Layers question

DJ-S1

Being new to Photoshop, I'm trying to get the hang of using layers. I think that I need them to do the following, anyone want to point me in the right direction?

I saw a house on a cliff backlit by a nice sunset, so I took a shot exposed for the dark foreground, then I took one exposed for the bright sky details. How do I combine/overlay the 2 shots to get the proper result?

patch29

Try this tutorial on luminous landscape describing blending, that should get you started.

DJ-S1

patch29 wrote:

Try this tutorial on luminous landscape describing blending, that should get you started.

Perfect, thank you Patch.

wxwax

Luminous Landscape has one important mistake in its directions. It says to click on Layer/Add Layer Mask/Hide All. That's wrong. It should be Reveal All.

Here's a thread where we discussed it. The thread has pictures of the Photoshop steps, makes it easy to follow.

DJ-S1

Thanks Sid. I checked out that site, there are enough tutorials there to save you guys from a bombardment of stupid newbie PS questions!

If there are other good sites that are similar that you guys like, let me know. I appreciate the help. If I get a chance I'll post some results for you guys to comment on.

wxwax

No sweat man, as you can see from the linked thread, I was thoroughly confused meself. Wander through the Photoshop Shenanigans forum and you'll find some excellent tutoirals from Andy, and at the beginning of each Challenge Cletus also gives very good tips and how tos.

Andy

here's a tutorial on layer masks
give this a once over

DJ-S1

andy wrote:

give this a once over

That is the thread that got me to start fooling around with layers in the first place! Very well done Andy, easy to follow.

It's funny, I'm no stranger to complicated software since I do CAD for a living. I'm a self-taught AutoCAD, Intergraph and ProEngineer user, and I have no problem fooling around with the myriad commands and options in those kind of programs. But Photoshop is such a different mindset from what I am comfortable with that it's almost like I'm intimidated or something!

I'll get over it, and I will cruise through the tutorials before I ask more questions.

DJ-S1

Here's my attempt
The 2 donor images:





and the merged result:




I get the process now, and it was pretty easy. But I'm not happy with the boundary between the 2 parts, it needs to be crisper. I'm sure there was an option somewhere to not feather edges or something similar, I'll try another one some other time.

cletus

DJ-S1 wrote:

But I'm not happy with the boundary between the 2 parts, it needs to be crisper. I'm sure there was an option somewhere to not feather edges or something similar, I'll try another one some other time.

I think it looks really good

I know what you mean about Photoshop being different from CAD software. I constantly find my self trying Photoshop shortcut keys in CAD programs and vice versa.

DJ-S1

Thanks Cletus! I'm just starting to look at some of your tutorials and assignments too, thanks for taking the time to do that stuff.

Too bad you're in Missouri, we could use a good CAD guy or 2 here in RI. Maybe I could take a few days off once in a while...:D