Name the process please

[ipbr21054]

Can’t remember the name of this process so please advise

I have a photo of a man with his arms crossed,
Also a photo of a baby.

I’m thinking of making it look as if the man is holding the baby so half of the baby must be behind his crossed arms etc.

Do I create a layer and place the baby in between original & layer then use eraser on layer ?

I’m asking now as tomorrow I will forget

[Sepiana]

Hi ipbr21054,

I strongly recommend not using the Eraser tool; this is a very destructive tool. Instead, use a Layer Mask; it will give you more flexibility with the editing workflow.

Your layer stack should look like this:

Baby photo + Layer Mask
Man photo

1. Open the Man photo. (This will be the background layer.)
2. Copy/paste the Baby photo onto it.
3. Add a Layer Mask to the Baby photo layer.
4. Click on the Layer Mask thumbnail to activate it.
5. Activate the Brush tool. Use a soft brush. Color = Black.
6. Paint over the area where you want his arms to show.
7. If you make a mistake, switch to the White color and paint over the area again.

NOTE: Painting with Black hides. Painting with White reveals.

[ipbr21054]

Hi,
please see screen shots.

I either paint black or nothing happens.

[Sepiana]

After you add the layer mask, click on its thumbnail to activate it. Then, began painting. You will see brush strokes appear on the layer mask thumbnail.

[ipbr21054]

White layer mask selected.
Color is Black so i now start to use brush.

Nothing happens & no change in layer mask

[Sepiana]

Make sure the Brush tool is set to: Opacity = 100%, Mode = Normal.

See if this will help . . .

I want the flowers to be inside the vase. I added a Layer Mask to the Flowers layer and clicked on the Layer Mask thumbnail to activate it. Then, with the Brush tool set to Black, I started painting. The Brush strokes displayed in the Layer Mask reflect the painting I had done so far in my image in the workspace. 

If I had continued painting, the Layer Mask would have continued "updating" the Brush strokes.

[ipbr21054]

I understand what its supposed to do but it isnt.

The brush is on soft light & no Normal is an option

[hmca]

I am not sure why your brush isn't performing as it should. In this case I believe Sepiana might suggest that you reset your brush tool.

I downloaded a woman and a baby from StockSolo to try to demonstrate a slightly different way to approach this.

After selecting the baby and placing it above your person. Lower the opacity of the baby layer so you can position it above the arms of the person. Once the baby is in place return the opacity to 100%

Now that the baby is in place in place, go to the person layer and make a selection of the man's arms.

Check to make sure black is your foreground color.

With the selection still active, click on the baby layer and add a mask. The mask should automatically fill with black where the arms should cover the baby.








Reference Pictures
Woman from StockSolo




Baby to be selected

[ipbr21054]

Thanks for that tomorrow I will take a look.
Before I switched pc off I did reset the tool & Normal then appeared.

I don’t see soft brush so I might reinstall the software.

Whilst I’m here what is this process called so I can watch some videos

[hmca]

I don't think it is necessary to reinstall your software. I think when you look tomorrow you will find, or someone will help you find, your soft brush.

There isn't a "process name". It is just a way to use layer masks. . I think many of us have struggled with layer masks in the beginning. The more you use them the more comfortable you will become. I am sure that Sepiana has some very basic instructions posted for using layer masks. I just don't have time to link to them right now.

[Chris]

Dec 21, 2023 19:44:52 GMT ipbr21054 said:

Thanks for that tomorrow I will take a look.
Before I switched pc off I did reset the tool & Normal then appeared.

I don’t see soft brush so I might reinstall the software.

Whilst I’m here what is this process called so I can watch some videos

Thank you for posting this question. This was one of the techniques I struggled with when I was very new to PS Elements. Generally speaking, you are, "blending images to make a composite photo".

Try searching for; "blending 2 photos photoshop elements".

Here is an example:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCHeo0Zd-r0


One of the mistakes that is easy to make, is to forget to click the white square of the layer mask before you start painting on it with white or black. Also make sure you do not confuse the brush tool with the selection brush.  In the "tool options" you need to select a brush with feathered fuzzy edges (soft brush).

You have already received some good advice from Sepiana and Helen. 

Please let us know how you get on and feel free to ask more questions. 

Kind regards

Chris


Click Layer Mask



Select Brush Tool

[Sepiana]

Dec 21, 2023 19:44:52 GMT ipbr21054 said:

I don’t see soft brush so I might reinstall the software.

No need to do a reinstall. Click on the Brush Settings button. Adjust the Hardness slider to 0%. This will give you a soft brush.