I'm using photo shop 6.0 and I want to combine two pictures into one. I can't figure out how to do that. I need to like use the background out of one picture and put a person on that background from another picture. And then flatten the image. Thanks, "Sissy-boogie"

Try the eraser brush for that. Just make a layer from the picture you want to remove the background from then layer it over the one you wish to keep. Then erase the background and flatten.

try the manual.

Hi, You should try "quick masking". I'll try to explain. As another told you, place the picture which you want to remove something from, on top af the bagground image. Activate the "lasso" and draw a line arround the thing you want to keep. In the buttom of the toolboa, there is the bagground anf foreground coulor tab. When you have surrounded with the lasso tool, press the small buttom which is right under the bagground coulor tab. This makes everything outside the Lasso line red. Now activate a bruch in a size that let you paint everything which is between the red and outside the lassoline. When ready, press the tab beside the Quikmask (under the foreground colour tab. The red dissapears and there are a active line arround the object you want to keep. Now press ctrl. x - and everything outside the linearea dissapears. It sound a litle complicated - but is more than easy. Regards Butlerman

Hehe - erm.....yeah right. I think that Slinky has a point. If you can't do that kind of stuff then maybe you shouldn't have 'bought' Photoshop. That is on page 1 of the manual I think. ROTFLMAO

This is the first time I've responded to anything in the PS forum, but I felt I had to reply on reading this message. Even when you do buy PS you might not have the manual. In my case it was because of one house move too many, one of the boxes with paperwork, magazines and manuals got lost somewhere in transit. :( So this should be the place to come and ask questions, when, someone like myself or anyone else in the same position can't lay hands on the manual. Catlin

Obviously the latter comments are from the Generation Y group. Sissy-Boogie, any question is not stupid and disregard those infant comments. I have just started learning to work with 7.0, sometimes reading the books are not enough. A good recommendation is searching for tutorials, there is a Photoshop website to try, I use it (http://www.sitebuilder.ws/photoshop/index.htm)also try this site, I just found it about a week ago (http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/daily/bltad_aps.htm) sign up for the tut-a-day. It is where you can receive tutorials each day. If all else fails, here is a google search for the Photoshop tutorials (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=photoshop+tutorials) Hope this helps, wish I could explain the layering, I am just understanding that myself. Always remember, the little fish will someday eat the bigger fish. take care Xeno66(Ken)

The best way to think of "Layers" in PS is to think of them as a sequence of separate images which lie on top of each other, the same way as acetate animation cells do. They're like a pack of playing cards, with the last one created lying on the uppermost level. You can reorder them (with the exception of the background layer which, by default, is locked. To unlock the background layer, double-click on it and make it into an editable layer.) and lock them together to move as a group.

The one thing to keep in mind when working with layers is, if there aren't any transparent areas on the uppermost layer, you will NOT see the underlying image. For sissy-boogie to do what she wanted to do, she would need to isolate the first element (the person) on the one layer and make it on its own layer. I use the "pain-stakeing" method of zooming up large and using the "Polygonal" lasso instead of the "Magnetic" lasso (which is useless if you are trying to do any complicated shapes!) and deleting everything else.

The best way to learn PS is to experiment (on copies of your image) and if you see an effect you really like, ask (Ken, you're right, there are NO stupid questions). It's also VERY helpful if you can post either the elements you want to use or an example of the effect you want to achieve.

sissy-boogie, i apoligize if it seemed you were not getting the help you needed. If i don't see the original poster stopping back or replying i often view the request as resolved.

I am from the Generation B (before computers) and i remember all to well how it is not knowing how to pull something off with a piece of software.

:)
retrocity

Right on Retrocity. I am in the same boat. I have planet, which I have cropped and wish to insert into a picture of a sunset, thus using that planet as the sun, then adding additional elements. My problem is getting the background out. The background is black, I know there is an automatic filter to use that makes Photoshop remove plain black. I have also converted it to a transparancy, but it did not remove the black within the "striped planet" I am not sure of layers either, I can add them, make groups, but cannot seem to make them blend together for, well any project. I am anxious to show this one to you guys, but cannot get past this little problem. I have tried to paint out the black but it did not work. I am very new to the computer graphic thing, I used to draw, paint, etc via hand, but due to an onset of a neural problem, I am loosing my ability to control pressure and all else that goes with it. The computer is my best hope. Sissy-Boogie, this has been my "home" for everything, I am glad to have fallen into the door, hope I don't wear my welcome. I too am kinda new, I have worked on computers for a long time, but on a regular office use and programming, this to me is a new journey. And this is the exact planet to land on. Again, hope those links helped, There is another one I have, but it is at work. If I remember, I will pass it along also. Have a great evening, and weekend. I can't wait for your accomplishment to come into light. Xeno66

I knew there were some level headed people in this forum somewhere, and I'm glad you have come to the aid of sissy-boogie with the imagination and knowhow to resolve her problems. Now that I have seen the pleasant side of the PS forum, I will definately come back and ask some questions of my own. Catlin

@Xeno66, try looking into the blend modes for the layer that houses the planet. If you want to drop out the black but don't want to cut out around the shape of your element, try the blend modes.

It's kinda' tough to explain, sometime today i'll post some samples to show examples.

PS has quite a few blend modes and they ALL effect your art differently when you change the order of your layers. This means the blend modes are impacted by the "underlying" colors of the images beneath the layer you've applied the blend mode to.

Two that may help in blending layers together are "Multipy" and "Screen". To better understand these, think of two photos on transparent slides. Multiply mode would produce the same effect as holding these slides up to a light. Because light has to travel through both slides it's invariably going to be a darker image. Screen mode would produces an effect that would seem as if you were projecting both images on seperate projectors but pointing them at the same screen. This gives a lighter image.

Out of them all, the one i like most is Overlay. It is one of PS's most practical modes! Overlay favors "composite" pixels, this means the blend mixes the colors evenly without eliminating any of the detail on either layer.

enough rambling!
i'll explain more later with images...

:)
retrocity

Put each Pic on seperate layers figure on should be on top (1) click on the layer you want to work on (1) select lasso and roughly draw it around the figure select quick mask, and using the brush tool paint the mask close to the figures edge deselect mask(you will see marching ants) Go to Select>inverse hit delete, and the background around the figure will be deleted select>deselect and the only thing on that layer should be the figure Or Put each Pic on seperate layers figure on should be on top (1) click on the layer you want to work on (1) Select layer you want to work on select magnify zooming on figure select eraser (use a reasonably small size eraser) carefully erase the background from around the figure once you have the area around the figure erased, you can change to a larger brush and erase the rest of the background. In Photoshop there are a least 10 different ways to do every thing, here are two.

Xeno66 you could use the "magic Wand" select the black, select>similar(if necessary) and delete.

Eliminate It! has three free filters for removing backgrounds.

Eliminate White
Eliminate Black
Red Prince Whitewash