Multiple exposure help

sproutpunx · 11 Apr 2006 at 15:23

Apart from taking lots of photos on a tripod, combining them as layers in photoshop and then removing parts of each layer to reveal the next exposure, is there any other way of getting the same object twice in a photo?

That sounds a bit confusing, basically the idea I want is to see an image move accross my photo using multiple exposures, and I was wondering if there was any way of maybe combining the photos where just the new parts are included?

If this makes no sense blame being stuck at home to revise for finals with no human contact all day!!!

growse · 11 Apr 2006 at 15:26

I do the following:

1) Take numerous pictures on tripod of subject in different locations

2) Open base photo in photoshop

3) Open next photo and copy/paste it as new layer onto the original

4) Set opacity to 50-60% for the new layer (so you can see base layer showing through

5) If you weren't using a tripod, now would be the time to move the top layer until it aligns (more or less) with the base layer

6) enter quick mask

7) paint over new subject (+ bits you want like shadows)

8) Exit quickmask

9) Clear the selection of everything that isn't the subject

10) Increase opacity to 100% and merge down.

11) Repeat.

sproutpunx · 11 Apr 2006 at 15:29

thats pretty much what i've been doing, was just wondering if there was some clever option in photoshop to add the two images so that it just contained the new information on the photo if that makes sense.

cmt · 11 Apr 2006 at 15:43

Quick and dirty method.

Open all images in PSP / PS.

Clone brush from one image to the next (just the bits from the multi exposure.

Job done.

Not as elegant as the layers solution, but quick and effective.

personally i would take the time and use the layers, but i tend to use the Q & D method to see if it is going to look like i thought it would do before investing the time and effort in the 'real-deal'

cmt