"Merging" images in Photoshop Elements 6

cheddar-caveman

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21 Apr 2010 - 9:06 AM

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I have taken a series of 6 pictures of a swan taking off from a lake and would like to "merge? them into one picture showing the six different wing positions etc as it gets airborne. How on earth does one do this please?
I've looked at options in the "help" files but nothing seems to address this particular situation.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

NikLG

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21 Apr 2010 - 9:59 AM

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Elements doesn't have any masking ability afaik, so you may need to download an action / script that lets you do it.
I can't remember the link, but I am sure someone here will know.
Then ( once you can mask images ) you can just layer them and mask out the bit you don't
want from the images ( same as erasing, but non-destructive ).
You could, of course, just stack the images and erase the bits you don't want to reveal
the layer below / above....

Overread

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21 Apr 2010 - 3:37 PM

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Free Layermask tool

A working free layermask tool that I use all the time in elements 6. Just open all the images into photoshop, then, starting with the base layer (I would guess this is the shot with the first opening of the wings) copy and paste each image over that - you should get them appear as distinct layers in the layer pallet. As you add each one apply the layermask to the newly added layer just as you would a normal filter.

Then you can select the layermask layer itself and using the brush tool brush out any area of the overlayed layer you don't want showing with a black colour and brush in any area you do want showing with a white brush. You can also use the opacity of the brush to change the amount of the image to show through, so you can add light touches or a heavy touch.

Once you have the tool there are loads of guides online for its use - though beware this elements version lacks most of the more advanced layer working features.

cheddar-caveman

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22 Apr 2010 - 9:37 AM

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Umm, having a few probs here (maybe?)

I eventually found the file location path "C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\photo effects" where they suggest you put the two downloaded files but the "photo effects" location doesn't appear in the chain on my computer.

There is a "photoeffects" folder but it's under a heading of "metadata" and in that folder is a load of programming script so I'm loath to interfere with that!

The instructions also say to "hold down the shift key when going from the welcome page to the editor". My Elements goes straight into the editor with no welcome page?

Any suggestions guys? I'm NOT a computer buff and at 70+ get a bit confused with all this!!