How to blend Layers in Photoshop and select faces with masks
Blending layers with faces in Photoshop
This Photoshop tutorial will show you how to combine images together to make a composite. I will show you a tip that helps automatically isolate faces to make posters and things, you can also use this for retouching.
This is how you make images like the one I quickly threw together here.
1. Combine 2 images into one document. Here is a simple tutorial to combine images
See the face on the layer above the background
2. Lets isolate the face
Choose the Channels panel
Hold down Ctrl/Cmd and click on the red channel.
3. This will load a selection of the reds. It will grab all the reds, which exist in some degree in every skin tone.
4. In the layers panel
Press Cmd/Ctrl+J to copy the selection to a new layer
step 5
If I hide the other layers, you can see what we copied from the red channel.
In some instances, you will get the opposite result. If this is the case, go back to the selection step 3 and press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+I to inverse the selection.
step 6
Turn back on the face layer and background and hide the duplicated face layer (Layer 1)
Click on new layer mask for the original face layerm you will see a nmask.
step 7
Choose the gradient tool and black to white as the gradient.
Set it to linear and Normal blending mode
Drag the gradient through the face
You will see a nice even blend
Turn on the top fac layer and it will add some opacity to the face, whicle keeping the smooth blend on the rest of the image
Using the same technique, I created this fake poster
I hope you found this useful. Check out the quick video at the top for more detail and tips.
Thanks
Colin
Recommended for this tutorial
Learning Layers in Photoshop.
Understand layers, masks and blend modes, the foundation of everything in Photoshop.
$54.99 · one-time purchase · instant download
Free for you
The Photoshop Vault
Get my free Layer Blending Modes ebook along with dozens of exclusive Photoshop goodies: actions, brushes, presets and cheat sheets.
You're on the list, so your free goodies are waiting for you in the Vault.
Get Free Photoshop Goodies Open the Vault
How to add dimension and shape with Dodge and Burn in Photoshop Tutorial
Learn how to dodge and burn in Photoshop, make photos look 3d with depth of toning and highlights in this free Photoshop... Read tutorial
How to make the colors match between different photos in Photoshop
Learn how to make the colors look the same on different photos on different layers in Photoshop. This is a very requested... Read tutorial
Levitation floating effect in Photoshop
How to make a levitation effect in Photoshop. How to make objects and people look like they are floating in Photoshop tutorial. Read tutorial
How to make a video game cover in Photoshop: tiny city photoshop composite
How to combine photos to make a photoshop composite of King Kong in Los Angeles Read tutorial
Making semi-transparent selections with Alpha channels
Here is a tutorial that you can use for layered collaging. While it might be easier to use a layer mask or... Read tutorial
I rarely use the channels. After watching this I think that will change. Thanks Colin.
That was really nice–Thanks so very much for sharing and making it so UN-complicated!
Respectfully and Blessings
Thanks Colin, enjoy your tutorials.
thanks FANTASTIC
did you use the red channel do to the red image
am ready for the challange
Learned a new lesson, I done it. Thanks for this nice tutorial.
Thank you so much Colin, this is a great hack.
I love your tutorials.