Question on combining two images in CS3.

[picasso]

I have two images of the same shot that I want to combine. I know I can put them on two separate layers and combine them by lower the opacity on the top layer but , I want to use one of the layers as a mask and just paint back what I want to show through from the bottom layer. I am having a brain cramp. I know how to create a layer mask on an individual layer but how would I use one layer as a mask for the other? Here is a description of what I have and want to do.

I have a picture of a girl in a coat with a fur rim. It was not shot in high-key. What I is change the picture and made it look like a high key shot but, I want to bring in some of the elements of the normal picture below it. Any ideas? Thanks.....

Paul

[boxofrocks]

Maybe if you could post the photos, we'd get a better idea of what you want to do. I'm very visual, so it's hard for me to tell from your description. If I can help, I'd be glad to. Lord knows I owe it to this forum.

[picasso]

Thanks Tom. I will see if I can post them this evening so you can see what I want to do.

Paul

[carrbowl]

OHHH I feel a slight highjack coming on..so if I take two photos of the same group.....Photo 1 has two people with their eyes closed, can you just "erase" thru photo 2 on those two people to get them with their eyes open??? (Gosh I hope that makes sense!!)

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

OHHH I feel a slight highjack coming on..so if I take two photos of the same group.....Photo 1 has two people with their eyes closed, can you just "erase" thru photo 2 on those two people to get them with their eyes open??? (Gosh I hope that makes sense!!)

The answer is a definite "MAYBE". If nothing else moved, the lighting is the same, you didn't zoom, and their heads are at about the same spot then yes. If any of these things changed then it is still doable, but may not be as easy as erasing the eyes. You may need to "lasso" the eyes, put them on a different layer and do a little "rotation" and "free transform" to make them fit.

[carrbowl]

Yeah...that's what I was afraid of...I did the lasso part just to be safe...thanks Don

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by picasso

I have a picture of a girl in a coat with a fur rim. It was not shot in high-key. What I is change the picture and made it look like a high key shot but, I want to bring in some of the elements of the normal picture below it. Any ideas? Thanks.....

Paul

I believe you can create a layer on the bottom and fill it with white then put your image on top of that and erase what you don't want.

[mycroft007]

CS3 has wiz-bang advanced compositing features to help with this.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photos...shop/features/

When the flash movie starts playing go to the menu in the upper right and select advanced compositing.

Basically it lines up the stuff that can be lined up and then create two layers to let you erase the stuff you don't want in the image.

[Breezy]

Thanks for the link Ron

[picasso]

So basically Ron's link or Don's suggestion? I want to use elements of both and end up with one.

Paul

[picasso]

By the way I really don't know what I want to do with this image. I am just experimenting.

Paul

[thelegend1472]

Open one of the images in PS for your main picture. Open the second image, ctrl "a" then ctrl "c" and close the image (select all and copy it.) Then ctrl "v" in the main image pasting it into the picture. Add a layer mask to the pasted layer and paint back in what you want. You can still adjust the opacity as needed. Is that what you want to do?