaps, we can offer more targeted guidance.

[photoflyer]

I was having the same trouble figuring out to paste a boy from one picture to the next. I tried what you said , not with the lasso tool, but with the quick selection tool. I got the little boy on a layer cut out, but how do I paste him to another picture? I can't get that to happen.

[photoflyer]

how would I paste the flowers on a layer?

[ken1]

After the selection has been made, you should see "marching ants" around it.

If the maching ants have been deselected. you must make the selection active again. You do this by CTRL + left click this layer in the palette.

Then, go to Edit>copy

Open the picture with the flowers

Go to Edit>paste

Position with move tool.

Please feel free to repost if this is not clear.

:)

PS Make a selection of flowers with one of the tools

With the selection active, go to Layer>new layer>layer by copy

Position this with the move tool

Tidy up extraneous flowers with the eraser tool

I shall see if I have a picture of a bed of flowers so that I can post a print screen for your reference, but this is the drill.

[ken1]

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1UWQve1DTCKoiynW4f5zjQAytJ2nX1

I don't have a picture of a bed of flowers, but this should provide the layer structure:


I selected the little girl, then Edit>copy
Opened indoor picture with flower exhibit, then Edit>paste
Used move tool, resized with corner handles while holding down shift key to maintain aspect ratio
Made small selection of yellow flowers, put these on a layer at top of stack, used move tool to place them in area of left hand.

[mljrbg]

Check out the Be Creative Challenge (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47340) for this week and see if that techniques helps you create the effect you are loking for.

HTH

[MountainMan]

I finally figured it out and the effect actually worked.

Many thanks to James, Wendy and Ken for their helpful suggestions with this problem. As it turned out, I had the layers in the wrong order, thus they grouped with the wrong layer.

Oh, the heartaches of PSE7! I often wonder, isn't it possible to design this program so it'd be simpler?

Maybe like they say: If it were easy - everybody'd be doing it!

Thanks again everyone. It's comforting to know that such great minds are here to help out this dim one!

[Wendy]

So pleased that you now have it working OK :)

... it does get easier ...

Wendy

[ljameso1]

Glad to be of help.

[photo_newbie]

After the selection has been made, you should see "marching ants" around it.

If the maching ants have been deselected. you must make the selection active again. You do this by CTRL + left click this layer in the palette.

Then, go to Edit>copy

Open the picture with the flowers

Go to Edit>paste

Position with move tool.

Please feel free to repost if this is not clear.

:)

PS Make a selection of flowers with one of the tools

With the selection active, go to Layer>new layer>layer by copy

Position this with the move tool

Tidy up extraneous flowers with the eraser tool

I shall see if I have a picture of a bed of flowers so that I can post a print screen for your reference, but this is the drill.

(dancing ants)?????? never seen those so I am definitely not doing something right.
I am reading your reply and I am confused. I am trying to combine my grandchildren into one picture. I have a picture with 2 of them and I am trying to insert the other two into the picture. I have tried the faces but the face never goes where I need for it to go. It covers up one of the girls in the original picture. Is there a techinque where I combine the 4 children into one photo? I am using elements 7. I am very new. I do not even know where the copy paste is. I have been experimenting with the program and watching some videos. However, none show the way to copy and paste one photo into another and get the part you are copying in the area of the photo that you want it to go. Any help would be appreciated. I think hubby is getting furstrated at me hogging the computer. ha ha.

[ken1]

Open picture of 2 girls
Open picture with girl A
Select girl A with one of the selection tools
Go to Edit>copy
Close picture of girl A
Open picture of 2 girls
Go to Edit>paste. Girl A should be on a separate layer
Access the move tool and position girl A wherever you want
Repeat process for girl B. Girl B should then be on a separate layer as well