How to create stunning double exposures in Photoshop in a few very easy steps

Editor’s Note : Digital storyteller and friend of DIYP, Ted Chin has been guest posting on the official Photoshop Instagram account. This particular post is a fantastic double exposure tutorial, which Ted and Adobe have allowed us to share with you here on DIYP.  A simple technique with very effective results.

Hey guys! It’s Ted (@eye.c) here. Today I’m going to show you how to create a double exposure portrait in just few simple steps.

Using photos with simple backgrounds will help with the masking process.

First, open the portrait (base) photo in #Photoshop. We are going to mask the background out and create the double exposure effect with the shape of the model.

Use the magic wand tool (W), click and select the background. Go to Select -> hold the “shift” key and click “Select and Mask”.Smooth the edge with the “Refine Edge Tool”, then click ok.

Click on “Add a mask” then, “Create a new layer.”Move the new layer to the bottom of the portrait.Select the “Paint Bucket Tool”, or press “G”, and fill in the white background.

Paste the second image, and adjust the image with “Levels” (Ctrl + L). Make sure the adjustment layer is clipped to the second image only. We want to make sure the sky is bright/clean enough so it’s easier for selection.Hold (Ctrl + left click) on the portrait’s mask we created earlier, then create a new layer mask for the landscape photo.

Un-link the mask by clicking the symbol in between, and re-adjust the landscape photo to the way you prefer.

Duplicate the Portrait layer and move the copy to the top of the landscape layer. Then change the blending mode to “Lighten”.

I decided to add other elements (flowers) by using the same blending mode (Lighten) from the last step.

If you think the white background is too boring, you can try to add a different background, too.

And this is how you can create a simple double exposure portrait!

Editor’s Note : Many thanks to Ted and Adobe for allowing us to share this with our readers.

About the Author

Tec Chin says he can’t write well, so creates images instead. The art of story telling inspires him and he lives out his dreams through his work. You can find out more about Ted on his website, or follow his work on Instagram or Facebook.  This article was also published here and shared with permission.