Blending Multiple Pictures - Help!

[NMarti]

Okay - I have been trying for weeks to master this blending thing and it's driving me nuts! I am trying to blend 4 separate pictures together into one but I keep getting this area where they meet that is all washed out. Maybe this is normal. I blended the two on top and saved that file. Then I blended the two on bottom and saved that file - they didn't seem to blend as well. Next I took the top and bottom and blended them together. I'm just not getting this. Is there a better way to do this?

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7452/houses2mi.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=houses2mi.jpg)

[Wendy]

Hi Nancy ...

I think that the washed out area is simply the sky that is showing through ...

Wendy

[GaryK]

Nancy

I'm thinking that is where the gradiants overlap?? Are you doing the gradiant method?
You can always edit the gradiant to make the transparent part smaller. Or you can just use a layer mask for each building.

[Jodi Frye]

Nancy I actually like the effect you got with it...when i used the photomerge in a set of 4 like you did ...I did all 4 at once...the bottom two images had a diagonal cut...not blended much at all. I had a pic of an old farmhouse that I just duplicated to get 4...plenty of sky above.....so the bottom two had the sky cut diagonaly over the lawn of the two top ones...not very appealing. So did you blend 2 in Photomerge and then save it and then blend 2 more and save it and then brought the two files back in to Photomerge afterwards ? Sorry for the questioning...I guess I like the effect you got and I'd be happy to be able to replicate it. I'm thinking if I found it too washed out then maybe I scould selectively use levels..if needed.

[Jodi Frye]

By the way, I'd LOVE to live in one of those houses...just as long as nothing else is living there....I've had my fill of spirits and ghosts over the years. They always seem to be around.

[NMarti]

Jodi,
I did the top two - right to left and saved it. Then I did the bottom 2 - right to left and saved it. Then I created a new document and brought the top in and then added the bottom. I used gradient blending on all of them. I have CS2 but have barely attempted to use it yet. I was trying to figure out what else I could try so I actually applied the gradient to the opposite image too - having them all meet at the center but it did not seem to change anything since it was already light so I didn't undo it. I was looking at photomerge and tried it with 2 other pics but didn't like the way it blended them since they had no common points - just got a diagonal hard blend. Since I am clueless in CS2 right now I just went back to Elements. Guess I'm just being too hard on myself - I though it should blend more with less light area.

[Jodi Frye]

OOOOHHH ok, I thought you used photomerge...doh...I guess I wasn't paying attention. If you are doing it the way I'm assuming you are doing it try using less of a transparency(black to lite grey)on the gradient where you see it to be too lite...again, I like the effect you got just the same.

[Jodi Frye]

oops, that was suppose to read the other way around...use grey to white :rolleyes: ...you are using the gradient on the layer mask ...right ? I assumed that...if not then don't listen to me. :)

[NMarti]

Jodi,
Thanks - I used that suggestion from Gary and it did improve. I have posted the revised one in the photo assignment for this week. I will get it eventually I suppose. :rolleyes:

[Jodi Frye]

And it looks GREAT !! Really really nice ! I have not had the time or energy for the photo challenges...:rolleyes: Been recharging my camera batteries lately...not from use but from lack of use ! I hate winter.

[NMarti]

By George - I think I've got it!

What do you think - is this right?

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2210/hummersblend9id.th.jpg (http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hummersblend9id.jpg)

[Robyn]

Nancy,
I've just noticed this thread and it's something I struggle with. So what did you do here, make the transparent bit of the gradient smaller...or what?

[NMarti]

Robyn
I did make it smaller by quite a bit and it worked for me. I know I still don't have it mastered but Gary and Jodi suggested trying that and it did make a big difference.

[Jodi Frye]

Nancy, I really love the top one of the hummers horizontally. I'd love to see about 3 more added to this....but I know that wouldn't be possible if you didn't have the photos with the different wing movemenets....very nice tho...great job !

[NMarti]

Thanks Jodi,
I have the shots but they're all at the feeder so not a lot of blending room. I may be able to cut them out and put in there some other way - but I have to work on it. Is there a way to say cut one out and have just the bird and then blend it? I tried with the flight school and failed miserably so I just erased all around them, feathered a couple of pixels and used the blend on the edge. Is there a better way?

[ME100FINN]

Nancy it looks great. My mom loves hummers and gets them at her house :)

i tried a blend the other day. The first image i extended the canvas and then did the gradient with the second image. I couldnt get rid of the sharp edge on the first image. Not sure what went wrong, but I'd like to master it and use it on a project.

[Jodi Frye]

Nancy, I'd say what you tried so far is a pretty good way....considering the backgound images are all similar...otherwise it might be time for the perfect selections....don't ya hate having to do those ?? I know I do. I cheat anyway I can.

[Wendy]

Hi Beatrice ...

Have you downloaded Grant's tools ??

If so then I did a mini tut on blending images using a mask and gradient ... here is a link to it:

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

Wendy

[ME100FINN]

Hi Beatrice ...

Have you downloaded Grant's tools ??

If so then I did a mini tut on blending images using a mask and gradient ... here is a link to it:

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

Wendy

I do have Grant's tools...and I finally did it!! *snoopy dance* woo hoo! :D
I think the first time I was missing the transparent portion on the end of the top layer. I tried this tut before, but it worked for me, yeah! I dont see much point on the extra canvas at the far left though...???

Here's my sample...nothing fancy, but the lake edge matched in the distance, so this is a blend from an icy portion of the lake with a closer shoreline.
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=5090

What is the easiest way to add the second photo as a layer? I make a new layer and copy, paste from the picture that is open in Editor. The Move Tool made it easy to manipulate both photos to change the area of overlap, etc. Then you can crop the photo to remove the excess that you dont want. :)

Thanks for the tut Wendy - the step-picture really helped!

[NMarti]

Beatrice
Fabulous Job! Wow - you sure got it!

[Wendy]

Hi Beatrice,

Oh that is great news ... so glad that you now have got the hang of it :)

The Extra Canvas just gives you more space to work on ... on some images you may not want to overlap the two completely and the extra space lets you move them around until you find the right amount of overlap :)

Wendy