January 4: Blending Photo Technique

It's day 4!!! What our challenge is today, is to take a photo, blend it into your background paper and then frame a portion of the same photo for a fun pop-up effect.

In order to comply with the challenge, your page must have:

1. 1 color photograph changed to black and white.
2. Softened or masked edges of the b/w photo to reflect blending into the background.
3. A portion of the color photo from step 1, framed must be on top of the black and white version to make it stand out.

(***Note: No additional photos are allowed. )

The technique that I will be showing you today is how to blend a photo into the background using brushes and masks. I will be using Photo Shop CC 2019 to do this. (PSE follows basically the same steps.)

Note: If you have your own preferred method to blending using your program (other than PS/PSE) feel free to use that, as long as the blending is visable and a portion of the color version of the same photo is framed above the b/w version of the photo.

1. Open a new workspace. (Use size that works best for you.)

2. Choose your background paper. (I find using a light neutral paper works best. I am using a paper by Mommyish – Brown Paper Packages Solid 04)

3. Choose your photo. The photo I will be using is a free stock photo from Pexels.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/antique-arch-arched-window-architectural-design-289560/


4. Duplicate the photo in your layer pallet. (PC=Cntrl + J; Mac=Cmmd +J)

5. Change bottom photo to Black and White. Turn off the top copy of the color photo layer to hide it. We will turn that layer back on later. On the bottom photo layer in your layer panel, change the photo to Black/White by desaturating the layer. (Shortcut is Cntrl/Cmmd + Shift + U which desaturates the layer.)



6. To the Black/White photo layer, add a reverse layer mask. Hold down the ALT key and select the rectangle with circle mask icon in the layer pallet. (PS CC it is located at the bottom of the layer pallet. In PSE it is at the top of the layer panel.)



Note: Regarding masks, Black conceals (hides) and White reveals (shows). We want to add the reverse layer mask so that we can “paint in” what we want to see thus we will be blending into the background.

7. Time to “Paint in” the b/w photo. This essentially will give you the blend look into the background paper. Choose a soft round brush or a watercolor brush from the brush panel. Using your foreground color as white, in the black mask paint the area of the photo you want to see on your layout.

A soft round brush will be perfect for the blending technique. Just Jaimee has a great set in the store called "Barely There" Watercolor Brushes if you wanted to use those. (WC Brush 7 works really well. PS: In the Brush Panel set the brush dynamics to Size Jitter 80% and Angle Jitter 35% for more randomness. PSE: You will need to manually rotate the angle of the brush.)

Going between the black paint (hide) & the white paint (show) in the mask with the brush tool will give that soft blended edging.



8. Use a level adjustment or curves adjustment layer (clipped to the b/w photo layer) to lighten it up, so the b/w photo is not so dark. This is optional. I did it for mine to soften the b/w layer a little. (The Adjustment layer icon is the circle icon at the bottom of the layer pallet for PS or at the top of the layer pallet in PSE)



9. Add a new blank layer above the b/w photo and adjustment layer.

10. Make a Rectangle shape using the marquee tool, and flood fill (using the paint bucket tool) with any color over the b/w photo that you want to have framed and pop out. I am using the rectangle marquee over the area of the tree in the window. (Fill the marquee rectangle using the paint bucket tool with any color as your foreground. You will be clipping your photo to this area.)

[Note: If you choose to use a custom shape that is fine too. You can use whatever shape you want as long as it is over the b/w photo and framed.]



11. Unhide your duplicated color photo layer (from step 5) & clip it to the filled in rectangle/shape. (To clip in PS CC & PSE right click on the layer in the layer pallet and choose Create Clipping layer from the drop down. [Short cut is PC=ALT+Ctrl+G; MAC=ALT+Cmmd+G])



12. Add your Frame and Drop shadow to the filled in rectangle/shape for the pop up effect. I have added a White Stroke and drop shadow to the rectangle/shape fill layer so it will pop out. Shadow the frame to your liking.



That is it… Decorate and complete your page with a title, elements, word art or additional papers.

(*Note: No additional photos are allowed.)

Here is my finished page:



Let's Recap:

In order to comply with the challenge, your page must have:

1. 1 color photograph changed to black and white.
2. Softened or masked edges of the b/w photo to reflect blending into the background.
3. A portion of the color photo from step 1, framed must be on top of the black and white version to make it stand out.

(*Note: No additional photos are allowed.)

MOC 2019 Guidelines:

Your page must be a new page in order to count for the Month of Challenges. Your page must be posted in three places:

1. Uploaded to the TLP Gallery (not an outside hosting site).
2. Posted in your page thread you created in the MOC Layouts Folder. You should have one post per completed challenge page. If you complete all 31 challenges, your thread should contain 31 posts. Please do not comment in the participants’ page threads so we can keep them clean.
3. Posted in this thread. People can comment here if they wish.

Pages should contain at least 75% current Lilypad product (currently for sale in the store from either permanent designers or guest designers).

Looking forward to seeing your pages!

 

updates and clarifications to my challenge will be posted here as necessary.

Q: Can a mask be used for blending?
A: Yes - Note: If you have your own preferred method to blending using your program (other than PS/PSE) feel free to use that, as long as the blending is visable and a portion of the color version of the same photo is framed above the b/w version of the photo.

If a mask is being used please make sure as in step 2 that it is blending into the background... the edges should be soft for blending not harsh.

"Softened or masked edges of the b/w photo to reflect blending into the background."

Q: Would it be ok to use another photo on the page as well as the blended black and white and the "popped up' framed color portion of the b&w photo?
A: For the challenge it is for one photo only. The same photo is being used for the b/w and color framed portion only. Please only post the 1 photo page for the challenge. [If you wish additional photos, I suggest posting the 1 photo page for the challenge and then for personal use and printing add those in after the fact ]

 

YAY Karen! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Donna I knew you would love it!!!

You are welcome I am thrilled you like the challenge. I can't wait to see yours!

Susan, do not let it scare you! The first thing I do with tutorials is I first read it through, look at the screen shots and then get my supplies together. I then go step by step. It may appear challenging, but I can tell you you will have fun and love it

 

Thank you Carolyn! I am excited to see everyone's pages!!

Thank you Carolyn! I like this one so that the important part of the photo POPs out It places emphasis on the main focus
@Nightshadow Elaina & @Ga_L Gaelle Thanks!