How to Layer Photos Using Layer Mask with Photoshop CS

One of the most powerful tool in Photoshop is the Layer Mask. With that tool, you are able to open new possibilities that the ordinary tools cannot do.

Layer mask can hide parts of one image, reveal parts of another image. You are able to design and create new artwork that may get the attention of the viewers'. You could even easily amuse yourself of your accomplishment.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Media computer with high resolution screen
• Good graphics card
• Large RAM capacity to open and work with multiple files
• Digital photos
• Adobe Photoshop CS1 ~ CS4
• Patience
• Time to practice

1. Launch your Photoshop program. Locate your photos.

2. 
   Fall foliage 1

   For this tutorial, I'm using this photo and the one in the following step to create a combined image.
   
   This image will be layered on top the one in the following step. In the finished picture, only the large golden leaf on the bottom right will be present.
   
   ** The yellow leaf in the final print is a reshaped and repositioned image of the original as shown here.

3. 
   Fall foliage 2

   This is the image I'll be using for the base (background image). It will be underneath the picture shown in the previous step. This image will be B&W for the final print.

4. (1)Select the two (or more) images that you want to blend/layer. Click the move tool, you can find this tool in the standard tool box. Or Ctrl + V, for keyboard.
   
   (2)Click and drag the image that you want to blend/layer/merge to the top of the photo; the one that you want to be the base (the base is the background).
   
   (3)Make sure the foreground color is black.
   
   (4)Click the Layer Mask button. Select the gradient tool, then choose the gradient style that you want from the options window. Adjust image color - - either to the pre-selected areas/objects or as a whole to your liking.
   
   (5)Click the Layer Mask. Right click your mouse, drag the layer mask while holding down the left mouse button in the image, so that you can apply the gradient to your mask. The two images will blend together at this point.
   
   (6)Click the Brush tool. Choose the appropriate size and soft edge brush from the Brush drop down menu.
   
   (7)To touch up the mask to reveal more of the background photo, make the image black by paint over it with a paintbrush or spray tool.
   
   (8)Reverse the colors of the foreground and background. Spray or paint white color to fill the areas that you have accidentally painted too much on the base photo.

5. 
   Contrasting yellow against a b & w background ; creating a focal point on the golden leaf

   - - final notes - -
   
   (1)The top image will be visible when you are painting with the black on a white layer mask. In case you are painting too heavily, you can reverse the colors and paint with white.
   
   (2)You can control how much of the image you want to reveal by setting the pen pressure for the paintbrush or spray paint tool (airbrush tool) that you are using.