How can I make a composited moon blend into sky haze in GIMP?
Asked 11/20/2016
4 views
2 answers
0
I combined two moon photos in GIMP and want a softer, hazier look where the moon’s darker surface areas take on the surrounding sky color, while only the brighter parts remain clearly visible. I tried selecting the shadow areas and using Color to Alpha, but the transition looked too harsh. What’s a better way to blend the moon into the sky for this effect?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
1
There are some variants on your approach which would be less harsh, although I'm not convinced that you'll get the effect you want without applying some kind of haze effect to the whole sky.
- Use your current approach and apply a curve to the layer mask to make it less noticeable.
- Change the layer mode of the moon to "Lighten only"
- Place a second copy of the sky over the moon with layer mode "Lighten only" and play with its opacity.
Originally by user47295. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user47295
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A softer result will usually come from blending rather than fully removing the dark areas.
In GIMP, try these approaches:
- Keep your current mask-based method, but apply a curve to the layer mask so the transition is more gradual and less harsh.
- Set the moon layer to Lighten only so brighter lunar details show while darker tones blend more naturally with the sky.
- Put a second copy of the sky layer above the moon, also set to Lighten only, and reduce its opacity until the moon picks up some of the sky haze.
If you want the reference look, you may also need to add a subtle haze effect to the surrounding sky, not just the moon. That overall atmospheric softening is often what makes the darker parts of the moon appear to merge into the sky color.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI9y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I photograph the moon with detail while keeping the surrounding blue sky or scenery?
How can I remove a white background from a clear bottle photo while preserving realistic transparency?
How can I adjust exposure differently on two parts of a photo without a visible boundary?
How can I post-process RAW aurora photos to improve color and impact?
How can I reduce or correct atmospheric haze in distant trees and sky?