The main techniques used when inserting an image into a collage are to completely or partially remove the original background of the image, change the size and color of the image, and change the blending mode of the layer with the inserted photo. Depending on the result you want to get, you can choose one of these image processing methods or a combination of them.
Necessary
- - Photoshop program;
- - file with collage;
- - Photo.
Instructions
Step 1
One of the easy ways to insert a photo into a collage is to use the collage as a photo frame. To do this, create a layer in the collage file that combines the visible elements of all layers of the image by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E.
Step 2
Create a mask for the collage layer using the Add layer mask button located in the layers palette. Using one of the selection tools, select the area in which the inserted photo will be located. If the photo is rectangular, use the Rectangular Marquee Tool, to create an elliptical selection, activate the Elliptical Marquee Tool. Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool, you can create a selection of a more complex shape.
Step 3
Click on the layer mask and fill the selection with black using the Paint Bucket Tool.
Step 4
Insert the photo into the collage file using the Place option from the File menu. Move the layer with the inserted photo under the layer with the collage. Change the position of the inserted picture so that the part of the photo that you were going to insert into the collage is visible in the transparent area that appears at the selection point. Use the Move Tool to move the image.
Step 5
If the photo is too large, resize and tilt it with the Free Transform option from the Edit menu.
Step 6
You can get a good result by inserting a photo into a collage by changing the blend mode of the photo layer. The result is a partially transparent photo superimposed on other collage details. The colors in the image will change depending on which blending method you choose. In order to change the blending mode of a layer, select one of the items in the list of blending modes, which is located in the upper left part of the layers palette.
Step 7
Part of the superimposed image in this way can be hidden under a mask. To do this, create a mask for the layer with the photograph, select the Brush Tool and paint over the parts of the picture that you want to remove on the mask. Painting with black will make the selected areas completely transparent, gray will reduce their opacity, but will remain visible.
Step 8
To get a photorealistic collage, you will have to remove the background from the inserted photo. To do this, create a layer mask and select the background in the photo. This can be done with the Color Range tool, the settings window of which is opened by the option found in the Select menu. You can, without first creating a selection, paint over the mask in the background areas with black using the Brush Tool.
Step 9
Adjust the colors of the photo to the color scheme of the collage by opening the settings window with the Color Balance or Curves options from the Adjustments group of the Image menu.
Step 10
If there are shadows in the background image, you will have to create the shadow cast by the pasted object. To do this, create an imprint of the visible layers with a combination of Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E and draw shadows on it using the Burn Tool.
Step 11
Save the collage with all layers to a psd file using the Save option from the File menu.
