What is this layered portrait overlap effect, and how can I recreate it in Photoshop or GIMP?
Asked 3/19/2012
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2 answers
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I want to recreate a poster-style image where two people overlap and parts of one subject show through the other. What is this effect commonly called, and what’s the basic way to build it in Adobe Photoshop or GIMP?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
1
I guess each person is on one layer. Whichever is in front has a "well-designed" alpha channel: Where the background person is to show, it is fully transparent, whereas it is opaque where it should appear in front.
Originally by user8457. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user8457
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This isn’t a single named effect so much as a compositing technique using layers, masking, and blend modes.
A simple way to build it:
- Put each person on a separate layer.
- Remove or isolate the background so the subjects are cleanly cut out.
- Arrange the layers so one subject is in front.
- Use a layer mask (alpha channel) on the front subject to hide selected areas and reveal parts of the subject behind.
- If the look depends on bright areas combining, try blend modes such as Lighten on the top layer.
- A dark or black background can help, especially with Lighten blending.
So the key terms to look up are layer masks, alpha channels, compositing, and blend modes. In both Photoshop and GIMP, you’ll get the result by combining careful masking with experimentation in layer order and blend mode rather than by applying one canned filter.
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
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