How to get this? Im stuck!

[MagicallyDelicious]

Im really pretty poo when it comes to layers, masks ect in photoshop so I need a little bit of help.

Ive got 3 pics i need to merge together.

Ive taken the picture of the kids holding the paper but want to add the mothers faces so it looks as though they are holding pictures.

I tried using this tutorial http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=222221&highlight=framed But its not seeming to work.

Im having trouble with the fingers showing on top of the layers..if you get me?
The fingers are being hidden by the photograph of the mother!

So Is there anyone out there who can give me an idion proof method of bringing the fingers back onto the top of the pictures?

Thankyou very muchly :)

[René Damkot]

What might work is double click on the layer with the image of the mother. You get a window in which are two sliders. (under 'Blend if')
On the one 'This Layer', drag the left slider to the right. Use alt+drag to make the slider 'split' for a smoother transition.

Other option is carefull layer masking the mothers & using a small, relatively hard airbrush to get the fingers to show.

In both cases you probabely need to add some shadows 'under the fingers' to make it look real...

[TheSteveMadden]

Or you can use a combination of the Magic Wand at a tolerance of about 24 combined with the selection brush tool to select the paper, but not the fingers.

I then expanded the selection 1 pixel and feathered 1 pixel (mainly because of the downsizing and jpg compression in your original - your expand/feathering may not be necessary or may have different values.

I used this selection to create a quick mask over which I placed a 50% reduced copy of the background for illustration. Where the white mask is, the next layer shows through.

Here's the final plus my mask. I had to use an adjustment layer grouped with the masked off image as PS Elements doesn't have real image layer masks. You'll probably have an easier time as you can just put the mask on your inserted image.

As Rene suggested... you'll then want to burn in some shadows under the fingers and in the top corner(s) to give the "paper" some form.

Masks...
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/TheSteveMadden/CC%20Edits/mask.jpg

Final image...
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/TheSteveMadden/CC%20Edits/CRW_7025_RT16_steve.jpg

[MagicallyDelicious]

Thanks alot. Steve its all still sounding quite confusing this end but I shall try what you have said and see where it takes me! closer than what Iwas I hope!

[TheSteveMadden]

Good luck. This was a really quick mockup and using the original image instead of the small posted image should give you crisper edges to his fingers.

[PhotosGuy]

For the fingers which seem fairly sharp:
Selecting areas in PS. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39994)
More on Layer Masks:
Using a Layer Mask to hide part of an image. Advantage is that the mask is reversable, where the effect of an eraser is not. (You'd only need step 1)
Need to remove a background from something? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=82876)
More:
Airport runway shoot (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117950)

[MagicallyDelicious]

Thanks Frank, Had a quick look and looks very helpful. Am gonna try all this when i get home later :)

[MagicallyDelicious]

Does this fool ya! lol

[TheSteveMadden]

Looks great! Nice conversion, too.

[MagicallyDelicious]

Looks great! Nice conversion, too.

well its just for a calendar which is being given to noone with a photograpic eye so im sure i shall fool them ! lol

my shadows leave alot to be desired tho! hah

[cdifoto]

Looks great....but maybe change the direction of the light in the shadows layer to match the direction of the studio light. You can go by the shadow around their nose to match it up closer. You should be good to go then!

[MagicallyDelicious]

Looks great....but maybe change the direction of the light in the shadows layer to match the direction of the studio light. You can go by the shadow around their nose to match it up closer. You should be good to go then!


ahhhh gotcha! good thinking! Ive never put shadows in before so ill try it again :)

[hard12find]

I would possibly post the layer of mom's picture, turn the opacity down until you can see the fingers through, zoom in and use eraser for the mom layer, allowing origional fingers to show through......Jim

[PhotosGuy]

hard12find, see post #6. Eraser isn't the best way.

[MagicallyDelicious]

I would possibly post the layer of mom's picture, turn the opacity down until you can see the fingers through, zoom in and use eraser for the mom layer, allowing origional fingers to show through......Jim

I did try that at frst and it didnt work as well as the layer masks method.

:)