So how do we turn six images of the same person into one? To make things simple, we’ll focus only on two images at first. Open your first two images in Photoshop. They will be separated by tabs on the upper left hand corner.
On the second image (the one where you're slightly to the right of your original self) go to 'Edit' and 'Select All' (Ctrl+A). You’ll know the image is selected when a large square is sketched around the photo. With the image selected, go to 'Edit' then 'Copy' (Ctrl+C). Now switch back over to your original image. Click 'Edit' then 'Paste' (Ctrl+V). You have now pasted your second image directly on top of your first one. In other words, you have successfully created two separate layers.
Direct your attention to your ‘layers tab’ located at the bottom right corner of your screen. You should see both images, one on top of the other. When photos begin stacking on top of one another, they become layers. The top layer, in this instance, is the only visible layer. The layer below is almost identical to the one above it; the only difference is that ‘you’ are standing in a different place. Keep in mind that all six images you shot have an identical backdrop, because your camera never moved. Your location in relation to that backdrop is what should change from image to image. Grab the eraser tool, and make sure your top layer is selected.
Above: The eraser tool
Below: Select the top layer
Begin brushing the eraser along the left side of the image, where ‘you are’ in the picture underneath. If you forgot where you are in the picture below, simply click the ‘eye’ on the top layer to make it disappear. Once you see yourself below, click the eye icon again to erase yourself in.
Keep erasing until your new clone is fully visible. Since the back ground below is exactly the same as it is above, you don't have to worry about erasing too much.
Now it’s time to combine these two layers into one solid picture. Remember your layers tab? Right click one of your layers and scroll down to “Merge Visible”.
Congratulations! You now have two identical versions of ‘you’ in a single photograph! Repeating the process is simply a matter of copying additional images and ‘erasing’ yourself in again, but just to be on the safe side, we’ll go through bringing in your third clone.
So now, we have a single layered picture, with two clones.
Open another image of yourself in Photoshop. Once again, you will have two tabs.
Click over to the right tab (or whichever image only has a single person in it) and repeat the prior steps. Hit Ctrl+A to select the image, then hit Ctrl+C to copy the image. Click over to your original image and hit Ctrl+V to paste over it. Now, just like before, you have to ‘erase’ the two copies of yourself back into the photo.
Keep erasing until all three of your clones appear in the image. Then, just like before, right click on the top layer and click on ‘merge visible’. You now have a single image populated with three clones.
You can repeat these steps to add as many clones as you’d like, just so long as they don’t overlap with one another. After adding all six of my clones into the image and added a simple monochrome filter I came away with this:
Comments are closed on this article
Tenant Screening
April 05, 2011 at 10:22pm
napakaganda ng presentasyon ng blog. Maraming matututunan ang mga readers nito. Sinulat ko to sa tagalog dahil baka ma block ng anti spam. Pagbutihin mo pa ha, tulad ng ginagawa ng
wrangler
October 14, 2010 at 11:32am
To me it is more logical to click on the second layer (the one that you just pasted in) draw a marquee box (marching ants)around the picture you are wanting to bring in, then click back to the first layer. Once you are on the first layer simply press delete and it should delete the image covering the person. if you delete too much the background of the other picture should fill in the gaps...
Does this make sense??
Isn't this easier then erasing over and over again??
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June 15, 2010 at 2:19am
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bikerbub
April 14, 2010 at 1:04pm
maybe it's the independence of not needing assistance every few hours to piss.
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mikewoods
March 16, 2010 at 9:52am
I love this idea. I use Photoshop to create DVD/Blu-ray cover and disc art for my business. But my question is if the background is the same and you are merging layers why are you taking the time to earse two, three, four, or five, different pictures, when all you have to do is earse one? To me it is more logical to click on the second layer (the one that you just pasted in) draw a marquee box (marching ants)around the picture you are wanting to bring in, then click back to the first layer. Once you are on the first layer simply press delete and it should delete the image covering the person. if you delete too much the background of the other picture should fill in the gaps...
Does this make sense??
Isn't this easier then erasing over and over again??
NAYRhyno
March 16, 2010 at 5:04am
Many, MANY, point and shoots (regular digital cameras) have an "Exposure" or "AE/AF" lock button and a self timer. Some (many Canon models) even have manual modes. You can certainly do this with more than just a DSLR.
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iDunno
March 15, 2010 at 10:13pm
I don't see why you you need a DSLR for this. A point and shoot (with self timer) that lets you set your f-stop and/or lock exposure should be fine.
deadsolid
March 15, 2010 at 11:16pm
Are you sure that you can adjust exposure and shutter speed on a P&S?
P&S's are "Like a typical house cat, it does what it wants, when it wants, with or
without your consent." You can't have the settings change at all during your shoot. If they change enough, there will be a noticable difference of tone in your shots. More experienced PS users will know how to correct that (it actually doesn't take much).Bottom line is, a DSLR makes things really simple.
US_Ranger
March 15, 2010 at 9:25pm
This is a really cool article and different from the usual strictly computer based stuff. I really enjoyed reading it. And yes, it does suck that you can't do it with a regular camera. I'm going to have to find a friend that has a nice DSLR camera then. Maybe some reviews on a bunch of DSLR's in the near future for MaxPC?
DBsantos77
March 15, 2010 at 9:10pm
Kind of lame that you can't use a regular camera for this :/
-Santos
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nekollx
March 16, 2010 at 9:08am
you can but it's a bit trickier, i do it all the time.
Basicly you need to use the magic laso to select and delte the background around the other yous (or invert it and slect just you) and then you have you with no background and you can move yourself around and throw yourself in tosay Die Hard screens. whatever.
the only tricky part is lighting won't match perfectly
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