Collage contest!

[Childsplay904]

WOW! The first three winners are just great! You have inspired me to really learn what I am doing here. I am going to be presumptuous and ask if you could give us some pointers? Your colors, tones and 'seamless layering' show your mastery of the tools as they blend so well and set the mood for the collage. Some of this may be the artist in you!, but I am hoping that there are some skills I can hone that can be practiced and learned. Thank you and looking forward to more contests and seeing your work again. Suzanne :D :D :D

[Wendy]

Hi Suzanne,

You can layer two images by opening up one image then adding another image. Next create a mask for the top layer:

Layer>New Adjustment layer>Levels ... then just click on OK
Move the Adjustment layer below the image you want to mask
and group it with the layer .. alt click between the two thumbnail images in the layers palette.

Your layers palette should now look like (1) and your image like (2) ... see the link below.

OK ... so stay in the layer palette and click on the layer mask so that it is active.
Go back to your image and you will find that if you paint on your image in black the top layer vanishes and if you paint in white it comes back again.
So select a large, soft brush, reduce the opacity, select black and start blending the two layers together
If you go too far switch to white and paint it out.

Your layers palette should start to look like (3) and your image like (4)

... and hopefully the join doesn't show :) ... if you look closely at (4) you will see that I didn't quite blend it enough :) ... but it should give you the general idea.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1QQgLeAHwp8l0TZedb0Fra2UqbjbEn0


Wendy

[Jodi Frye]

Suzanne, yes I would suggest it's really all about learning the program one step at a time. There are some books/videos in the subscribers area at discounted prices ( for subscribers only ) that will help you understand alot about putting it all together. It really is a 'hands on' process and the more you know the more you can achieve even if you aren't artistically inclined...you really don't have to be but it helps ;)