Things You'll Need:
- Computer with graphics capabilities
- Raster-based digital editing software program
- Flat-bed digital scanner (optional)
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Step 1
Purchase or download a raster-based software program such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint, Paint Shop Pro, or the freeware, Gimp. These programs all have online tutorials and Help archives to aid in learning their use and operation. The commercial software programs have comprehensive Help archives within the program files that detail the many tools and functions. CDs with tutorials and other resources are often bundled with the purchase.
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Step 2
Open a new document in the program and size it appropriately. From the menu bar at the top, select "File" then "Import". Select the file with the digital image you wish to use as a backdrop. Common images are from digital photos, 3D computer images, 3D computer-generated landscapes, digital drawings and paintings or other computer generated graphics. A flat-bed scanner is often used to scan hard-copy art or photos, to digitize the image for use as a backdrop. Save the file to a convenient folder on your hard drive.
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Step 3
Open another, previously saved or scanned image that has pictorial elements you may wish to include in your composition with the backdrop. Extract any images you wish to isolate from surrounding area using a combination of erasing tools and color-field selectors to select and delete areas of the image's background that you do not want in the composition. (An example would be the extraction of a person's picture that you want to place in a different setting.) Save the extracted image as a separate file.
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Step 4
Return to the image file with the backdrop set in it. From the menu bar at top. choose "File" then "Import" and select the image file with the extracted image. The imported image will open in a new document layer. As long as you have that layer selected, you can edit the image on that layer independently of the layer with the backdrop on it, and vice versa.
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Step 5
Use any of the various adjustment functions listed in the menus and sub-menus, accessed from the menu bars at top, to match the lighting and color of the backdrop to the extracted image. Elements such as Brightness and Contrast, Hue and Saturation or Color Balance can be adjusted using sliders to visually match the appearance of the two separate layers.
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Step 6
Create a new document layer between the backdrop layer and the extracted image layer for drawing in shadows that would be cast by the image onto the backdrop. Set the layer transparency to 75%, and digitally paint in the cast shadows using the airbrush tool. Save the finished image. For images that can be more universally displayed and viewed via computer, also save the image in JPEG and PDF file formats.
