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Author Topic: Combining Images  (Read 5300 times)

Rob C

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Combining Images
« on: January 24, 2011, 03:43:16 pm »

I think I asked this before, and if so, blame it on my fading memory cells!

About a year or more ago I had need to stick two images side by side and turn them into a single file. As far as I can remember, I did this by opening them both in Photoshop (6) and then, extending the right side of the canvas of the left image, I dragged the image on the right into the extended canvas, where it could then be saved into a single image consisting of both sitting side by side. It was the same when I put the sky from one shot onto the sky area of a second.

However, either my PS is going madder than myself, or something is amiss with the computer or I have forgotten something important that just won't come to mind. The problem is that I again need to combine some pics and then add text, and as I can't do the first bit, everything has come to an abrupt halt.

I enclose the double image I mentioned here (obviously not the ones of the sky...) perhaps somebody can give me a step by step of how to do this again? I do have some PS books, but they don't seem to be able to help me - maybe they assume too much knowledge?

It's rather worrying to have done it before with exactly the same PS and computer and then find it impossible to repeat!

Rob C

Gemmtech

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2011, 06:43:45 pm »

The way I do it, I open both (or more) images and make them the same size (if I'm doing a before and after of a project), I then go to File - New and input the name and size of the image.  I can then add whatever I want.  Simple and straightforward.

« Last Edit: January 25, 2011, 06:06:00 am by Gemmtech »
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Schewe

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2011, 11:34:31 pm »

I enclose the double image I mentioned here (obviously not the ones of the sky...) perhaps somebody can give me a step by step of how to do this again?

Quick and easy, select one of the images, go into the Image>Canvas Size and change the unit dropdown to Percent. Click on the far left center (or right center-depending on where you want which image) direction button (so the change in the canvas will be one directional) then enter in 200% in the percent change.

You might want to add a bit to the 200% if you want some white space between the images. Once you click ok, the first image will grow to the side.

In the other image, select all then drag the image using the Move tool into the other newly expanded image canvas. If you hold the shift key, the new image will drop in the exact center. Then with the Move tool drag that new layer to the edge-hold the shift key to constrain the move.

If you want to expand he canvas down to add type, redo the Canvas command and click on the top center direction and enter in the amount of background you want.
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Gemmtech

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2011, 11:46:24 pm »

And you only want to change one direction to 200 percent.
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Rob C

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2011, 04:51:52 am »

Thanks, people, I shall give this a try later this evening.  Have to go do some shopping (firewood!) and pay the bank a too regular visit to extract some pocket money. I also have an idea or two for new pics, so must strike while that iron is hot!

Again, thank you very much for being the cavalry!

Rob C

Rob C

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2011, 03:28:58 pm »

Eventually managed to get the thing to work, but I suspect there's something odd going on with my computer. What happens is that after I get two images joined at the hip, when I'm try to drag the third one, it sort of vanishes outside its frame without appearing in the space to where I'm trying to drag it - which is alongside the joined two images.

I started with the left hand shot, the vertical, and then added the top right image. When I tried joining the third one to the group, it wouldn't show anywhere - just dragged itself almost out of sight... Maybe it has something to do with the computer being overloaded and too slow to show the new position of the image being dragged? But, it did eventually manage the final join. Nope, it must be an innate inability to understand!

The three images were just chosen at random for the sake of the exercise -there was no 'artistic' intent beyond learning the technique.

Thanks for your help!

Rob C

sniper

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2011, 04:20:31 pm »

Was it on the middle layer? it will be behind one of the others then, if it's partly hidden just drag the layer it's on to the top of the layers palette.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2011, 04:25:09 pm »

It looks as if you mastered it, Rob.
Of course artistic value would have been improved with one of your models in each photo.

Eric
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Rob C

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2011, 04:37:38 am »

Don't know abour having mastered it - I shall agree with that if I reach the stage further down the line where I can do it without reference to notes! Intuitive I find it not.

My next trick (to learn) is adding some lines of text created outwith PS and then imported... the basic idea is to try and make a sort of magazine page out of the Weebly system that my website uses: where clicking on an image in the galleries opens that image, I see a system where instead of opening individual images within a gallery, the viewer does the same mechanical steps but gets a 'printed page' lookalike thing instead - like turning the pages of a real print job.

Of course, that leads to the interesting problem of what, exactly, one might want to say. But at least knowing the how is a step in the right direction!

Rob C

Justinr

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2011, 05:14:56 am »

I wonder Rob if you may be better off considering another piece of software designed to achieve what you are seeking. From my own point of view I use an old version of MS Publisher to achieve the effects you are looking for and it is quite easy to master. The central element here for instance was done in Publisher then saved as a JPEG before embedding into the page -www.vet-tipperary.com/ It's what the programmes is designed to do and with all due respect to Adobe PS was never really intended to answer the calls you are making of it. There is the whole of the rest of the Adobe creative suite which is meant to do the job as there is the MS equivalent plus whatever else a web search may turn up, so if you have Publisher amongst your MS Office applications then it may be worth taking a look. 
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Farmer

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2011, 07:49:03 am »

Publisher isn't a bad option by any means. PS, however, is definitely capable and designed to do exactly this.
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Phil Brown

Justinr

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2011, 08:16:06 am »

Publisher isn't a bad option by any means. PS, however, is definitely capable and designed to do exactly this.

I'm sure you are right but form personal experience I found Publisher an awful lot more straightforward.
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Gemmtech

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2011, 08:35:32 am »

What am I missing here?  Isn't this simply just a collage?  Personally I do these all the time in PS as I first described, I know what size I want the image to be and add the photos to fit the collage size. 
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Justinr

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2011, 08:55:18 am »

What am I missing here?  Isn't this simply just a collage?  Personally I do these all the time in PS as I first described, I know what size I want the image to be and add the photos to fit the collage size.  

What you may be missing is that with Publisher and no doubt similar Adobe software is that you can resize each picture by dragging it's handles, you can also drag and drop to experiment with the placing of images within the collage as well as overlay pictures. Adding text by a textbox is a doddle and certainly the choice of fonts and font effect is greater than with CS. Later editions of PS may address these differences, I simply cannot say, all I am suggesting to the OP is that the world of creative software extends beyond Photoshop however wonderful it may be. An unpopular view in some quarters I have come to appreciate, but that's the way I find it.
« Last Edit: January 28, 2011, 08:57:54 am by Justinr »
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Gemmtech

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2011, 10:15:40 am »

"I simply cannot say, all I am suggesting to the OP is that the world of creative software extends beyond Photoshop however wonderful it may be. An unpopular view in some quarters I have come to appreciate, but that's the way I find it."

Of course there are many software packages available that are great.  The OP asked how to accomplish a task in PS and from what he posted it's a very simple task in PS.  You can easily make collages in PS, add and resize as many photos as you would like, add text, any color, change the fonts etc.  I'm sure there are programs that do this even better than PS, but is another program needed to accomplish the task at hand?  This truly is a simple PS task, maybe a more complicated collage would require a different program? 

Something like this,
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Justinr

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #15 on: January 28, 2011, 10:27:18 am »

"I simply cannot say, all I am suggesting to the OP is that the world of creative software extends beyond Photoshop however wonderful it may be. An unpopular view in some quarters I have come to appreciate, but that's the way I find it."

Of course there are many software packages available that are great.  The OP asked how to accomplish a task in PS and from what he posted it's a very simple task in PS.  You can easily make collages in PS, add and resize as many photos as you would like, add text, any color, change the fonts etc.  I'm sure there are programs that do this even better than PS, but is another program needed to accomplish the task at hand?  This truly is a simple PS task, maybe a more complicated collage would require a different program? 

Something like this,

Ho hum, here we could so easily go again but I shall get on with my life instead.
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Rob C

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #16 on: January 28, 2011, 03:35:36 pm »

Just a PS-unconnected question but connected to my images: does Ford market these little cars (Fiestas) in the States? I do remember that at one time they sold a version of Escort - rented one from Avis for a short time (another horror story) and when it broke we exchanged for a larger Ford - could it have been something called a Monarch? - that seems to ring a mental bell.

Rob C

Nick Rains

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #17 on: January 28, 2011, 11:11:46 pm »

Hey Rob
If dragging is not working for you, you can copy and paste too. CtrlA to select all, activate the other image and CtrlV to paste. (Cmd on a Mac). If the images are different sizes you can fix it at this point with transform handles, or CtrlT to transform later.
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Nick Rains
Australian Photographer Leica

Rob C

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Re: Combining Images
« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2011, 05:19:04 am »

Hey Rob
If dragging is not working for you, you can copy and paste too. CtrlA to select all, activate the other image and CtrlV to paste. (Cmd on a Mac). If the images are different sizes you can fix it at this point with transform handles, or CtrlT to transform later.



Thanks, Nick, I'll try this technique too and try to discover which seems to work or suit my mental makeup best!

Great resource we have here, in LuLa, which is the membership.

Thank you all again.

Rob C
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