How to Blend Two Images Using Paint.net

There are many reasons you might want to blend two images, I’ve seen it done with photos, poser pictures, and even photos of two pieces of artwork. There is even a special type of art called photo manipulation where someone might create art by blending two or more images. I’ve also seen this done for book covers, so it is a relatively common procedure. While many digital artists pay big bucks to purchase a copy of Photoshop to do their photo manipulations, and post work, you don’t have to do so in order to create a piece of art by blending two images. Here is how you blend two images using the freeware paint and photo editing program, Paint.net.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A computer
• Paint.net program
• Two images you want to blend

1. Choose two images that you want to blend together. These can be two photographs, two pieces of Poser or other digital artwork, or even photos of paintings you’ve created.
2. Choose the size you like best and make both images the same size. This makes it easier when you go to add one of the images to a second layer. You can resize the images by going to the image drop down menu and selecting resize.
3. Save your resized images under names other than the original images so you don’t save them over your original image.
4. Add a layer to one of the images. You can do this by selecting the layer drop down menu and selecting "Add a Layer."
5. If you haven’t already opened the layer window, do this by going to the Windows drop down menu and selecting the "Layer" window. This way you can see your layers to work with them.
6. De-select the first image, and select the second image. You can do this by taking the selecting or de-selecting the box next to the layer you want in the Layers window.
7. Copy and paste your second image to the new layer.
8. Make sure both images are reselected in the Layers window.
9. Double-click on the layer you just copied and pasted the image too, this will bring up the "Layers Properties" window. Change the mode to "Multiply" and leave the opacity at 255. Click "OK."
10. Double-click on the layer with your first image and then in the "Layers Properties" window for this layer, change the mode to screen, and leave the opacity on 255 again.
11. Select the "Image" drop-down menu and select "Flatten." This will permanently merge your two images.
12. Save your blended image to your desktop, CD or disk.

Tips & Warnings

• If your image seems a little dark you can lighten it by going to the Adjustments drop down menu and selecting "Brightness/Contrast." Increase the brightness in small increments until you have the effect you are looking for.
• If your image seems a little too bright, you can open the "Brightness/Contrast" window again and this time increase the darkness in small increments until you get the effect you want.
• If you want to change the image even more, you have the option of several effects to choose from in the "Effects" drop-down menu.
• If you do not resize the images ahead of time, when you go to copy and paste your second image to the second layer, Paint.net will resize your first image to match the second image. Unfortunately, this really does not work, as you will often end up with your first image shrunk to where it does not look right.

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