Todd Sumamno
Adding a person to your pictures can be a thoughtful and meaningful way to create a personalized gift for a loved one. Whether you want to remember a special occasion, celebrate a milestone, or simply create a unique keepsake, this DIY guide can be enjoyable and rewarding. If you don’t have the time or expertise to create a professional-looking image, you may want to consider professional photo editing services like Pixels Photo Art. They can help you create a natural-looking image that captures the essence of the moment you want to capture! That being said, let’s discuss both the “why” and the “how” of combining your pictures.
Why Combine 2 Pictures?
The moments that matter most in our lives can slip away too quickly, leaving us struggling to hold onto the people we cherish. Life can be unpredictable and sometimes it takes away those we love most. However, there is a lovely way to show appreciation to those dear to us – by honoring their memory or celebrating their presence in our significant events, whether they are with us in person or in spirit. If you want to add a person to a photo, here are some ideal important life events that you might want to consider:
Graduation:
One way to honor the support and encouragement of a departed loved one who wasn’t present during your graduation is to include them in a photo of you wearing your cap and gown. On the other hand, adding a living loved one who couldn’t make it to the ceremony can make them feel included and appreciated.
Birthdays:
Celebrate your birthday next to the people you love who couldn’t be there. Include them in a group or family photo from the birthday celebration.
Family Gatherings:
Celebrate the presence of alive or dead family members who couldn’t attend the gathering.
Weddings:
Provide comfort to a bride or groom by adding a loved one who couldn’t physically be there to a wedding photo. Help them feel a sense of presence and connection with their loved ones.
Anniversaries:
Celebrate the enduring love of a grandparent who has passed on by creating a personalized picture to mark a wedding anniversary. This heartfelt gesture serves as a gentle reminder to the remaining half that the departed soul is watching over them, always present in spirit.
Holidays:
Embrace the holidays by cherishing moments shared with a family member, whether they are still with us or have passed on. Let their presence, in memory or in person, be a joyful reminder of the time spent together and the love that binds us.
Now that we’ve covered the “why”, let’s cut to the chase and get to the “how”. Below you can read our step-by-step guide to incorporating a person into a photo, as well as some creative personalized gift ideas.
How To Merge Two Photos?
You will need photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop that allows you to work on layers, an image of the person you want to add to a photo, and the base photo you would like to add someone to. Once you have these, you can follow these steps:
Open Photoshop and Import your photos
- In Photoshop, click File>Open and track down your photos. Once you have added your photos, they will appear in the window top bar.
Select the Person’s Image
- Start by selecting an image of the person you want to add to the base photo. Ideally, the image should have a neutral background where the person is fully visible, and the person should be facing forward.
Trace the Person’s Outline
- Using the pen tool in Photoshop, trace around the person’s outline. After the selection has been made, switch to “Selection”. Select “Rectangular Marquee Tool” and right-click on your photo, then select “Layer via Copy”. This will create a separate layer for the person’s image. You can Copy this selection and Paste it in your base photo.
Adjust the Person’s Size and Position
- Once the person was added to your base photo, you can use the “Transform Tool” to adjust the size and position of the person’s image. You may need to rotate, resize, or move the image to make it fit naturally in the target photo.
Blend the Person’s Image with the Base Photo
- Finally, create a mask over the new imported layer and use the brushes white/black to blend the person’s image with the target photo. This may involve adjusting the opacity, shadows, and highlights to make the person look like they belong in the photo.
Tips for Achieving a Natural-Looking Result
Mixing two or more photos can be tricky, but with some practice and patience, you can create a natural-looking result. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Your targeted person’s photo may need to be restored before adding it to the base photo.
- Pay attention to the lighting and shadows in the target photo, and once imported to the base photo, adjust the person’s image accordingly.
- Use a soft brush to blend the person’s image with the target photo, creating a natural-looking transition between the two images.
- Adjust the color balance and saturation to make the person’s image match the target photo.
- Use the brushes (white/black) over the mask to remove any unnecessary parts of the person’s image, such as the background leftovers or stray hairs.
Personalized Gift Ideas
Once you have added a person to a photo, you can use the resulting image to create a unique and personalized gift. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Customized photo albums:
Create a photo album featuring the added person in various settings and occasions.
Personalized mugs or shirts:
Use the added photo to create a customized mug or a shirt.
Decorative poster or canvas prints:
Print the new photo onto a high-quality poster or canvas for a decorative and unique piece of art. Consider creating personalized memorial keepsakes that will remind you of your departed loved ones.
Conclusion
By following these simple steps and keeping these tips in mind, you can create a natural-looking image that captures a special moment or occasion. Merging photos can be an emotionally rewarding project, however without any Photoshop experience that may be quite difficult. Whether you want to do this yourself or choose a professional photo editor to create it, be sure it will bring comfort.
Brittany
