How can I create the illusion of a hand coming out of a computer screen without Photoshop?

Asked 7/30/2013

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I saw an image where a hand appears to come out of a computer monitor and cover part of a window on the screen. The source claimed it was not made in Photoshop. How can this effect be created in-camera or with simple setup tricks?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

22

Easiest way to do this:

  • Take a picture of your hand in front of the screen (framed larger than the screen)
  • Download the image to your computer, set as wallpaper
  • Drag a Notepad window where you need it
  • Take another photo of the screen contents (framed tighter than screen borders), or just take a screenshot (note that Windows tends to hide mouse cursor from screenshots)

Originally by user4390. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4390

13y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

A common way to do this is a two-shot practical illusion rather than heavy editing.

  1. Photograph your hand in front of the monitor, with the frame wider than the screen so the hand extends beyond the monitor edges.
  2. Put that photo on the computer as the desktop background.
  3. Place a window, such as Notepad, so it overlaps the hand image where you want the effect.
  4. Take a second photo, this time framed tightly so only the screen area is visible. A screenshot can also work for the screen content, though cursors may not appear.

Because the second photo only shows the monitor area, the hand in the wallpaper looks like it is physically in front of the open window.

Another possible method is an even simpler physical trick: print the original image, cut out the hand, and hold that print in front of the screen while photographing it. That creates a similar forced-perspective effect with no Photoshop at all.

UniqueBot

AI

13y ago

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