Introduction: Photoshopping Multiple Objects Into an Image

By Little Beast Art
About: I'm a born and raised Alaskan. I am currently a barista at Ammo-Can Coffee. I've always had a passion to build and create new things. In the winter of 2014 I walked outside and saw some frost on a wire and tho…

How to Photoshop multiple objects/people into an image


Things you'll need

  • Photo Manipulation Program with layer and masking ability
    1. GIMP (Free)
    2. Adobe Photoshop CC (30 Day trial or Purchase) - More easy to use tools
  • Digital Camera
  • Computer
  • Steady Tripod or surface
  • Person or Object

I'll use Gimp to show the process

Step 1: Find a Scene and Start Shooting

If you are using natural lighting it is important to take every photo with the same lighting so that the end result doesn't look uneven and wonky.

When taking the pictures make sure the tripod is steady and be careful not to nudge it.

You can rotate the camera on the flat X and Z plane.

It's also important to have a background reference point to use in the photo editing phase.

Step 2: Upload Into Gimp

Select the photos you will be using for the edit, then right click them and select "Edit in GIMP"

It should open up each individual image as shown above.

Step 3: Setting Up the Image

Click on File > New

Make sure the Size per Pixel is much larger than the original image.

You need to do this because you will be shifting the photos around for stitching.

You'll crop out the white scraps afterwards.

Next, select one of your image windows (not the new one you just created) click and hold the layer while dragging it onto the new background image.

Repeat for all images

They should appear in layers

Step 4: Opacity and Aligning

Unfortunately, GIMP doesn't have an Auto-Align command like Photoshop.... so we're going to do it by hand.

Yes, it will be a little tricky, but that's whey there is a reference point in the background!

For example, the image above I used the edges of the center tree as the reference point.

With the spider-man image it was a little bit tougher, due to the gravel driveway.

Step 5: Final Alignment and Masking

Once you get 2 images aligned select the image on the top click on "Layer"

In the drop-down menu scroll over "Mask"

Click "Add Layer Mask"

You will want to go with the "Black (full transparency layer)"

After creating the mask on the top image, you will need to select the "gradient" tool that is in the left-hand menu.

Drag from left to right with the gradient, increase opacity and see if you got it right.

Getting the gradient to be just right is a little tough, so you'll have to play around with it a little.

After this repeat steps 4 and 5 with the rest of your images.

Step 6: Final Cropping

As you can see my camera and the gravel was accidentally moved.

While I took the picture some clouds moved in front of the sun.

So as you can see there are several errors in this photo due to the quickness and complex setting.

Select Crop in the left-hand tool menu and crop the image to get rid of the chunks.

Voila! Your image is done! Go show it off to friends and family now!

Step 7: Properly Stiched Image