There are occasions when it would be good to blend two photographs together in a gentle manner. Clive Haynes has mentioned one possible method that we shall describe here.
The method uses the ‘Gradient Mask’. All we need to do is make one of these masks. Since we use the Gradient Tool we can use any of the choices that this tool gives us to modify how the mask works.
We will write this method using Photoshop Elements 2. If you are using Photoshop 5.0 and later versions then omit steps 4 and 5 and instead click on the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette.
We will use two photos of Boscombe church one of which is from an old etching and the other a modern day photograph taken on a U3A Village visit. [See http://www.salisburyu3a.org.uk/VillageVisits/Boscombe/ index.htm]. It is crucial that both images are RGB by going to Images > Mode > RGB.
1. In PS Elements open the first picture and place the next one on top so that we have 2 layers.
2. In this case the modern photo of the church is a different shape to the old print.
3. To accommodate this we can use Distort to match the shapes. Because we have just moved the modern image across we can now go to Image > Transform > Distort. It is good idea reduce the Opacity to about 40%. Manipulate the handles at the corners to change the shape close to the old print.
4. To make a Layer Mask. Make the Opacity 100% again. Highlight the bottom layer and now select an Adjustment layer by clicking on the Black & White circle at the bottom of the Layers Palette. Pick, say, the Levels option. Then click OK. Nothing should have happened to your image.
5. Highlight the top layer. Go to Layer in the Menu bar and choose ‘Group with Previous’ [short cut Ctrl + G]. As seen here the top layer has moved to the right and a small bent arrow has appeared. Notice the white rectangle to the right of the Adjustment Layer. This is a layer mask.
6. Ensure that Black is the Foreground colour. Pick the Gradient Tool and check that the Foreground to Background option is selected as shown here.
Then pick one of the Gradient options. Here the linear gradient is chosen.
7. Highlight the Layer Mask layer. Now draw the cursor over the image and release. Notice how the Layer mask has changed. And your picture is now a blend of the two images.
8. In this instant we can still see the edges of the top picture and so we can use the Brush tool with a large soft size to erase the edges. If any errors are made doing this then this can simply be remedied by pressing on the X key to swap round the foreground and background colours and painting over the error. We suggest that a low Opacity of about 25% or less is used so that changes can be made gradually. This irons out brush marks. The final masking after erasing can be seen here.
A possible result of the blending.