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How to Create a Double Exposure Effect in Photoshop Double exposure in photography

Photos with the effect of double exposure are obtained using a special image processing technique. As a result of processing, two images are combined into one frame.

This technique is also known as multiple exposure because it allows you to overlay more than two shots. This can be done in Photoshop, or using the image processing program installed in the camera itself.

This article provides a quick guide to creating composite shots with a SLR camera set to multiple exposure mode. In our lesson, cameras and are used.

How to check if your camera supports multiple exposure mode? There is a simple tip - read the user manual, or find information about the capabilities of your model on the Internet.

Create a silhouette

You may have seen photos where a pattern is applied to the silhouette. These pictures are beautiful and unique. On the Internet, you can find many photos taken with the effect of double or multiple exposure. Let's take a picture like this.

We will need:

Digital camera with multiple exposure mode;
Silhouette of an object (or person) as a base image;
Filled background for the silhouette.

I will clearly show how to do it on the camera.

First, decide on the key figure of the photo. It can be a person or some object. Come up with a specific subject for the picture.

Basic Silhouette

The silhouette should be placed harmoniously in the frame, it should be combined with the background space as intended. The background space can be anything, including the sky and a white wall.

I do spot metering exposure on the silhouette, this helps to make the silhouette quite dark, in contrast to the light background. When shooting silhouettes for this project, the light source was located behind the subject.

After you have photographed a good silhouette, enter the multiple exposure mode (multiple exposure). In the 5D Mark III screen in the settings, find the brush icon (paintbrush) and switch to multiple exposure mode (multiple exposure).

Switch from "Disable" mode to "On: Func/Ctrl" mode. Do not change the rest of the parameters, the factory settings (“default”) are quite enough. For starters, two shots are enough for you to work. You can also choose to save all images individually if you want to repeat multiple exposures later, but with more photos.

On the same screen, select the line "Select image for multi. expo.", then select the photo with the previously captured silhouette and press the Set button. This will return you to the multiple exposure menu.

The easiest way to get a composite shot is to use live view. Select this option and you will see how one frame overlaps another on the display.

Filling for the silhouette. Notice I positioned the shot to match the position of the silhouette.

Notice how this shot is composited so that the sky looks pale and the silhouette looks full and crisp.

Now the fun begins. In the silhouette, you can place any image - trees, flowers, anything. The list is only limited by the themes of your shots and your imagination.

As a rule, the second shot is taken at a lack of exposure (or you can reduce the saturation of the image using software).

The end result of overlaying two shots

Take a different image, give the camera some time to process, and you'll have a photo with a different background.

It takes some time to master the multiple exposure method. Only practical experience will allow you to achieve good results. You can take a wide variety of combined shots, with different silhouettes and fills. You can try to make a dark silhouette and a light background, or vice versa.

How to clone yourself

Using the multiple exposure option, you can take interesting pictures with objects - "clones".

We will need:

Digital camera with multiple exposure enabled;
Tripod;
Shooting object. You can use yourself as this, but then you need a remote control.

First, mount your camera on a tripod and decide what you want to shoot. Focus and exposure are chosen "to taste". Exposure settings can be made manually.

Now for this shooting we will use the camera. Press the "Menu" button, select the multiple exposure mode and turn it on. Select the line "one photo". Next, select the number of frames that you want to combine in one picture (if you want to have three clones in the photo, select three photos).

Turn on auto gain, this will set the same exposure data for all shots.

Set your subject to the first position and take a picture. You can put yourself in the frame, but then you need to get a friend to help you, who will press the camera shutter or use the remote control. Then move the subject several times and take a few more shots, and then the camera will automatically combine them into one frame.

When viewing the combined image, you may find that there are translucent "ghosts" present in the photo. There is nothing you can do about it other than correcting the situation with Photoshop (which will help make all objects opaque). But you can try to change the camera settings to get the best result in the final frame.

If you're using Nikon, turn off Active D-Lighting. Choose a darker background and don't shoot outdoors. A black background gives the best results. You can also increase the amount of light directed at the subject by using the flash. Or adjust the exposure so that the camera's sensor captures more light by opening the aperture or increasing the ISO.

Remember that you can take such pictures with any digital camera that has a multiple exposure mode. The settings and options for multiple exposure are slightly different for different camera models, but the general principle of operation is the same. There are plenty of opportunities to experiment and get some fun shots.

Double exposure is a creative photography technique where two different images are combined into one frame.

This effect is also known as multiple exposure (depending on the final number of images stacked on top of each other), you can take these photos in camera - no Photoshop skills required. Here's a guide on how to get started with this technique using a DSLR with multiple exposure mode. This mode is supported by Nikon D800 and Canon 5D Mark III cameras.

Are you unsure if your camera has a multiple exposure mode? Check the manual or do an internet search to find out.

Creation of silhouettes.

You may have seen photographs where the silhouette contains the pattern within it. This is just one example of double or multi-exposure.

You will need:

Digital camera with multiple exposure mode.
Silhouette as a base image.
Filling for the silhouette

In this example, I'll show you how to do it with a Canon camera.

First, find a topic. It can be a person or any other object. The most important part is to have a definite plan.

As with any silhouette, try to position your subject in the frame so that it is heavily shadowed against the background to achieve the best possible effect. It can be the sky, or even a white wall - it can help on cloudy days.

The silhouette will turn out better if there is a strong light source coming from behind the subject.

If you are satisfied with the silhouette you have taken, enter the multiple exposure mode. In the 5D Mark III screen, press the brush icon and scroll to the multiple exposure option.

Switch the switch to the "On: Func / Ctrl" position. Leave the rest of the default settings unchanged. You can also choose to save all images separately if you later need to repeat the process with different shutter speeds.

Go to "Select image for multiple exposure" and select the silhouette previously captured using the "Set" button. Confirming this selection will take you back to the multiple exposure menu.

The easiest way to compose a finished photo is to use live display. Turn it on and you will see how the silhouette is superimposed on the display.

Now the fun begins. Find a pattern for the silhouette background - it could be trees or flowers or whatever. The only limit will be your imagination.

As a general rule, it's a good idea to underexpose this second shot a bit from what the counter tells you (or use exposure compensation if you're in Program mode). This is because the default setting is Additive as the blend mode, which combines the exposure of both images.

Get the second image, give the camera some time to process, and voila, your multiple exposure silhouette is ready.

As with all photographic techniques, this technique takes some time to master and produce acceptable results. You can experiment with the positioning of the fill in the silhouette.

See examples of the work of a photographer who was one of the first to use this technique - Dan Mountford.

Multiplicity: cloning yourself.

Another way to experiment with in-camera multiple exposures is to clone a subject (or yourself).

You will need:

Camera with multiple exposure mode.
Tripod.
Photo object. Or using yourself as an object, but then you need a remote control.

Mount your camera on a tripod, prepare your subject, and take the picture.

If using Nikon, enable multiple exposure. Press the menu button and then find multiple exposure in the shooting menu. Turn it on and select one photo. Choose the number of frames you want to merge into the final photo. If you want three clones, choose three photos.

Turn on auto gain so that frames are aligned with the last shot, rather than stacked.

Set the subject to the first position and take a picture. You can stand in the frame yourself, but you will need to either ask someone to press the shutter button or use the remote control. Reposition the subject and repeat the process as many times as needed, and the camera will automatically merge them into a finished shot.

Depending on the subject and background, you may find that the subject is partially ghostly. Without the help of an editing program like Photoshop, it can be difficult to get a good result where subjects are colored evenly, but there are a few things you can do to improve the results in the camera itself.

If you are using Nikon, turn off "Active D-backlight". Choose a darker background instead of shooting outdoors. A black background gives the best results. You can also increase the amount of light on the subject by using flash. Otherwise, adjust the exposure so that the lens collects more light by opening the aperture or increasing the ISO.

Remember, you can apply these techniques with any camera that has a multiple exposure mode. The method (and the name of the items in the camera menu) may differ slightly from model to model, but the general principle is the same. Start experimenting and have fun with creative photography.

Double exposure is the effect that occurs when one photograph is superimposed on another. In this article, we will show you how to make a double exposure in Photoshop.

History

Double exposure (another name - multiple exposure) appeared during the use of film cameras. The effect occurred when the photographer took two shots without rewinding the film. The exposure was on the same piece of film, and the two photographs were mixed. This could happen by accident, or it could happen intentionally, if the photographer specially selected two suitable for

Modern means

Digital cameras do not have film, and each new frame is automatically saved to a separate file in the device's memory. Because of this, in theory, a successful (or unsuccessful) marriage of double exposure is impossible even on the most advanced "reflex cameras". In theory - because in practice the camera can break. But breaking a device on purpose is a bad idea. This is where double exposure comes to the rescue in Photoshop.

What pictures to use?

The artist's imagination knows no bounds - you can always come up with something new. But usually for a double exposure in Photoshop, they use a portrait (as the base) and a landscape (as the background), creating surreal and atmospheric pictures.

Well, let's proceed directly to the creation.

First of all, open both files for double exposure in Photoshop (CS6, CS5 or CC versions - it doesn't matter).

Step 1. Selecting the main image

There are two ways to select the main image in which the background will be placed.

Whiten the background of the portrait with a brush. Suitable for portrait studio photos in which the background is already light.
Select the shape in the photo and copy it to a new layer.

For the first method, follow these instructions:

Open the portrait file.
Make two copies of the layer.
Go to the top copy.
Increase the contrast of the image (use the Contrast tool or the Curves tool).
Select the Quick Selection tool and select only the background.
Take a white brush and whiten the background.
Invert selection (Select tab - Invert)
Erase the part of the image with the portrait to the bottom layer with the eraser.
Merge two copies.

If the figure is simple, you can do without increasing the contrast and selection, and whiten manually. But this is a long and painstaking work.

Instructions for the second method:

Open the portrait file.
Select the Pen Tool or Lasso Tool.
Carefully outline the shape with the tool.
Go to the "Editing" tab, select "Copy" first, then "Paste" (you can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V).

Step 2: Merging with the background image

Switch to a tab with an open background image. If the file is not open, open it.

Double exposure in Photoshop is a creative task. The instructions below describe the basic step-by-step technique, but it is allowed and even recommended to move away from it, try other options, see what happens.

First way

If you bleached the background:

Transfer the layer from the landscape file to the portrait layers ("Duplicate layer" function).
Move the layer below the portrait ( life hack: give names to the layers for convenience. To do this, double-click on the layer name).
Choose a blend mode. Lightening is recommended, but feel free to experiment with others.

Double exposure in Photoshop is ready!

Second way

If you used the image selection method with copying it:

Go to the landscape tab.
Duplicate the photo layer.
Go to the tab with a portrait (or like another picture taken as a basis).
Click "Paste" or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V.
Create a clipping mask - hold down the Alt key.
Go to the landscape layer and change the blending mode to Dodge, Overlay, or whatever you see fit.

Use the Eraser tool to erase those parts of the portrait layer where you don't want the landscape background to overlap.

Use Toning, Curves, Contrast, and other color grading commands to find the perfect color combination. Create a new adjustment layer and see how the perception of the photo changes with different settings.

Don't forget the art of black and white photography - desaturate all or part of the resulting image and compare it with the color version. Sometimes a black and white photo conveys more emotions.

Blend Modes

As mentioned above, usually to create a double exposure effect, the "Lightening" blending mode is used (in English "Photoshop" this is the Screen mode). It works on the same principle as exposure in film cameras - it multiplies the bright pixels of one shot by the bright pixels of another, leaving the white pixels white, so use it for the effect of traditional film multiple exposure. Add noise, correct colors and get an almost real film shot.

The Dissolve blend mode blends the colors of the pictures. Use it if you want to get an interesting (and random!) color effect without manual color correction. For the same purpose, you can use the Color, Hue, Saturation, and Split blending modes.

Keep in mind that modes such as "Multiply" and all others with a mention of "darkening" in the name result in dark images, while "Linear Light" and others like it - light.

Also, the overlay of all modes can be adjusted using transparency.

Taking Pictures for Double Exposure

Pictures for multiple exposure can be selected from the available ones, or you can create in advance. In doing so, follow these guidelines:

shoot portraits on a light, ideally white, background (take pictures in a studio or at home - cover the place of the picture, for example, with a white sheet);
prepare good lighting;
shoot not too uniform, but not too diverse landscapes. Well suited forest, tree branches, sky;
do not take too bright pictures - double exposure will brighten them even more.

Other options

Double exposure portraits in Photoshop are just a small part of the masterpieces of this technique. The best advice is don't listen to anyone's advice. Film photographers often do multiple exposures at random - try it in your Photoshop 5CS too. Double exposure building + landscape, building + portrait, landscape + urban area, portrait + other portrait - you can always come up with something new. Open pictures, overlay them on top of each other and, if you like something, start processing with all the tools described above. No theory can replace practice. Catch your inspiration and create!

In this short tutorial, we'll show you how to create a fabulous, surreal portrait by simulating a double exposure using Photoshop. We will combine photos using the visual possibilities of blend modes.

Multiple exposure is a great way to combine two or more shots into one image.

Traditionally, a multiple exposure portrait is achieved by exposing the same frame on film more than twice.

“Lightening” (Screen) - the layer blending mode implemented in Photoshop works on a similar principle. The lightness of the pixels in the upper image layer is multiplied by the lightness of the pixels below them in the lower image layer.

The result can be an even brighter image. But it will never be darker than either of the two original images. And white pixels will remain white.

The method that we will show gives a portrait a special expressiveness if a texture image and an image with strict contours are combined. An example is the photo above. The texture of tree crowns is limited to a contrasting contour created by the body of the model against a uniform background.

Also, the possibility of free arrangement of images relative to each other remains.

Find out more:

Step 1. Process the RAW file

Download the archive with the original images and unzip them. We invite you to practice on them.

Open the Adobe Bridge program (usually included with Photoshop). Locate the multi01.dng file, right-click on it and select the Open in Camera Raw command from the context menu that appears.

When the RAW file containing the portrait is loaded into the Camera Raw plug-in, perform tone correction. Set the value of the Exposure parameter to +0.8, Contrast to +39, Highlights to +32, Shadows to +27, Blacks ) - -6.

Then go to the Color Correction (HSL) section. Select the Luminance tab. Set the value of the Reds parameter to -51, Oranges to -58, Yellows to -61, Purples to +100, Magentas to +100. Click the Open Image button in the Camera Raw window.

Step #2. Lighten up the background

On your keyboard, press the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl" + "J" ("Cmd" + "J" on Mac) to duplicate the image layer.

Select the Dodge tool from the Tools panel. In the properties panel at the top, set the value of the parameter “Scope of influence” (Range) equal to “Light tones” (Highlights), “Exposure” (Exposure) - 50%. Uncheck the box next to Protect Tones.

Set the brush hardness to low. To do this, right-click on the portrait photo and in the window that appears, set the Hardness parameter to a low value. Paint over the background to lighten it to pure white. Use the "[" and "]" keys to decrease and increase the size of the brush, respectively.

Step #3 Position the texture above the portrait

Open the multi02.jpg file in Photoshop. Then in the Layers panel, right-click on the single layer called Background. In the context menu that appears, select the Duplicate Layer command.

In the dialog box that appears, select the multi01.dng file from the drop-down list of the Destination parameter and click the OK button. The texture image will appear as a new layer on top of the portrait image. Close the multi02.jpg file.

Rename the top layer containing the wood texture to "Trees".

Now let's merge the layers by selecting the desired blending mode (Blend mode).

Step #4 Rotate and Scale a Texture

Left-click on the Blend mode drop-down list at the top of the Layers panel. Select the value "Lightening" (Screen). The wood texture and the portrait will "merge". Press the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl" + "T" ("Cmd" + "T") to activate Free Transform mode (Free Transform mode). By moving the nodes of the bounding box, resize the texture image and rotate it so that you get a nice composition and completely fill the portrait with the texture. Once you are happy with the result, press the "Enter" key on your keyboard.

Step #5 Shade the image

Left-click on the icon-button “Create new adjustment layer” (Create new adjustment layer), located at the bottom of the panel “Layers”. Select the Gradient Map command from the list that appears.

In the Properties panel, left-click on the down arrow next to the gradient image. In the list of different shapes and colors of gradient fills that appears, left-click on the gear icon. From the menu that appears, select the Photographic Toning command. Click on the "Append" button in the dialog box that appears.

The list of shapes and colors of gradient fills will expand. Select the option "Cobalt-Iron 2" (Cobalt-Iron 2) in it. The final image will be painted in a color close to monochrome.

Read more: "Perfect landscape. Combining two shots »

Step #6 Increase Contrast

Again, left-click on the icon-button "Create a new adjustment layer" and select the command "Curves" (Curves) in the list that appears.

In the Properties panel, convert the tonal line to an S-curve. To do this, press the left mouse button over the upper half of the line and, holding the button, move the new point a little to the left-up. The tonal line will take on a curve. In the same way, create a new point on the tonal curve in the lower half of the last one. Move the new point slightly to the right and down.

The more pronounced the S-shape of the curve, the higher the contrast of the final image.

Step #7 Add another texture

Open the multi03.jpg file. Right-click on the background layer in the Layers panel and choose Duplicate Layer. Select "Document: multi01" and click the "OK" button.

Return to collage. The new texture is placed on top of the image. The corresponding layer appeared in the Layers panel. Set the blending mode for this layer to “Lightening” (Screen). Drag the new texture layer below the Curves adjustment layer and rename the first layer Colored Foliage.

Step #8 Transform the second texture

As with the first texture, resize the second, new texture, and rotate it to make the final image look nice. As before, press the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl" + "T" ("Cmd" + "T" on Mac) to activate the Free Transform mode. If you do not see the bounding box, press the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl" + "0" ("Cmd" + "0").

Try not to cover the model's face too much. When you're done, press the "Enter" key on your keyboard to save your changes.

Step #9 Fine-tuning the collage

View the available layers and change any settings if necessary.

We slightly reduced the brightness of the picture by double-clicking the Curves adjustment layer with the left mouse button and shifting the tone curve to the right and down. We also lowered the Opacity to 90% for the adjustment layer containing the gradient fill. Thus, skin tones appeared in the final image.

Maybe you saw a similar original effect on someone on Instagram, when a human silhouette connects with a mysterious forest or an endless ocean? If you want to repeat the same, then let's take a closer look at how to make a double exposure on your phone.

Upload your selfie

Double exposure is the overlay of one photo on another photo. Previously, it was very difficult to achieve such an effect. It was necessary to do various dances with a tambourine: move the frame, cut out images in Photoshop, apply layer to layer, and much more. Now, this can be done on your smartphone in a few minutes. If you do not know how to make a double exposure, then now we will tell you everything.

Training

The whole secret of creating a good double composition lies in the selection of the right materials. In order for your picture to end up perfect, you need to initially take it right. Here are some tips before creating a landscape portrait:

It is desirable that the background for the double exposure be neutral (white, beige, grey, beige).
The silhouette against the background should be contrasting, stand out and read well.
It is best to take a profile picture.
As a second shot, you need to choose those that show contrasting places that create unusual lines and silhouettes (dark forest, sky, mountains, skyscrapers, flower meadows, clouds, tubers of smoke, and others).
Superimposed photos look best together if one of them has clear silhouette boundaries.
In some shots, it is necessary to remove the background even in natural photos.

Snapseed

The double exposure effect or the effect of a person walking into a forest can be created using a free program called Snapseed. The principle of operation is quite simple.

How to make a double exposure in Snapseed (Snapsid):

Upload a photo to Snapseed.
Adjust the image to your liking (lighten the background, remove extra strands somewhere, increase the head of hair, make the figure thinner, add a little brightness, etc.).
Using the "Brush" tool, you can optionally darken the area, which will then be covered by the picture. Darken to almost black.
Open the "Double (double) exposure" mode.
At the bottom in the middle, click on the "Add photo" icon and select any photo with nature.
The second button in the middle is responsible for the overlay. You need to select "Saturation", increasing it.
Next, you need to click on the arrow with layers, which is located in the upper right corner, and select the "View changes" item.
Select the “Double Exposure” item again in the lower right corner, and then tap on the pop-up icon with a brush.
Click on the eye, which is located in the bottom panel of the program, thereby immediately adding a mask.
Gently erase the extra layer on the photo and borders with your finger, leaving the main silhouette with the superimposed picture.
Save image.
Go back to "Tools" and then select the "Brush" tab.
Set the Exposure parameter to +0.7.
Gently lighten the background with your finger to the desired state.
Save photo. A landscape portrait with a double exposure is ready! You are gorgeous.

As you can see, it's quite easy to use a double exposure in Snapseed!

Pic Art

Another app and free photo editor for double exposure effect is called Pic Art. It can be downloaded from the official AppStore and Google Play stores.

How to make a double exposure in the program:

First option

Open the Pics Art app.
Add the first photo with a silhouette.
In the bottom panel, find the "Add photo" tab and select the second desired photo.
Stretch the image to the desired size.
At this point, you can edit its "Saturation".
At the bottom, select the “Mix” item and set any blending mode (Multiplication, Lighter, Darker, Screen, etc.).
At the top of the program, click on the Eraser and delete unnecessary fragments in the picture.
If you need to return some detail, then you need to click on the Brush tool next to the Eraser.
Save photo.

Second option

Step-by-step instructions for creating a double exposure:

Open the Pics Art program.
Upload the desired photo with a silhouette of a person by clicking on the "+".
In the bottom line, select the "Effects" tab and desaturate the photo (make it black and white). But this is optional.
In order to brighten the picture itself a little, you need to click on the "Tools" tab at the bottom of the screen, and then "Curves". Lighten the picture carefully.
Next, in the lower menu, select the "Draw" item and tap on the Brush.
In the palette, select a white shade and carefully paint over the entire background with a brush. If extra areas were painted over, then everything can be corrected with the Eraser.
Save images to phone gallery.
Next, launch the Pics Art application again.
The first to choose a photo with nature.
In the bottom menu, click on "Add photo" and find the just taken picture of a person with a white background.
Stretch the photo to the desired size.
Next, tap on the “Mix” tab and select the “Screen” mode.
Save the photo and add some filters.

For inspiration

Superimposing photos on top of each other is quite simple with the help of free programs. For you, we have collected the best ideas for a double composition: pictures of the forest, water, smoke, backgrounds and other images.