Should be simple. Blending problem.

[Saske]

I'm new to PSE3, using a MAC. I'm having difficulties blending two photos together. Whenever I put one on top of the other, the one I put on the other looks extremely small.

Can someone supply a step by step explanition of how to blend two photos together? ((Pictures would be helpful)

Thanks!

Preeeeow.

[kayser]

Wendy has done a tutorial on blending two images together. She includes pictures to guide the way. Check it out:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4949

[Saske]

I already tried that and my overlapping picture still remained really tiny. Also, I had trouble with adding the new layer, because once I added it, I didn't know what to do with it.

I used to use PSP7 but it stopped working and gave me problems, I'm not computer illerate, just new to photoshop.

**confusion*:confused:

Suggestions?

Preeeeow.

[Carbone]

Somehow, I don't think this tutorial is what you're looking for. Your problem is that the two pictures aren't of the same size.

There are several ways to resolve this problem. The easiest is to click on the small one, then press Command - T. A bounding box will appear around the image. Click on one of the corner handle and press the SHIFT key while you drag the corner towards the outside. This will resize (enlarge) the image and by maintaining the Shift key pressed, it will ensure the image keeps the same aspect (constrain proportion).

Once you're satisfied, press on the Enter key.

Hope this helps!

Ray

[Saske]

Didn't work.

In Wendy's tutorial, things I don't understand:

-Why I need to enlarge my picture I'm using as a background
-How to add my second image to the new layer
-What are grant's tools?
-How to reset foreground to black ((was I supposed to do something with the foreground prior to this?)


I'm not even sure if that's the right tutorial, I want to overlap 2 images, and those are basically just side by side but sharing some colours.

Shouldn't this be simple?

:confused:

Preeeeeeow.

[Ward Grant]

Perhaps a quick look at this tutorial in the Learning Center will help. It covers the basics of adding images and has some good visuals. Please let us know if this helps.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/tutorials/t_introtolayers2.php

[Pauline]

Hi Saske and welcome. Are both your images the same resolution? That makes a difference.

[Saske]

How can I tell if my images are the same resolution?

I took a screenshot to hopefully show my dillema. How can I upload it to post it?:confused:


Thanks for all the help!


Preeeeeow.

[Carbone]

Use www.pixentral.com

You'll post your image there, and then copy the link for your image. Post the link back here.

Ray

[Saske]

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1WcPslpWRLaF6GshzUwlYEWeOyP6eS1

Okay, the pictures in the top left hand corner^^ The picture of my boyfriend who I'm trying to blend with the picture of me turned out so tiny. Any suggestions?

Preeeeeow.

[Diana]

Hi there,

Look at both images, one at a time, to check the resolution....From the Menu - Image > Resize > Image Size. If they are not the same, I usually change the one that is the highest number to match the one with the smaller number. If they are the same resolution and one is just a much smaller photo than the other, you can increase the size of the smaller one following Ray's directions but if you increase it too much, it may lose quality.

When you are blending two images together, many times the image you are bringing over to the other may not have room to fit without covering up a large part of the destination image. That is why Wendy suggests increasing the canvas size. If you have plenty of room on the host image, you may not need to increase the canvas size.

Before moving your boyfriend's picture, click on the lasso tool and carefully trace around his body until the start point and end point join to make a selection of the whole body. Then from the Menu: Edit > Copy. Then click on your host image to make it active and from the Menu Edit > Paste. It will automatically be pasted on its own layer. Select the Move tool (the first one at the top of the toolbar), click on the pasted image and drag it to where you want it.

There are a lot more steps you can use to refine the process, clean up the edges of the selection, etc. but those techniques you'll have to learn a few at a time, it doesn't all come at once.

The changing foreground color from black and white Wendy mentions are part of using a mask. Using layer masks and Grant's tools (which add features that Elements doesn't have to behave more like Photoshop) are a whole 'nother chapter to learn. You can do what you are trying to achieve without those right now.

Here's a couple simple tutorials similar to what you want to do:
http://www.ocdsb.ca/Teacher_Res/secondary/tecint/examples/photoshop/PSFuse.pdf (http://www.ocdsb.ca/Teacher_Res/secondary/tecint/examples/photoshop/PSFuse.pdf)
http://www.ocdsb.ca/Teacher_Res/techres/pdf/software/PSCollage.pdf

One thing I've found helpful is to use the Search feature of this forum to search for discussion in other threads on the tasks you wish to do in Elements.

Good luck and let us know if you need more help.

Diana

[Wendy]

Hi Saske ...

One of the problems with looking at images on a computer screen is that they all look the same size.

Easiest way to fix that (as several people have already said) it just to use the move tool to resize his image one you have added it to yours :)

Do ket us know how you go on with it :)

Wendy

[Carbone]

A picture is worth a thousand words... a movie is worth a thousand keystrokes.. :)

Have a look at this movie I just made for you to understand how to resize an image :


http://homepage.mac.com/carbmac/captures/PhotoshopElements026.mov

Hope this helps!

Ray

[Saske]

First off, thanks so much for all the help and the movie!:D


Second, yes both pictures were origionally the same resolution...


When I go to enlarge the picture I'm layering, it gets all pixelated like this, even when I enlarge it the tinest bit it looks deformed.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1mQ177fEB38Rz6bko8fsH4hkpM7Z

Preeeeeow.
Dyan

[Carbone]

Dyan,

You can only enlarge to a certain level. But that level of pixelisation is probably because you have not yet press on Enter. After you do so, Photoshop Elements will resample (create the missing pixels) and the image will get clearer than yours is actually.

Ray

[CarolLHB]

Another stunning production by Cecil B. deCarbone!! Bravo!:D

[Carbone]

Thank you Carol :)

Ray

[Pauline]

What Ray, I didn't hear you?? I was expecting to hear something this time since you have your new mic

[Carbone]

Oops.. you're right. My spouse is here in the room and listening to music, so I didn't want to disturb the atmosphere.. :)

Ray

[Pauline]

:rolleyes: Sure Ray. You're just chicken. :) I installed mail washer today. Thanks for the tip. I'll try it out and see how I like it before changing my e-mail address which would be such a pain.

[Carbone]

Ok.. what is it you'd like to show (PSE or Mac) ?

Ray

[Carbone]

Ok.. so I did a short movie, with my voice. WARNING : I SOUND LIKE A CHAINSAW.. :D Seriously, I don't like my voice.. And especially today, I have a sinus congestion which, as you probably know, doesn't help.

The movie is about Virtual PC for Mac. So, if you don't like the Macintosh, skip this one, I'll do something else later.

Before judging the speed, or lack thereof, keep in mind my computer was busy filming the desktop, so there was about a 30% decrease in speed. It takes a lot of processing power to film the entire desktop, especially one that is 1680 x 1050.

Hope you'll enjoy it :

http://homepage.mac.com/carbmac/captures/Finder001.mov

Be patient, it's 9 MB

Ray

[Wendy]

Ray ...

You sound just fine ... and its nice to hear you at last :)

Wendy

[Carbone]

I will try another setting for the microphone.. perhaps that'll bring more "depth' :)

Ray

[Saske]

Thanks for everyone's help! I figured it out and made this:

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1DaigM0kOPrr4G1Wbal9foCQD6WCuA

Thanks!:D

Preeeeeeow.
Dyan

[Wendy]

Hi Dyan ...

You have done so well with that ... its a great layout and the blending is excellent !!

Congratulations ... :)

Wendy

[Carbone]

Nice work Dyan!!

Ray

[Saske]

Thanks!

Thank you for all the help.

Preeeeeow.

[Pauline]

Ray, nice hearing from you!! You might not think you have an accent but you do! Very faint. And a sense of humour too, but then I already knew that. I was reading my Missing Manual this morning and there you were, mentioned!! (as you can tell I'm almost finished the book since I got that far.) Actually a few people from here have been mentioned!! Pretty cool.

[Carbone]

Thank you :)

Yes, I do know I have an accent. It varies if I'm tired or not. Yesterday I was a bit tired (jaw aches a lot these days, humidity thing again).

Missing Manual.. page 416... ;)

Ray

[Saske]

Yeah, you do have a kickass accent, Ray. Where were you born?

That's so cool that you're currently living in Canada. I want to live there after I go to college. Unfortunatley, that will be awhile considering I'm 15.

Preeeeow.
Dyan

[Carbone]

I was born and still live in Montreal. French speaking parents, except that was completely bilingual so he made sure I learned English.

My current job is with Americans and Indians. I do have a lot of problems with Indians, but Americans, I'm mostly ok :)

Ray