How to Blend Two Images in Photoshop

Sometimes you will need to use portions of images and merge them with others to create your artwork. In this tutorial, we will learn how to blend images together using Blending Modes and Layer Masks.

The blending modes technique works better with grayscale images that have a very neutral background. This is because the images tend to get a bit transparent and mix with the background or images placed underneath. In these cases, overlapping layers with different blending modes and/or using layer masks will be the way to go.

We will use these images: boardwalk photo, mother and baby photo, and street photofrom the photos of people collection. We will also be using a photo of a seagull and photo of sunset from the photos of nature collection.

Step 1 - Import images into the background

In Photoshop, open the image you chose as a background. Check the Color Mode and make sure it is the same in all your images. This is not necessary but it will expedite the process especially if your other images are in color. In our case, the image is a grayscale that has an RGB color mode.

Step 2 - Transform colored images into grayscales 

As noted above, this technique works better on grayscale images. If the images you want to blend with the background are in color, turn them into grayscales. Do this by going to Image > Adjustments > Black & White.

We will leave the default presets in the popup window and click Ok.

Next, use the Polygonal Lasso tool (L) to create an outline around the subject you want to use.

Then copy (Command/Control + C) and paste it (Command/Control + V) into your background image file.

Step 3 - Adjust the images to fit your artwork

You can use the Free Transform tool (command/control + T) to adjust your image if needed. Click on the small checkmark on the top menu or hit Enter to commit the changes.

You can hide the subjects that you are not working with. Do this by clicking on the small eye icon on the left side of their thumbnail.

Step 4 - Resize, rotate and/or transform images if needed

You can resize, rotate and or transform your image. Select the subject you want to adjust and enter Free Transform (command/control + T). Then right-click on top of the image, and choose Flip Horizontal.

After you are done, click on the small checkmark on the top menu or hit Enter to commit the changes.

To outline the images you want to add you can check out our tutorial on how to smooth mask edges in Photoshop.

Step 5 - Blend images to the background with Layer Masks

In some cases, you will need a combination of layers to blend the images with the background. Duplicate the subject (Command/Control + J) then change the Blending Mode of the duplicate to Soft Light. This will blend the image to the background.

Step 6 - Add shadows to your subject

If needed shadows can be added to some of the subjects in order to make the blending more realistic. Check the shadows of the ones present in the background image and use them as a reference. Depending on the perspective and lighting of your image, shadows can be elongated or flat.

Create elongated shadows

Elongated shadows are essential long shadows that extend out. For the elongated ones, start by Command/Control-clicking on top of the layer mask thumbnail to make a selection.

Then, create a new layer under your subject by clicking on the small icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Next, right-Click on top of the selection making sure that you are working on your new layer and choose Fill.

Choose the Foreground color (black) in the popup and click Ok.

Go to Image > Transform > Distort and tweak the shadow until it looks realistic enough.

Click on the small check mark on the top menu or hit Enter to commit the changes.

To soften it a bit, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Use a 4.1 Radius or one that makes your shadow similar to the reference.

Finally, to tone it down, change the Blending Mode to Soft Light.

Create flat shadows

Flat shadows are shorter than elongated shadows and show just a bit under the character. To create them, make a new layer under your subject’s layer. Use a medium and soft brush with black as the foreground color and a lower opacity and flow. Then, paint the shadow under the subject. Our settings were 65 px, 0% Hardness, 75% Opacity, and 70% Flow.

Step 7 - Blend images to the background with Blending Modes

If your image allows you to blend it without outlining, select the portion of the image you want to use and make a copy (Command/Control + C). Place it into your artwork (Command/Control + V). Resize it if needed.

Then, change the Blending Mode so it blends with the background. In this case, we used Darker Color.

With the image below we used Lighten instead.

Step 8 - Fix edges and details with layer masks

If you still have some noticeable edges or any other detail we can fix that. Create a Layer Mask by clicking the small button at the bottom of the Layers panel. Make sure that black is set as the Foreground color.

With the Mask thumbnail selected, use the Brush tool (B) with the following settings 0%, Hardness, 100% Opacity, and 100% Flow. Erase the portions of the image you don’t want to keep.

The image below is the final result.

You can try any combination of images and Blending Modes to create your artwork.

Take into account that the results may vary depending on the images you chose and the blending modes you are using.

Some will make the subjects lighter such as lighten, screen, color dodge, linear dodge (add), and lighter color. Some blending modes have darker results such as darken, multiply, color burn, linear burn, and darker color.

You can create contrast with overlay, soft light, hard light, vivid light, linear light, pin light, and hard mix. While others like difference, exclusion, subtract, and divide (comparative modes) will invert or cancel some portions of the images. Hue, saturation, color, and luminosity (composite modes) work on the color.

If you liked this tutorial, check out our tutorials on how to retouch skin, and how to content aware crop in Photoshop.