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Photoshop How-To: Quick-and-Easy Collages
There are many ways to make composite images in Photoshop, but using layers is your best bet. Here's how to craft a digital collage with layers, layer masks, and other collage-specific effects.
Written by Amy Courtright-Elmer on July 4, 2002
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After naming all of your layers you're ready to arrange them into sequence. For example, we know that we want our Leaf background and Silk layers as our collage base, so we're going to select the layers and move them to the back in the Layers palette. To move your layers, click and drag the layer to a new spot within the Layers palette, as demonstrated in Figure 3. (Layers at the base of the Layers palette are in the back of your document, whereas layers at the top of the palette are in the front.) As you begin creating your collage, you'll probably be moving your layers back and forth depending on how you want your final image to look. But, because it's easier to work from the bottom up, it's best to establish your background imagery first. So drag and drop your background image into place.
Build your Collage
The next step is to establish the basic layout of your collage. Rather than overwhelm yourself with multiple images, select a few to begin working with. Keep your background imagery visible and then hide the remaining images by clicking on the Eye icon (Indicates Layer Visibility box) next to each layer in the Layers palette. Then, if necessary, resize your graphic in the background layer and reposition it using the Transform command and the Move tool.
After positioning your background layer's image, click on the Indicates Layer Visibility box to make the next image in your collage visible. Click on the layer to make it active and then position it where you want it. Now things can get complicated. How you manipulate your imagery depends on the style you're going for and your images. There are many different techniques that can be implemented to combine your images. They're as follows:
- If you want to combine two elements, one on top of another, as we did in Figure 4, you can use Photoshop's blending modes. Place your image directly over the image behind it and make the image the same size. Then, select a blending mode from the Set The Blending Mode pop-up menu located in the Layers palette. Test out all the different modes to see what works the best for your imagery.
- If you only want areas of an image to show, you can use a layer mask. Click on the appropriate layer. Then click the Add A Mask button at the base of the Layers palette. Now set your foreground color to black and click on the Airbrush tool. Then paint over the areas that you don't want visible, as shown in Figure 5. If you want to paint information back in just switch your foreground color to white. This technique allows you to create soft edges around your imagery and you can constantly go back and revise which areas are hidden or visible.
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Work at lower resolutions first
I find that it works better to take all the files and open them up and inspect them, put them in the same RGB color space, save them at lower resolution (100-150 dpi) and then import them into a new document that matches the lower resolution. At this point you have much greater flexibility to move, resize, allow for accidents and to just have fun with the possibilities. When you have come close to what you want, then flatten that file, resize to 300 dpi and use it as a master file (bottom layer). Then re- import all the files you need placing each file over it's corresponding image to match size and position. That way you can take each layer and finalize it's color and sharpening (each image has different qualities regarding need for unsharp masking).
Good info for Newbies like me
The general concept and work process are helpful. While I've done some collaging, I have MUCH to learn. Every bit helps.
In response to those who disagreed, I believe that the components of a collage can be medium rez (150-200 ppi) and "up-sampled" to 300ppi when combined. The individual elements will not fall apart (I believe) when output at 300. One of the negative responses alluded to this as well.
Huge files are hard to work with.
If you have a huge, mostly empty hard drive and tons of RAM this technique could work.
If you have average equipment, you should not paste all your potential images into one Photoshop document before you begin to work. If you do that, the file will be very large and slow - if your computer can handle it at all. Each time you go to save your changes, you will likely get an out of memory message and you should save often.
Also, if you put every potential image in the original file, then the decision-making process is not as considered and you are liable to end up with a big mess. Notice how all the pieces in the sample image are the same size. Nothing wins.
Think about each piece before you add it to your final file. Don't worry about the colors, if you open an RGB piece and your final file is CMYK, when you paste the RGB into the CMYK file it is automatically changed to CMYK and vice versa.
The final photoshop document will only have one type of color. Set your resolution and color preferences before you start.
This perspective is based on the need to print your work. If possible, I always work at 300dpi for print resolution. Even if the project is for the Web or TV where the resolution is quite low, a successful piece may have print applications later on and trying to reproduce an exact copy at a much higher resolution is time consuming and frustrating. Consider doing your work at a high resolution because you can always save a low-res copy.
A good example of why you want to do your originals at 300dpi even for the Web is because you may be printing the piece for your portfolio. Type that looks fine on-line, will be small and choppy when printed out for your portfolio.
Have fun. Layers can allow you to make some wonderfully complex images.
how to build a custom label in 5.5?
Aloha I need to do my product labels as a picture so I can import them into Mastro label template softwear by on-line labels. I thought that some of the info above would help.
What I need to do is have a white or transparant backrround in a 1.95"x1.95" box.
9pt text for product brand, then the logo pic. centered below it. Text in 8pt with product name, text in 6pt with instructions below that.
Would you please give me simple instructions on how to do this? I have really limited photoshop skills, sometimes it is just not knowing the term for what I want to do.
mahalo nui loa (big thanks)
Liona