Merging Photos in Photoshop/Submission Directions

SETTING UP LAYERS:

Open each of the photos that you want to merge in Photoshop.

Following the directions below, separate the photos from the bar on top ONE AT A TIME.

Starting with the SECOND photo, drag the Background Layer to the FIRST photo.

Then go to the THIRD photo, drag the Background Layer to the first photo.

Then go to the FOURTH photo, drag the Background Layer to the first photo.


USING LAYERS and ERASER TOOL:

Once you have combined all four layers onto one photo you are ready to begin erasing the background.

Select the Eraser Tool from the Toolbar

Click on Layer 3 (or the last layer you added to your image)

Using the Eraser tool, look for the position of your subject on Layer 2 (or the second to last layer you added) and begin to erase where the subject is positioned. YOU SHOULD SEE THE SUBJECT SHOW UP.

NEXT, using the Eraser tool ON LAYER 2, you should erase in the area where the subject is on Layer 1 as well as the Background Layer. YOU HAVE TO ERASE THROUGH ALL THREE OR FOUR LAYERS (depending on how many you have) TO SEE ALL FOUR OF THE SUBJECTS IN ONE IMAGE.

NEXT, when you are finished erasing ON LAYER 2, you should erase in the area where the subject is ON LAYER 1.

Repeat this process until you have finished with all of the layers and you don't see any problems with LIGHTING or ALIGNMENT.

POSTING DIRECTIONS: 

FINAL STEPS:

YOU CANNOT POST A PHOTOSHOP (or .PSD) format file to Blogger. You must save your final product as a JPG format. Before you can save your file as JPG, you must FLATTEN your PSD file.

TO FLATTEN: Click on LAYER at the top of your Photoshop Menu Bar and then click on FLATTEN IMAGE.

Save your final product as a JPG with the following format for the name: LastName_FirstName_Merger.jpg. MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAVING AS A JPG FORMAT. 

When you are done POST YOUR MERGER PHOTO on your blog.

GOOD LUCK!