How Can I Merge Images?

[mjdmike]

Hello Group,

I did some searching for this and didn't find an answer, so thought I'd ask here.

I'd like to try merging (or copy and paste maybe?) a few images together, specifically some fireworks shots. I have many single shot fireworks images taken from the same vantage point, using the same settings.

I'm using CS2 and am somewhat new at PP, so specifics would be nice if possible.

Any thoughts on how I could merge a few shots into a single image?

[Texentric]

Go to the top and click Select-->all, then Edit-->copy, then go to the picture you want everything to be on and click Edit-->paste. Keep doing that with multiple pics if you want.

Each will become a layer that you will then have to either vary the opacity or the blend mode, or move the picture to align things how you want.

[mjdmike]

Thanks Jorge, I appreciate that.

[Patti Edens]

There are lots of ways to do this. I combine the photos by just opening both in PS and then clicking on the Move tool. While holding the shift key down, I drag one photo on top of the other. Be sure to let the mouse button go first so the shift key will make them align correctly. But, the copy / paste works just as well. If you don't want them perfectly aligned, just use the Move tool to move one of the layers around until you get it where you want it. You can change the opacity of the top layer to see exactly where the bottom layer is and then just put it back to 100% when you're done.

Once you have the photos stacked and positioned the way you want, you can use the eraser tool to erase on an upper layer and allow the fireworks (or whatever) to show through from the lower just below. You can do it just two photos at a time. Once you have what you want from two, then just layer > merge. And then combine that merged photo with another photo.


And I just remembered this one. Sometimes I just use the clone tool if what I want is small. I just open both photos. Click on the Clone tool and then clone from one photo to the other.
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[island bound]

My 5d came with a CD, called Solution Disk.
On it is a PhotoStitch 3.1 that works great.

[Glassman]

First, I am not a photoshop pro but this may be what you want.
I created a new blank image with black background 1080x780
I then copied and pasted each image into new selection with transparency as background.
I used the eraser tool with 50% opacity to erase the black off the edges I knew would overlap the other firwork pictures. This is an example and I can send you the psd file if you want. By the way, I did not have any fireworks pictures and I had to use yours for the example. Patti's method and mine are similar, she probably explained it better

[Daniel Bates]

The "Lighten" and "Screen" blend modes treat black as transparent. It might work well.

[mjdmike]

Thanks everyone. I tried a few of these methods, and all seemed to work well. Here's one I did using Jorge's method, and blending with the "difference" setting. One key was to do a levels adjustment for each image first to ensure the background was completely black.

[Glassman]

Looks good Mike....You should definately be able to make a great one for the wall.

[mjdmike]

Thanks Billy, and I appreciate your help.