How to Create a Depth Merge Image With GIMP Freeware

GIMP is a powerful image editing program available for free at gimp.org. In this article we will show you how to use the software to merge two photographs together using the Depth Merge Filter feature of the software. There are a variety of ways to merge pictures. You can stitch two pictures together to make a panorama in which the two images are joined together at the side. In a depth merge, the two images are blended together using an image map.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• GIMP 2.0 running on a MAC or PC Computer
• 2 Images of the same size for merging

1. 
   First Image

   In order to create a merged image, you need to identify two images that are the same size and work together. You could merge a texture and an object, for example, or in this case two images that make up a sequence. Open the first image you want to merge.

2. 
   Second Image

   Open the second image in GIMP keeping the first image open. The two images need to be the same size (pixel resolution) but can be scaled differently or at different zoom levels. The combined image will be darker, so it makes sense to work with properly exposed images. With both images open, select FILTERS/COMBINE/ DEPTH MERGE which will open the control panel.

3. 
   Image Maps

   Notice that both image sources are identified and aligned with the image map for that source. If the images are not the same size, only the first image will show in the control panel. The image map is really the “histogram” for that image. You need to experiment with the map for both images. In this case, the first image is at a different scale than the second image. If we use the image map for each image, it will look like a double image. We want the image to look as if the deer is approaching the person. Essentially, each image is a layer in the final image and you are adjusting the merging of the two images one over another. This is different than stitching two images to form a larger panorama image. In this case, the final image will be the same size as the original with the two images blended together

4. 
   Adjust overlap and offset.

   By applying the image map for the second image to the first image, we get the background and scale the way we want it. We can now adjust the overlap and offset to adjust the image to get the effect we want.

5. 
   Final Image

   In the final image we have adjusted the offset and overlap. We want to make sure that we didn’t see a double background or double person. Adjusting the overlap between the two images eliminates the doubling effect. Adjusting the offset allows us to get the balance right between the depths of the two images. When you have it the way you want it, save your new image to a different name.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with image maps, offset and overlap to fine-tune your image.
• Always work with copies of your images to preserve your image archive.

Resources

• GIMP Image Editor