Blending a photo into the background

[dvo_photo]

Hi I use CS I was wondering if someone could explain the way you Blend a photo into the background. I love this look.

Thank you
Diana

[KimR.]

There are lots of ways to do it, I use the easy way:

Put the photo layer under the background layer. Reduce the opacity of the paper. (Depending on the size of the photo and type of paper, etc., I might also use e same paper on a layer under the photo.). Changing blend modes sometimes creates a cool blend. Just experiment, it's fun!

I'm sure others will post different ways to blend.

[Catherine]

I do it the same as Kim, except I keep the photo above the paper layer. Same difference really. Blend mode Overlay and Soft Light often work really well too, but the result you get depends on the photo content and colour and the background content and colour.

You can also use masks to blend photographs to your backgrounds, I have some in my store and I know that some of the other designers have too.

If you want to take a look Diana, you can find a selection here:

Butterflies and Bluebells (http://digitaldesignden.com/xcart/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=88)

[landorasue]

I do it like Catherine!

[Ellen]

I put my photo as top layer too and mostly use colour burn or linear burn and fiddle with the opacity

[Digidonna]

One of my favorite ways of blending photos and backgrounds is to place the photo over the background, click on background layer and add a levels adj layer above the background layer and below the photo (just click OK and don't change any of the settings). Clip the photo to the levels adj layer (place cursor between photo and levels adj layer and press alt and click). ctrl click on photo layer to get marching ants and make a selection - click on levels adj layer mask - get gradient tool, choose one of the gradients - radial gradiant works well (the colors will be black and white) click on your layout and draw out gradient. Then you can change the blend mode on the photo layer or adjust opacity to achieve the result you are looking for.

[Ellen]

I love the effects you get with this methode, thanks Donna I'm going to play some more and then show you:)


http://www.digitaldesignden.com/photopost/data/500/thumbs/Smirisary.jpg (http://www.digitaldesignden.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8395&title=ever-changing-sea&cat=500)
Ever changing sea (http://www.digitaldesignden.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8395&title=ever-changing-sea&cat=500)

[landorasue]

One of my favorite ways of blending photos and backgrounds is to place the photo over the background, click on background layer and add a levels adj layer above the background layer and below the photo (just click OK and don't change any of the settings). Clip the photo to the levels adj layer (place cursor between photo and levels adj layer and press alt and click). ctrl click on photo layer to get marching ants and make a selection - click on levels adj layer mask - get gradient tool, choose one of the gradients - radial gradiant works well (the colors will be black and white) click on your layout and draw out gradient. Then you can change the blend mode on the photo layer or adjust opacity to achieve the result you are looking for.

Donna, this sounds very interesting! I'm going to try this for blending.

[Andrea]

Thanxs for the tips ladies...Sometimes you just need to jog the memory bank on how you do different things in these programs....

[Marcie]

Donna I liked your technique. I may have to try it.

I use this method...Place your photo (keep it the same size as when you dragged it in from your camera) above the paper layer. Using the circle marque tool draw a circle/oval around the part of the photo you want the main focus on. Select inverse. Select modify-feather about 200 pixels. Select inverse again and control J to duplicate the selection only. This leaves your photo untouched. Hide it by clicking the eyeball in the layers pallette. You should have a nice feathering around your photo. If it is off abit, delete that layer and start over to you get it the way you like it to be. You can then drop opacity, blend or leave as is. I do my resizing for the page now.

Oh if you do change the photo size 200 pixels may be too much. Try dropping it.