Merging Layers: Blending Technique

This, like all the graphic techniques taught in this section, is done using PhotoShop 5

1. Open a new image.
2. Open two images that you want to blend together.
3. Drag the two images onto the new image, then discard the originals (to keep from getting confused.)
   
4. At this point, you will make personal choices on sizing - either making the images smaller, larger, or the same relative to each other. In this case, I opted for leaving the two images similar in size, and side-by-side, overlapping in the center.
5. Now at the bottom of the layers window, choose a mask for the top layer.
6. The colors in the toolbox will turn black/white. Choose a drawing tool (I like the Airbrush Tool, set with 35 pixel brush.)
7. Now with the Black color in foreground to remove, or the White color in foreground to put back, paint on mask to blend the two images.
8. Once you have your picture where you want it, you can play with different backgrounds.
9. Choose Select->All and then Inverse to work on the background only. Then choose Filters->. I used the Texture background (plus a secret other) to get the effect in my example.
   
10. With masks, you can add and subtract portions of the images without worrying about harming the original.