Simple Blending
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One of the most popular trends in graphic design is combing multiple images together to form one: blending. Blending is a fairly easy process and this beginners' tutorial will hopefully help you create an aesthetic piece.
Step 1
Grab two or more images that you'd like to blend. I grabbed these from The
Cure's Last.fm account.
Create a new image (File » New) to copy & paste your images onto. Make sure that the background is a fitting colour for the images you're using.
Step 2
Use the move tool (top right in toolbar) to move your different layers around in a suitable position. Make your layers different opacities (less than 100%) to show transparency and flowy-ness about the image.
Step 3
Select the eraser tool and choose a large brush from the basic collection (Load Brushes » Basic) that fades into transparency, like pictured below. Your brush can be different to suit your needs but this brush gives a more effective look for most blends.
Stroke out all of the borders, making sure that transparency is not locked and the brush does not erase to history. Also stroke out any extraneous pixels you do not want in the final product.
Step 4
You may stop here, but you'd probably like to add a background to your image. Create a new layer, fill it with your background colour, and place it between "layer 1" and "background," so that it's beneath the main images but above the background. Either add a background using brushes or the good old right click » blending options.
(click to view larger)
Adjust your settings to make your background. I've chosen this grainy texture and have set its opacity to 10% so it's not in the images' way.
Step 5
You are finished!! Here is my final product:
I hope that this tutorial was helpful! If you still need help, feel free to contact me here.