Combining images

[zucchini]

Here are two images. One is exposed for the room and the other is exposed for the lights. Is it possible to combine these two without it looking combined or cheesy?

Thank you,

zucchini

http://www.zandecki.net/software/img_7857.jpg

http://www.zandecki.net/software/img_7863.jpg

[zucchini]

I guess the shot could be taken with a graduated neutral density filter and that would save me a lot of pain. I would like to know how to combine these shots though.

Thank you,

zucchini

[Unreal_Nature]

Do you have Photoshop or an image editing application that has layer masks?

-Julie

[zucchini]

Yes, I do. That is even cooler than I thought it would be! Thank you! It there a tutorial on that some where that I can read?

[Unreal_Nature]

Open both images.
With the move tool, drag the lighter one across onto the darker one. Press the Shift key as you drop it.
Add a layer mask to the layer you just created (by drag-and-drop).
In the toolbox, click on the gradient tool. Press the D key on your keyboard. Make sure you are using the foreground to background gradient (see the options bar). On the image, drag from approximately the upper/middle of the mirror to just short of the base of the lights. You are dragging UP. Press and hold the Shift key as you drag to be constrained to verctical.

If you are not happy with where the fade occurs (too low/high, or too abrupt) just do it again. Longer drag = longer fade.

If you later want to edit the mask, be very sure you are in mask-edit mode. Do this by clicking the layer mask thumb in the Layers palette.

And be sure to save to a new name. Assuming you want to preserve the separate parts.

Straight, unedited gradient masks are a very basic beginner's technique.

-Julie

[arkym]

No one suggested an HDR image, I'll make one and post it up.

This would have been way easier if I had the exif data.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/my_ark_4/img_7857_63_tonemapped.jpg

[Avi]

I just checked this post..and my first reaction was...
hey why dont you go for an HDR...and as I scrolled down...found the post from arkym...

this is what i would do with the images...nice job arkym..

Avi

[zucchini]

I am sorry, what is HDR?

[MikeMcL]

It stands for High Dynamic Range. it is when you combine 2 (often times more) exposures so that the final image can cover a very large dynamic range.

I did a HDR version and tone mapped it to cover the range and look as natural as i could guess the original was. Just for the record, it is a very neat picture. If you do this again, try to take 3 or more exposures, and use photoshop or photomatix to create the HDR.

[Radtech1]

You have two duplicate threads going. (Try to not do that.) Since you seem to be responding in this thread and not the other, I will assume you abandoded that thread. Here is my post from there:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Or this?

I put the light one on top of the dark one and then erased away the areas that were blown. Then I did some other stuff.


Rad

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=215802&d=1193185938