The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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DifficultyAdvanced
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Length3.75 hours
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Videos9
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Description
This in depth tutorial is your easy entry point into the exciting world of image compositing! Learn how to understand light, angles, and color to ensure your photos blend flawlessly.
We’ll teach you how to cut, arrange, and blend objects seamlessly, making them look like they were always meant to be together. We’ll unlock the secrets of both traditional techniques and AI-powered tools to help you create composites that will amaze and inspire.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 17 Sample Images
- 8 Sample PSDs
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Table of Contents
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01 - Match Light & Color39:42m
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02 - Master Blending Modes20:25m
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03 - AI-Powered Storytelling18:39m
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Compositing Made Easy
MASTER LIGHT & COLOR
LEARN THE BASICS OF COMPOSITING
The Power of Compositing
Mastering the art of compositing unlocks a dynamic toolbox for both creative and professional endeavors. From subtly enhancing portraits to crafting evocative landscape composites, the ability to seamlessly merge multiple images will empower you to tackle creative challenges and elevate your visual storytelling.
Flawless Color Match
Create stunningly realistic composites by mastering color matching. Fine-tune shadows, mid-tones, and highlights individually for a vibrant and authentic blend. This meticulous approach not only enhances the photo’s realism but also seamlessly integrates elements, resulting in a cohesive and believable final image.
Master Cutouts & Selections
Forget tricky backgrounds! We’ll show you the easiest ways to cut out any object, simple or complex. Discover how automatic tools like “Select Subject” make it a breeze, and learn the secrets of traditional tools like the Lasso Tool and Magic Wand.
CREATE SEAMLESS COMPOSITES
BLENDING MODES EXPLAINED
From Beginner to PRO
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to polish your technique, this tutorial will cover everything you need to know. We’ll start with the building blocks, making sure you have a solid foundation, then we’ll dive into some cool tools, tips, and tricks to unlock your compositing superpowers!
Blending Modes Magic
Take your photos to the next level by exploring the power of Blending Modes! This tutorial unlocks a world of possibilities, from subtle enhancements to eye-catching compositions.
Easy Background Change
If you’re tired of bland backgrounds stealing the spotlight, this tutorial will show you how to easily transform them into vibrant scenes using Photoshop’s AI tool. Say goodbye to tedious selections, Generative Fill paints your vision with just a few clicks!
Imagine. Fill. Create.
Bring Your Vision to Life
Imagine adding anything you can dream of to your photos! AI Generative Fill lets you seamlessly fill in missing areas with realistic textures and patterns, opening up endless possibilities for creative expression.
AFTER
BEFORE
Words Into Pictures
Ready to paint with words? This tutorial shows you how to transform ordinary text into stunning visuals, adding or removing anything from your photos with the power of AI.
Reinvent Your Images
Learn how to turn ordinary photos into Wow-worthy scenes. Forget awkward cutting and pasting! We’ll break down the secrets of light, color, and perspective, showing you how to blend multiple pictures seamlessly for stunning results.
Create Seamless Shadows
Craving shadows that perfectly complement your scene? In this tutorial we’ll show you how to use Ai to create realistic, dynamic shadows that adapt to any light, making your composites shine.
AFTER
BEFORE
Expand & Explore
Photoshop’s Generative Expand tool opens whole new worlds of creative possibilities. Expand your images in any direction, add depth and dimension to scenes, and explore endless storytelling avenues. Let your imagination take flight and craft visuals that truly captivate and inspire!
Hands-On Learning
Master the art of compositing with our comprehensive toolkit! 17 sample images and 8 detailed PSDs let you deconstruct and rebuild, step by step, to create your unique masterpiece.
Magical Compositing Learning Path
If you love compositing, we recommend exploring our Magical Compositing Learning Path. From mastering light and color with stock images to exploring mind-bending creations by guest artists, this learning path empowers you to bring your wildest visions to life. Follow this link to access the Magical Compositing Learning Path.
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
View More Classes by Aaron Nace
Special thanks to 7Inchs, Khantushig Khosbayar, Ozan Çulha, Kássia Melo, Alex Sever, Alina Levkovich, Ahmad Basem, Edvin Richardson, The Earthy Jay, Willian Justen de Vasconcellos, Duy Le, Alexander Ant, Erik Schereder, Mathilde Langevin, Yemi Wallington, Leah Kelley, and Michael Kucharski. Images for this PRO course were sourced from Pexels.
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description
Learn how to place images into a new environments with Adobe Photoshop!. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to extract and incorporate shadows, highlights, and reflections for a realistic result. This class has everything you need: precise selection techniques, blend modes, opacity adjustments and more!
Artist Credit
- Karolina Grabowska
- Dibakar Roy
Images sourced from Pexels.
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AFTER
BEFORE
Crafting Shadows & Highlights
Realistic Visuals
It’s not uncommon to want to insert an image into a new environment, but to make it look truly authentic, copying shadows and highlights is key. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process to achieve this seamlessly.
Blend Your Image Into the New Environment
Let’s place the image inside a photo frame! First, we’ll import it into Photoshop and create a new layer. Then, let’s grab the Spot Healing Brush tool and remove any unwanted elements, like the matte area. We want to create a seamless fit, but don’t worry about being perfect yet! We’ll fine tune the details later on.
Placing the Image into the Frame
Before blending our image into the composite, we will convert it to a smart object to allow non-destructive editing. Using the Lasso Tool, we’ll select the area of the frame we want to use. Once you have positioned your image to your liking, create a Layer Mask and refine the edges to blend the image into the composite.
Recreating Realistic Highlights and Shadows
At this point, you may notice that your composite lacks the realistic lighting effects. The original image had highlights and shadows that spanned across the entire photo. To bring these essential elements back to your composite, you’ll need to extract the reflections, highlights, and shadows from the original background layer.
Start by zooming out and temporarily hiding your current image. If you’ve created an extra layer to hide certain elements like a matte effect, merge these layers to simplify your workspace. Select both layers, hold down “Shift,” and then press “Control” or “Command” + “E” to merge them.
Separating Highlights from Shadows
To work effectively with highlights and shadows, it’s essential to separate them. Luckily, the selection for your composite has already been made using the Polygonal Lasso tool, so there’s no need to redo it. Convert the layer mask into a selection by holding “Control” or “Command” and clicking on the layer mask. Now, the background layer is ready to be duplicated to create separate layers for highlights and shadows.
With the background layer selected, press “Control” or “Command” + “J” to duplicate it. Name this layer “Highlight” and repeat the process for the shadows, naming it appropriately.
Blending and Adjusting
Now, you want to blend the highlight layer with the composite. Set the highlight layer’s blend mode to “Screen”. This mode reveals the highlights and conceals the shadows.
However, it might appear too strong initially. To adjust the effect, we’ll utilize “Levels” to darken the darks (making them less visible) and lighten the lights on the highlight layer. To do this, press “Control” or “Command” + “L” to open the Levels dialog. Move the black point to the right, decreasing the visibility of the highlight layer, creating a more natural effect. You can adjust the opacity if needed.
For the shadow layer, set the blend mode to “Multiply,” revealing the shadows while hiding the highlights. Adjust this layer in a similar manner, tweaking the Levels to balance the effect.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to recreate the original lighting conditions, making your composite image appear remarkably realistic!
From refining your layer masks and extracting shadows and highlights to blending and adjusting layers, you now have the tools to make your compositions truly convincing. Remember, the key to creating seamless and authentic composites lies in meticulous attention to detail.
The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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DifficultyAdvanced
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Length4.5 hours
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Videos8
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Description
Learn the step-by-step process of creating a stunning conceptual composite in Photoshop. From cutting out subjects with precision to matching colors and lighting across multiple images, organizing complex composites, and adding realistic details, this tutorial covers it all!
If you’re ready to take things to the next level, in our bonus section, we’ll dive into the world of After Effects, where you’ll learn how to transform your Photoshop creation into a dynamic 3D scene.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 15 Sample Images
- 1 Reference Image
- 1 Sample PSD
- 1 Sample AE Project File
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Table of Contents
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01 - Organizing the Assets11:36m
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02 - Creating a Rough Layout41:54m
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03 - Match Light and Color39:48m
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04 - Integrating the Subject46:23m
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05 - Going into Detail38:00m
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06 - Fine-Tuning the Composite39:35m
Course Downloads
Master Conceptual Compositing
CREATE STUNNING EFFECTS
BLEND MULTIPLE IMAGES
From Rough Draft to Refined Masterpiece
We’ll show you why it’s important to start with a rough composite. This will allow you to easily position and outline the relationships between objects, saving you time by avoiding unnecessary attention to minor details.
Cutting Out Subjects
We’ll introduce you to the fastest, most efficient methods to remove both simple and complex subjects from their backgrounds. You’ll explore automatic tools like the Select Subject feature, and more traditional tools like the Object Selection Tool, the Magic Wand Tool, the Lasso Tool and the Brush Tool.
Matching Color Like a Pro
Matching color and lighting across multiple images is essential for creating convincing composite images. We’ll show you how to use the Levels Adjustment Layer and the Color Balance Adjustment Layer to unify images taken at different times of day under diverse lighting conditions.
FINAL COMPOSITE
ORIGINAL BACKGROUND
Hands-On Learning
Get ready for an awesome learning experience! This tutorial includes 15 sample images and a detailed PSD file, all available for download. These assets are your guide, so you can follow along step by step and create your very own masterpiece.
Go at Your Own Pace
Enjoy a smooth learning experience and become a pro at your own rhythm! Dive into easy-to-follow, step-by-step sections that allow you to absorb the material comfortably. Whether you tackle one section or multiple in one sitting, you have the freedom to learn as it suits you best.
Advanced Compositing Learning Path
If you love compositing, we recommend exploring our Magical Compositing Learning Path. From mastering light and color with stock images to exploring mind-bending creations by guest artists, and even discovering some of our most classic composites, this learning path empowers you to bring your wildest visions to life. Follow this link to access the Magical Compositing Learning Path.
Bring Your Composite to Life
Create a Parallax Effect from Scratch
Whether you’re creating a simple animation or a complex visual effect, Photoshop and After Effects have the tools you need to make it happen.
GET CREATIVE WITH AFTER EFFECTS
Stunning Moving Scenes
Combine Photoshop and After Effects to create stunning moving scenes. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to export assets from a Photoshop project, bring them into After Effects, and then create silky-smooth motion and parallax effects.
After Effects Basics
Are you a Photoshop pro who’s never used After Effects? This course is for you! We’ll teach you the basics of After Effects, including how to organize projects, and work with a wide variety of images and assets.
Create with Ease
We’ve got everything you need to dive into the world of animation. Included in your downloads you’ll find both 18 PNG images needed and the After Effects Project File. And guess what? Our easy-to-follow tutorial will walk you through the process of creating a truly mesmerizing animation!
ORGANIZE YOUR FILES EFFICIENTLY
BLEND IMAGES SEAMLESSLY
Organizing Your Assets
We’ll teach you how to manage complex Photoshop compositions with multiple layers, groups, and adjustments. You’ll learn how to segment your images into foreground, mid-ground, and background, and how to maintain a high level of organization. You’ll also learn advanced Photoshop organization tips that will help you work more efficiently and facilitate future changes.
Blending Images Together
Compositing images can be a bit tricky, but we’re here to help! We’ll show you how to use techniques like the smudge tool to add depth and cohesion to your images, so that the viewer’s eye is drawn right to the subject.
Adding the Final Touches
Adding the finishing touches to a composite image can truly elevate its beauty. We’ll guide you through the process of enhancing your subject with captivating details, such as achieving the appearance of realistic backlit hair in an underwater setting.
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
View More Classes by Aaron Nace
Special thanks to Guillaume Meurice, Francesco Ungaro, 7inchs, TSvetlana Obysova, Olya Harytovich, Wendy Wei, John Cahil Rom, Ron Lach, Tembela Bohle, Engin Akyurt, and Saad Alaiyadhi. Images for this PRO course were sourced from Pexels.
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The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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DifficultyAdvanced
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Length3.25 hours
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Videos8
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Software
Description
Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of compositing! Discover the art of seamlessly blending a person into a brand new background. Unveil some awesome techniques such as shadow blending and color matching that will take your final creation to a whole new level of realism.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 7 Sample Images
- 1 Sample PSD
- 1 Photoshop Brush
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Table of Contents
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01 - Compositing Essentials Unveiled17:15m
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02 - Mastering Subject Integration24:21m
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03 - Crafting the Perfect Reflection29:16m
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04 - Refining Layers20:12m
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05 - Captivating Light Effects39:49m
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06 - Magical Northern Lights22:52m
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07 - Adding the Final Touches32:10m
Course Downloads
Compositing Magic Unleashed
INTO ONE BEAUTIFUL SCENE
COMBINE SEVEN IMAGES
Advanced Compositing in Photoshop
Compositing is what we do best, and we’re here to help you unlock the full potential of this technique to create extraordinary visuals. Discover the art of seamlessly blending multiple images into a surreal and captivating composition using Photoshop.
Expand your Skillset
Master essential tools like Levels, Clipping Masks, Smart Objects, and Custom Photoshop Brushes to develop a seamless workflow for combining multiple images. Gain precise control over the elements you’re compositing and elevate your images to the next level.
Use Stock Images
Don’t let the complexity of compositing hinder your progress, especially when it comes to finding the right images for your creation. Our tutorial includes all the necessary images, saving you valuable time and effort.
FINAL COMPOSITE
ORIGINAL BACKGROUND
Complete PSD File
We don’t just show you how to create this stunning image, we include our own completed PSD file for you to explore and reverse-engineer. See how a pro organizes and structures a project to be able to work quickly and non-destructively.
Photoshop Brush
Using brushes in Photoshop is essential for adding artistic touches, creating unique effects, and enhancing your digital artwork. This course includes our custom Photoshop Brush for you to use and keep forever!
Compositing Learning Path
To comfortably navigate through this course, it’s necessary to have some familiarity with Photoshop and experience in compositing. If you’re new to compositing, we recommend exploring our Compositing Learning Path—a curated selection of our top-notch compositing courses that will guide you from beginner to expert. Follow this link to access the Compositing Learning Path.
Put Your Imagination to Work
Seven Photos, One Masterpiece
Join us in creating an awe-inspiring scene by blending seven stunning free stock images into a seamless and visually striking composite!
AFTER
BEFORE
Perfect Color Match
Craft a convincing composite image by flawlessly matching colors. Dive into the world of adjusting colors separately for shadows, mid-tones, and highlights to achieve an authentic and vibrant color blend that brings your composition to life.
The Power of Artificial Intelligence
With AI-powered tools, you can now achieve precise and accurate selections with just a few clicks, saving you valuable time and effort. Say goodbye to tedious manual selection techniques and embrace the convenience of AI for seamless subject extraction in Photoshop.
Sky Replacement
Learn how to easily swap out the sky in your images with a different sky from another photograph. Discover techniques and tools that enable you to smoothly integrate a new sky, effortlessly transforming the mood and atmosphere of your photos.
CREATE TEXTURES LIKE A PRO
BLEND IMAGES SEAMLESSLY
Texture Integration
Creating textures plays a vital role when blending multiple images in Photoshop. Textures add depth, realism, and cohesion to the final composite, helping to seamlessly integrate various elements.
Efficient Workflow
With almost 15 years of experience under his belt, Aaron Nace has mastered a smooth and efficient compositing workflow. Get ready to learn how to work smart, solve creative challenges, and make the most of various tools to nail your compositing projects.
Mastering Photo Compositing
Once you finish this course, try one of our other advanced compositing courses like Advanced Compositing with Stock Photos and Advanced Compositing with Stock Photos 2!
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
View More Classes by Aaron Nace
Special thanks to Eberhard Grossgasteiger, Joshimer Biñas, Stephan Seeber, Tobias Bjørkli, and Zayceva Tatiana. Images for this PRO course were sourced from Pexels.
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The Power of AI: Creating Graphics in Midjourney and Compositing Them into Portraits in Photoshop
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Discover how to create stunning composite images using AI-generated backgrounds and portraits in Photoshop. Join Mid Journey’s Discord server to generate custom backgrounds, then follow our step-by-step tutorial to seamlessly merge the images and enhance your final result. Unleash your creativity with AI and Photoshop today!
Stock Images
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AFTER
BEFORE
Unlocking Mid-Journey Graphics’ Secrets
In this tutorial, we will learn how to use artificial intelligence to create a background for a portrait and composite the two images together in Photoshop. We’ll be utilizing an AI-powered platform called Mid Journey on Discord to generate the background and then merge it with our existing portrait.
Step 1: Join Mid Journey’s Discord server
First, join the Mid Journey Discord server by visiting their website at midjourney.com and clicking on the Discord icon. Follow the instructions to join the server and access the AI background generation bot.
Step 2: Create an AI-generated background on Discord
Interact with the Mid Journey bot by following the instructions provided in the server. Customize the colors, textures, and patterns to suit your preferences. Once you are satisfied with the background, the bot will generate a high-resolution image. Download this image to your computer.
Step 3: Open both images in Photoshop
Open both the portrait and the AI-generated background images in Photoshop. Make sure both images have the same dimensions or resize them accordingly.
Step 4: Prepare the portrait
Before combining the images, remove the original white background from the portrait. Use the “Select Subject” feature in Photoshop by going to Select > Subject. This will automatically create a selection around the subject. Then, add a layer mask to hide the selected background.
Step 5: Refine the selection
Refine the edges of the subject in the portrait to ensure a seamless blend with the new background. You can use the Select and Mask workspace to achieve this. Adjust the settings, such as feathering and contrast, to make the edges look more natural.
Step 6: Combine the images
Drag the AI-generated background layer below the portrait layer in the Layers panel. Use the Move tool to adjust the position and alignment of the background as needed.
Step 7: Enhance the composite
Add any necessary adjustments to improve the overall appearance of the composite. You may use adjustment layers such as Curves, Levels, or Hue/Saturation to balance the colors and tones. Additionally, you can apply filters and blending modes to further enhance the final result.
Step 8: Save the final image
Once you are satisfied with the composite, save the final image in your desired format, such as JPEG or TIFF. Make sure to save a PSD version as well, to preserve the layers for future edits.
The Mid Journey AI-powered platform makes it easier than ever to create custom backgrounds for your portraits and composite the images together in Photoshop. With these techniques, you can unlock endless possibilities and take your creative vision to the next level.
The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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DifficultyEasy
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Length2.25 hours
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Videos6
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Software
Description
Have you been looking for a way to get into the fun and creative world of compositing? Well, free stock photos are all you need!
Follow along as we show you how to find and choose the best free stock images for compositing. Learn how to analyze lighting, color, and perspective to find images that will blend together seamlessly.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 21 Sample Images
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Course Downloads
Choose Photos for Seamless Composites
Choose Photos for Compositing
There are a lot of ways to approach compositing. You can cut a person out of their background and place them in a new environment. Or you can create your own alien worlds. No matter what your goals are, all compositing has one thing in common: Photoshop can’t do it all. You need the right collection of photos to pull off a realistic final image.
Find Free Stock Images
This course is all about using free stock photos to create your own composite images. No photoshoots required! But finding the right stock photos can still be a challenge. We show you what to look for when choosing images for a composite so that everything will blend together perfectly.
Compositing in Photoshop
We want you to feel comfortable creating your own composites anywhere and at any time. Learn some of the basics of combining images in Photoshop, from making selections to matching light and color. Then, when you’re ready to level up your game, check out one of our more in-depth compositing courses like Photoshop Compositing: Essential Tools & Techniques and Intro to Photoshop Compositing for Beginners.
See Light, Color & Perspective
To make great composites, you’ll need to be able to analyze and identify differences in light, color, perspective, and even camera settings and equipment (like lenses). Learn how to see images in light and perspective so that you can quickly determine if they’ll work well together in the same scene.
Choosing Subjects & Backgrounds
The simplest composites will consist of a subject, a person or object that the viewer can focus on, and a background. We show you how to find subjects and backgrounds that will work together, taking into account the lighting, the perspective, depth of field, and more.
Composites From Scratch
We hope this course will inspire you to start creating your own composites from scratch! Using free stock images and your newly-trained eye, you’ll be able to find photos that will work together perfectly.
Analyze Light & Perspective
What Works, What Doesn’t
We don’t just show you what works when choosing images, we also show what doesn’t work. Through multiple examples, we demonstrate what image characteristics help to make great composites, what can be acceptable, and even some examples that lead to obvious and unrealistic results.
Planning Your Composites
Once the images are chosen, you’ll still need a plan to start pulling them all together. Follow along as we create a composite image from start to finish, integrating a subject, a background, and even text and graphics.
Quick Selections
When planning and testing images out for a composite, it’s important to be able to work quickly to see what’s going to work and what won’t. We show you how to use powerful Photoshop tools and techniques to make quick work of selections, lighting, and color adjustments so you don’t waste any time.
Free Stock Image Websites
There are a lot of great resources out there to find both paid and free stock photos. We use services like Pexels and Unsplash, which have a huge variety of images from great artists and photographers all over the world.
Matching the Subject to the Background
The background of a composite will often inform a lot of the decisions you make about what subjects will work in the scene. Learn how to find subjects that fit in with the perspective and natural lighting of the background.
Basic Compositing Techniques
Not only do we show you how to choose photos, we walk you through some of the basic tools and techniques you’ll need to cut subjects out, adjust color and exposure, line up horizons, and more!
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
Reviews
The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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Add to
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DifficultyAdvanced
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Length2.75 hours
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Videos6
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Software
Description
We’ve received such great response about Advanced Compositing with Stock Images that we’re back for round two!
Follow along and transform 8 free stock images into an epic science fiction scene. Learn how to combine multiple photos together, create sci-fi lightning and disintegration effects, and match light and color for a seamless final image. But best of all, we show that you all you need are some free stock photos and some Photoshop savvy to unlock your creativity!
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 8 Sample Images
- 2 Photoshop Brushes
- 1 Sample PSD
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Course Downloads
Fantasy Worlds With Free Stock Photos
Create Composites Using Only Stock Photos
Looking for a new project? We’re here to show you that you can get creative at any time using free stock images and your Photoshop skills. Learn how to take a group of photos and use powerful compositing tools to combine them together to make your own fantasy worlds and scenes.
Light, Color & Perspective
Learn how to match lighting, color, and perspective between multiple photos to create a seamless composite image. Use Adjustment Layers to adjust exposure, change colors, and even check to make sure elements from multiple images match perfectly in the scene. New to compositing? Learn the fundamental of matching light and color in Intro to Photoshop Compositing for Beginners.
Create Depth
We show you how to composite mountains from one image into the background of another, adding atmosphere, lighting, and coloring so that they realistically fit the landscape. And if you haven’t already, be sure to watch the original Advanced Compositing With Stock Images in Photoshop. By the end of both courses, you’ll be a master of crafting your very own fantasy worlds.
Rock & Cloud Photoshop Brushes
We include 2 custom-made Photoshop Brushes that will allow you to create photo-realistic clouds and fog, and surreal disintegration effects. Best of all, we walk you through the process of creating these Brushes so that the next time you need a stunning special effect, you’ll know how to make it yourself.
Amazing Sci-Fi Effects
Learn how to create dazzling lightning and lighting effects, disintegration effects, and even a sci-fi city! We break down the process step-by-step, showing you how to layer multiple images and effects for a balanced and realistic fantasy scene.
Professional Photoshop Skills
While we’re working on creating a fun image in this course, these tools and techniques are the same ones that professional artists and creatives use on daily basis. Learn how to analyze and modify light, make precise cutouts and selections, seamlessly blend different photos together, and add beautiful coloring.
Lightning & Disintegration Effects
Clouds, Fog & Atmosphere
Create realistic clouds, fog, and atmosphere with the included PHLEARN-made Photoshop Brushes. Great tools for adding depth and dimension to any photograph–and they’re yours to keep and use forever.
Learn About Check Layers
Check Layers are tools that we’ve developed to help with the compositing process. More specifically, they’re special Adjustment Layers that we use to help match luminosity, saturation, and hue across multiple different images. We show you how to create and use Check Layers in Photoshop which will help you create seamless, ultra-realistic composite photos!
Color Grading
Once the compositing is complete, color grading is how we tie it all together. Learn how to add beautiful coloring effects that will help put the finishing touches on a composite image while adding richness and realism to the scene.
8 Stock Photos Included
Is it possible to create a complete science fiction world with just 8 free stock images? You bet! Watch and see for yourself as we take a small collection of free stock photos (from some great artists on Unsplash.com) and composite them together to create a scene that’s out-of-this-world.
Sample PSD
Not only do we show you how to create a beautiful scene in Photoshop, we also provide the complete PSD file so that you can see how a professional artist assembles and organizes their work. Take a look at how the entire image was created, with every Layer, adjustment, and effect available for you to see.
Master Photoshop Compositing
We love compositing in Photoshop! So much so that it’s become a pillar of our course catalog here on PHLEARN. If you’re new to the craft, we recommend trying some of the courses that break down the fundamentals. Try Photoshop Compositing: Essential Tools & Techniques to level up your compositing skills!
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
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Details
9 Courses
33+ Hours
Medium
Welcome to our Magical Compositing Learning Path, where imagination meets reality! Get ready to embark on a creative journey as we delve into the art of compositing. From mastering light and color with stock images to exploring mind-bending creations by guest artists, and even discovering some of our most classic composites, this learning path empowers you to bring your wildest visions to life.
Join us as we unlock the secrets of advanced compositing and unleash your creative potential!
Crafting Wonder Worlds
Master image compositing! Learn to blend photos, match light & color, and create stunning composites with AI and traditional tools.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 3.75 hours | 9 videos
17 Sample Images | 8 Sample PSDs
Ready to dive into the world of creating conceptual artwork in Photoshop? Our tutorial covers everything you need to know, from mastering subject cutouts and harmonizing color and lighting in multiple images to even crafting a captivating parallax animation in After Effects.
Photoshop, After Effects | Compositing | Advanced | 4.5 hours | 8 videos
15 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD | 1 Sample AE Project File
Learn how to create stunning nature composite using only free stock image assets and some Photoshop savvy.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 2.75 hours | 6 videos
6 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD | 2 Photoshop Brushes
Guest Artists Showcase
Learn portrait retouching, background retouching, and creative compositing from fine art and fashion photographer, Rob Woodcox! And along the way, Rob gives valuable insight into his process and how to run a successful creative business!
Photoshop | Compositing | Medium | 6 hours | 24 videos
66 Sample Images
Natalia Seth is a creative force of nature. Follow along as she guides through creating four extraordinary self-portraits, teaching compositing, retouching, and stylistic coloring.
Photoshop | Compositing | Medium | 4.25 hours | 23 videos
21 Sample Images | 14 Photoshop LUTs | 2 Lightroom Presets | 1 Photoshop Action
Learn to create stunning composite images using just your phone. Join mobile artist Elise Swopes as she guides you through multiple apps, shares her creative vision, and discusses building her online business.
Lightroom | Compositing | Medium | 3 hours | 19 videos
13 Sample Images | 1 PDF Guide
PHLEARN’s Classics
Create a sci-fi themed composite from start to finish. Learn how to photograph with a composite in mind. Then jump into Photoshop to build a background, create elements from scratch, and integrate subjects into the environment.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 4.25 hours | 12 videos
24 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action | 7 Photoshop Brushes
Compositing in Photoshop allows you to create impossible scenes. In this tutorial, we blend reality with fantasy as we teach you how to combine multiple exposures, composite a background, create light sources, and focus your viewer’s attention.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 3 hours | 2 videos
9 Sample Images | 3 Photoshop Brushes | 1 Photoshop Action
Learn how to calculate advanced perspectives, create shadows, cut out subjects, and add light sources to an image. We also cover how to photograph and composite your subjects into a new background so they really stand out.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 3.25 hours | 7 videos
20 Sample Images | 4 Photoshop Brushes | 1 Photoshop Action
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The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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Length5 hours
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You don’t need expensive gear or complicated photoshoots to create beautiful works of art in Photoshop! Follow along as we show you how to use advanced compositing techniques to combine 19 free stock images into an out-of-this-world fantasy scene.
Learn how to cut out objects from their background, match light and color between images taken in different environments, create realistic depth and atmosphere, and more!
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 19 Sample Images
- 1 Sample PSD
- 4 Photoshop Brushes
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Table of Contents
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01 - Building the Background28:58m
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02 - Cutting Out the Mountains26:06m
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03 - Using the Rock Brush19:50m
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04 - Cutting out Tree Detail13:18m
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05 - Painting Vines23:46m
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06 - Additional Texture36:01m
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07 - Balancing Light Levels18:48m
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08 - Adding Clouds35:38m
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09 - Adding Birds17:36m
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10 - Color Tone and Dodge and Burn43:48m
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11 - Blur and Final Touches22:44m
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LEARN MORE COMPOSITING SKILLS
Create a Fantasy Landscape From Scratch
Create Your Own Fantasy Landscape
It’s one thing to create an epic fantasy scene in Photoshop. It’s another thing entirely to do it using only free stock photos. Learn how to seamlessly combine 19 different images together, while perfectly matching light, color, and perspective.
Advanced Compositing with Stock Images
If you know PHLEARN, you know that we love creating conceptual composite images in Photoshop. But a lot of other courses, like The Beginners Guide to Levitation and How to Create an Epic Composite, involved multiple photoshoots using high-end photography gear. So what if we told you that you can make your own works of art using only free stock photos? Well, it’s possible! And we’re here to show you how.
Match Light & Color
The biggest challenge of using stock images for a composite is that, most of the time, the lighting and color in each photo will be different. If we want our final image to look like everything was photographed in the same scene, we need tools and techniques to help tie it all together. Learn how to use advanced Photoshop tools like Curves, Levels, Gradient Maps, and Check Layers to seamlessly match light and color between any number of images.
Foreground, Midground, Background
The best images build depth by having elements in the foreground, midground, and background. We show you how to create the illusion of depth using light, color, and atmospheric effects so that you can build your own photorealistic worlds.
Rock & Vine Photoshop Brushes
When you’re going for a particular special effect, making your own custom Photoshop Brushes can save you time while delivering realistic results. For a floating island effect, we needed rocks and vines to clean up Layer Masks and to help tie different elements together. Learn how to create and use specialized custom Photoshop Brushes for amazing special effects!
Amazing Sci-Fi Effects
Misty mountains. Floating islands. Strange, new worlds. Learn how to create realistic special effects that you can use to create your own science fiction and fantasy scenes. If you’re looking for more fun and challenging projects like this, try How to Create a Parallax Effect in Photoshop & After Effects.
Professional Photoshop Skills
While we’re working on creating a fun image in this course, these tools and techniques are the same ones that professional artists and creatives use on daily basis. Learn how to analyze and modify light, make precise cutouts and selections, seamlessly blend different photos together, and add beautiful coloring.
Out-of-this-World Photoshop Techniques
Clouds, Fog & Atmosphere
Create realistic clouds, fog, and atmosphere with the included PHLEARN-made Photoshop Brushes. Great tools for adding depth and dimension to any photograph–and they’re yours to keep and use forever.
Learn About Check Layers
Check Layers are tools that we’ve developed to help with the compositing process. More specifically, they’re special Adjustment Layers that we use to help match luminosity, saturation, and hue across multiple different images. We show you how to create and use Check Layers in Photoshop which will help you create seamless, ultra-realistic composite photos!
Color Grading
Once the compositing is complete, color grading is how we tie it all together. Learn how to add beautiful coloring effects that will help put the finishing touches on a composite image while adding richness and realism to the scene.
19 Stock Photos Included
All 19 stock photos used to create this scene are included with the course! That means that you’ll have everything you need to start learning and creating right away. You can even customize your work with other free stock images! We recommend using websites like Pexels and Unsplash to find free assets captured by brilliant artists and photographers.
Sample PSD
Not only do we show you how to create a beautiful scene in Photoshop, we also provide the complete PSD file so that you can see how a professional artist assembles and organizes their work. Take a look at how the entire image was created, with every Layer, adjustment, and effect available for you to see.
Master Photoshop Compositing
We love compositing in Photoshop! So much so that it’s become a pillar of our course catalog here on PHLEARN. If you’re new to the craft, we recommend trying some of the courses that break down the fundamentals. Try Photoshop Compositing: Essential Tools & Techniques, and Intro to Photoshop Compositing for Beginners to level up your compositing skills!
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder – Class Instructor
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
Reviews
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Just stunning! Thank you! So many subtle learning points that its a must re-watch again and again. Simply the best tutorials on the net. I’m hooked. 🙂 key points on tools and grouping etc. would be great as a set of notes to accompany the tutorials.
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I really enjoyed this tutorial. Thank you for all the information, techniques, and especially the free to watch! I appreciated your teaching style, humor and the relaxed atmosphere. Once again, many thanks!
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So much amazing, practical and useful information, well presented and structured. Your tutorials are helping me develop my photoshop skills and to learn new ways of manipulating images. Thank you.
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It´s an amazing course, full of tips and really cool PS features. Everytime I come to Phlearn I always get amazed by how much I realize this powerfull program can do.
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Always love Aaron’s tutorials and this one is no exception. Much appreciated, thank you!
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I am not a compositing artist, but I have seen some of the earlier Phlearn tutorials. This one by Aaron takes it up a notch – to a new level. Take your time to watch this tutorial, because there are some excellent tips and suggestions that he throws in along the way. Watch his process carefully. You will learn a lot from this. And, his style of delivering the tutorial is fantastic. Excellent
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Awesome!!! I learned so much watching this demo. Knew about clipping mask but didn’t realize the range of options available. Color balance was very informative also. Thank you!!
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While I primarily use PS to colorize B&W photos of WW II aircraft and crews and railroad images I found the whole process amazing. I’ve always wondered what one of your complete tutorials would look like so I appreciate the opportunity to review this one. Unfortunately the fact that I am a 78 year old retiree living on a fixed income and just doing this type of work as a hobbyist precludes me from investing in your program. Still, I am convinced that anyone who is serious about PS would benefit from your teaching. Thank you so much for making this tutorial available. the finished product is amazing!
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What a great tutorial. So much information. The image was not zoomed enough for me on some of the painting and adding textures. I really could not “see” what you were doing. I think if you really zoom in when you were working on the teeny parts, I would have been able to enjoy it even more! Thank you so much for making this available!
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Thank you for all your great tutorials! I always learn something new or another way of doing something that may create a better effect. Five stars for sure.
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Thanks a lot for this fantastic tutorial. and apart of your Ps knowledge, for your didactic qualities. With so many object in the composite, I noticed how many times you searched the layer you wanted to work on, I got the idea of adding a temporary text layer above each object of the composite with a number corresponding to the name of the group of the object: maybe it could help.
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Thanks for the tutorial. I really enjoyed it. Sometimes I thought you went into too much detail but I ended up learning more than I knew when I began. Good Job!!!!
Download Sample Images
Click the link below to download the sample images and follow along with this tutorial.
DownloadTutorial Description
Fine art and fashion photographer Rob Woodcox is here to share his creative skills with you! Watch and follow along as he pulls together one of his most popular images. You’ll learn how to create a levitation composite in Photoshop from photos that were all taken in a single location and using only natural light!
If you want to learn even more about how Rob creates his extraordinary images, check out our PRO tutorial Fine Art Compositing with Rob Woodcox! Join Rob as he recreates four stunning composite images, sharing professional techniques for blending images together, retouching people and environments, and creating beautiful compositions. Best of all, he offers valuable insight into how he shot each image and how he continues to grow and maintain his creative business.
Make sure you follow Rob on Instagram and see if he’s coming to a city near you for an hands-on workshop!
Fine Art Compositing
Rob’s work communicates powerful messages of unity, identity, and the importance of human interaction. Combining locations that are both beautiful and interesting, with expressive models and subjects, he is able to fuse people and places to create stunning scenes.
Rob talks about his inspirations, how he develops his ideas, and how he uses Photoshop to bring it all to life.
Retouching, Compositing & Composition
Over the past ten years Rob has traveled the world, creating beautiful images of the people and places he’s explored. That experience has helped him develop a strong and efficient workflow for compositing, retouching, and sharing his work with the world.
Learn techniques for capturing both a subject and location at the same time and using the same natural light source. This allows for easier compositing later when pulling all of the elements together into Photoshop. Rob is also a master of composition, always finding interesting ways to place his subjects into the surrounding environment. See his process in action as he talks through how he comes up with such creative scenes and powerful composition.
The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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DifficultyMedium
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Length6 hours
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Videos24
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description
Rob Woodcox is a fine art and fashion photographer whose work explores identity, human interaction, and his own personal experiences. Follow along as Rob recreates four of his most extraordinary images in Photoshop!
Learn detailed portrait retouching, background retouching, and how to seamlessly blend multiple images together. Along the way, Rob gives valuable insight into his photographic process and how to run a successful creative business!
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 66 Sample Images
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Table of Contents
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01 - What You'll Learn2:05m
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02 - Get to Know Rob Woodcox21:11m
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03 - Building a Business with Fine Art Photography20:39m
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01 - Creating Desert Spirits9:37m
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02 - Merge Backround25:40m
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03 - Clothing & Background Retouching11:43m
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04 - Color & Contrast9:53m
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01 - Creating Heavenly Creature8:47m
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02 - Merge Backround19:48m
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03 - Background Retouching & Gradient15:29m
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04 - Skin & String Retouching21:30m
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05 - Dodge & Burn10:03m
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06 - Color & Contrast10:29m
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01 - Creating The Wave9:58m
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02 - Merge Background6:16m
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03 - Cut Out Models for Composition17:43m
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04 - Compose Models16:05m
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05 - Color & Contrast10:03m
Course Downloads
Fine Art Compositing in Photoshop
Fine Art Compositing
Rob Woodcox is a photographer that strives to put meaning and intention into every image he creates. Learn about his process for developing ideas and then see how he pulls all the pieces together in Photoshop using professional compositing techniques.
Blending Images in Photoshop
Learn how to use compositing to solve problems and create surreal scenes. Rob demonstrates his compositing techniques for merging multiple photos together to create a full-frame look and for placing subjects into a new background or environment.
Professional Retouching
As a portrait and fashion photographer, Rob excels at subtle retouching that reduces distractions while highlighting a subject’s natural beauty. Through 4 examples, you’ll learn techniques for retouching clothing, skin, hair, and even backgrounds!
Workflow on-the-go
As a traveling photographer, Rob needs a workflow that helps him complete projects quickly and while using as little hard drive space as possible. See his tricks for working more efficiently on-the-go while preserving precious storage space on the computer.
Composition
Composition is one of the key ingredients to making powerful images. Now you can learn the art of composing a frame from one of the best. Analyze locations, shapes, and model poses to create the perfect composition in Photoshop.
Reconstruct Backgrounds
Photoshoot locations aren’t always perfect, but that’s why we have Photoshop. Follow along as we work through several examples where backgrounds need to be cleaned up, extended, and even have sections completely rebuilt!
Creative Retouching & Compositing
Follow along with step-by-step instruction
Learn from pro photographer Rob Woodcox
Art & Business
Learn how to turn your creativity and passions into a way of life. Rob Woodcox shares his professional experience, creative process, and how he brings it all together in Photoshop.
Color & Contrast
Color is a powerful tool that can help you tell better stories with your photos. Learn the art of making color adjustments in Photoshop, while taking full advantage of the natural colors already present in an image.
From Passion to Business
Turn your creativity and ideas into a full-fledged photography business with the skills and advice offered in this tutorial. Learn a professional’s approach to coming up with concepts and bringing them to life in Photoshop.
Photoshoot Overview
Rob sits down with Aaron Nace to discuss some of the photoshoots and some of the challenges involved in capturing these images. Hear great advice on planning, overcoming obstacles, and how to be as resourceful as possible when bringing an idea to life.
Warp & Liquify
Rob loves to work with interesting shapes and geometry. And oftentimes he needs to reshape a subject or environment to fit the form that he’s looking for. Learn how to use the Liquify and Transform tools to make subtle changes to shapes and perspective to create the perfect composition.
Creative Inspiration
If you’ve been looking for some inspiration to spark your next project, you just might find it here! See how Rob takes simple captures of models and locations, then combines them in Photoshop to create stunning scenes.
Meet Rob Woodcox
From subtle retouching to surreal compositing, learn how Rob creates stunning works of art in Photoshop. Best of all, we sit down with Rob to discuss his life, his business, and how he captured each of these amazing images.
Class Instructor
Rob Woodcox
Fine Art & Fashion Photographer – Instagram – Website – Art Book
Rob Woodcox is a fine art and fashion photographer currently splitting time between Mexico City, Los Angeles and New York City. Rob’s passion for photography has developed into a dedication for advocacy and making strained voices heard. Rob has produced projects raising consciousness and conversation around the US foster system and adoption, queer identity, body positivity and racial diversity. Having been adopted as a child and interacting often with the foster care system, Rob creates from a unique perspective, finding hope in the human connection and the will to overcome negative constructs within our complex societies. Rob has taught thousands of students in over 15 countries and 25 cities worldwide- he has taught over 80 workshops to date. He has worked for clients such as Universal Pictures and Capitol Records and has been published in many top level media outlets internationally. Rob’s main passion is sharing creativity and inspiration with others, he is thrilled to be a part of the Phlearn community.
Reviews
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Rob is very straightforward and easy to understand. Learned quite a lot from his tutorial
The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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Add to
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DifficultyMedium
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Length4.25 hours
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Videos23
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Description
Natalia Seth is a creative force of nature. With over 200,000 followers on Instagram, people all around the world are inspired by her colorful and imaginative images. Follow along as she guides you through creating four of her most popular self-portraits in Photoshop.
Learn how to combine multiple images, retouch portraits, apply creative coloring, and get valuable insight into her success on one of the most popular social media platforms.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 21 Sample Images
- 14 Photoshop LUTs
- 2 Lightroom Presets
- 1 Photoshop Action
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Table of Contents
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01 - Cleaning Up the Background8:21m
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02 - Adding the Bird11:27m
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03 - Dodge & Burn6:32m
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04 - Coloring10:26m
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01 - Extending & Lightening the Background11:56m
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02 - Retouching5:19m
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03 - Drawing the Strings12:45m
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04 - Coloring6:18m
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01 - Extending the Background & Removing Distractions4:43m
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02 - Retouching9:53m
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03 - Converting to Black & White6:50m
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04 - Retouching the Hand & the Background17:35m
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05 - Coloring the Eye9:09m
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06 - Adding Paint Splashes20:45m
Course Downloads
Magic & Imagination
Color & Compositing
Natalia is known for making impossible scenes full of color and energy. You’ll see her creative process end-to-end, from realistically combining multiple photos together, to her approach for applying stylistic color.
Blend Images in Photoshop
Combining images is some of the most fun you can have in Photoshop. We break down the principles of blending multiple images, from creating realistic scale and perspective to matching highlights and shadows. See the entire process from cutout to finished composite.
Color Toning
Learn how to color an image using a combination of LUTs and Lightroom Presets to dial in a look perfect for any photo. Follow along as Natalia demonstrates her coloring process, applying multiple layers of color and experimenting until she finds a combination that fits the mood of an image.
Tips & Techniques
Learn how to make quick and accurate cutouts, apply subtle dodging & burning, and combine multiple images realistically into the same scene. This tutorial covers a lot of ground and will have you feeling like a Photoshop pro in no time.
Portrait Retouching
You only need yourself and a camera to start making great images. See how Natalia pulls together surreal self-portraits using easy-to-find props and some Photoshop knowhow. Learn how to quickly combine photos and master the fundamentals of portrait retouching like blemish removal and dodging &a burning.
Surreal Composites
Animals. Paint splashes. Impossible objects. If you can imagine it, Photoshop can make it a reality. Learn how to combine multiple images to create unforgettable scenes. Natalia breaks down her techniques for cutting out objects and placing them realistically into a new background.
Colors that Pop
Photoshop LUTs
LUTs (or Color Lookup Tables) are advanced color presets in Photoshop. We include 14 custom looks fine-tuned by Natalia that can be used on their own or combined to create colors that pop. Use these LUTs on your own photos and use them as a base to create your own unique style.
Photoshop Actions & Lightroom Presets
In addition to LUTs, we include custom Lightroom Presets designed by Natalia to help you get the best possible color out of your RAW images. And you can speed up your retouching workflow with our custom Dodge & Burn Photoshop Action, perfect for adding shape and definition to the subject of a photo.
Creative Photoshop Ideas
We all hit a creative wall from time to time. Seeing how someone else pulls together their fantastic ideas can help. Hear how Natalia comes up with her concepts and how she brings it all together through both photography and post-production in Photoshop. x
Instagram Influencer
If you’re a visual artist, Instagram is the perfect place to share your work with the world. Natalia gives valuable advice for building, maintaining, and interacting with an audience on one of the most popular social media platforms.
Create Original Content
As a social media influencer, you constantly need new content to share with your followers. Hear how Natalia keeps herself motivated and see her process for coming up with fresh ideas. Once you’ve completed this tutorial, grab your camera and start creating.
Networking & Engagement
How do you connect with other Instagram personalities? How do grow and manage a large community of followers? Learn how a successful Instagram star manages their time and how they build and maintain connections through comments, stories, and DMs.
Natalia Seth
Photographer – Class Instructor – @escapingyouth
Natalia Seth is an 18-year old self-taught photographer whose creations are inspired by her dreams. Her imaginative photos feature a rainbow of colors, unexpected objects, oversized bananas, and… really, anything in an out-of-the-ordinary and whimsical manner. Her surrealistic composites transport the viewer to unconventional worlds.
Reviews
The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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DifficultyEasy
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Length5.5 hours
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Videos22
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Description
From high-end product photography to wild conceptual scenes, many of the pictures we see are actually two or more photos combined in post-production. If you’ve been searching for a great entry point into the fun and challenging world of image compositing, look no further!
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to analyze light, perspective, and camera settings to predict how well two photos will merge. Then we’ll take you into Photoshop to break down the compositing process, covering tips and techniques for making selections, finding great composition, and matching light and color.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 25 Sample Images
- 1 Photoshop Brush
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Table of Contents
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01 - What is Compositing?1:47m
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02 - Choosing Photos for Compositing: Light, Perspective & Focal Length5:05m
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01 - Picture Frame - Image Analysis & Working with Smart Objects10:39m
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02 - Picture Frame - Removing Backgrounds & Creating Realistic Shadows7:15m
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03 - Picture Frame - Color Matching12:15m
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01 - Castle - Image Analysis23:40m
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02 - Castle - Removing a Background & Creating a Fog Effect17:16m
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03 - Castle - Coloring for Composites13:17m
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01 - Portrait - Image Analysis20:46m
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02 - Portrait - Matching the Subject and a New Background21:25m
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03 - Portrait - Matching Lightness, Hue & Saturation17:48m
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01 - Mountain Scene - Image Analysis23:58m
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02 - Mountain Scene - Removing a Background & Cutting Out Hair14:01m
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03 - Mountain Scene - Matching Light & Color20:31m
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01 - Floating House - Image Analysis & Extending a Background6:53m
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02 - Floating House - Removing a Background & Extending Walls8:39m
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03 - Floating House - Creating the Bottom of the House from Scratch11:36m
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04 - Floating House - Matching Light & Color8:29m
Course Downloads
Learn Compositing Basics
What is Compositing?
Image compositing has a very broad and easy-to-understand definition. When you make a composite, you merge two or more photos together to create a seamless final image. This usually involves several steps to ensure that everything looks like it was all captured straight out of camera.
Why Combine Photos in Photoshop?
There are countless reasons that learning to blend photos together can help you both creatively and professionally. Whether you’re working with products, landscapes, weddings, or you just want to create stunning visual effects, the ability to merge two or more photos together will often help you solve a number of creative problems and get the most out of your images.
A Beginner’s Guide
If you’ve ever come up with an idea for a great image but weren’t sure how to capture it in camera, this tutorial can help! Compositing images in Photoshop can help turn your imagination into reality. Whether you plan to merge two images or 200, this is a great place to start.
Easily Blend Multiple Images
Compositing is one of the most challenging skills to master. It requires knowledge of countless tools within Photoshop as well as a strong understanding of how to find and capture images that will blend together well. Starting your compositing journey has never been easier with our simple approach to the basics of combining pictures in Photoshop.
From Beginner to Pro
We start with the basics, but this tutorial is designed to help artists at every level. We teach the fundamentals and expand upon it by adding in powerful tools, tips, and techniques that can take your blending to the next level.
Our Secrets to Realistic Composites
Image compositing starts with finding and capturing the right photos. We start this tutorial by helping you develop the eyes of a compositing artist, teaching you how to analyze pictures in a way that will help you determine how well they will fit together. Learn the fundamentals of light, perspective, camera settings, and more!
Match Light
Photos are all about light, which is why being able to identify light quality and direction is so important for creating great composites. Learn the differences between soft light and hard light and how to determine the directionality of light to help make sure your subject fits naturally into an environment.
Match Perspective
In order to make everything appear like it was captured in the same environment from the same camera, you’ll want to make sure that the camera height and angle is similar across each photo. We’ll show you some tricks to help you find the vanishing point and horizon line in each image so that you can quickly and easily line up multiple photos in the same scene.
Match Focal Length & Camera Settings
A wide angle lens will exaggerate space and will stretch things out the closer they are to the camera. A telephoto lens will compress space and will typically result in more natural-looking dimensions. Learn to identify differences in focal length, perspective distortion, and depth of field to make sure all of the photos you’re compositing will fit together beautifully.
Compositing Made Easy
Beautiful Composites
Follow along and learn to match color, luminosity, and perspective to create photorealistic composites.
Step-by-Step Tutorials
Like many things in Photoshop, compositing is a process. We’ve created a simple guide to walk you through each step, from determining which photos you should use, to making cut-outs and selections, and tying it all together by adding additional light and color.
Photo Analysis
We don’t just show you how to merge images together, we show you why certain images will work and why certain images won’t. See several examples that demonstrate what happens when the lighting, perspective, and focal length don’t match while we try to find the right photo for the job.
Compositing Tips & Techniques
Compositing has been a staple of PHLEARN education for a long time. Over the years, we’ve developed tried-and-true methods to making the process of blending images as efficient and effective as possible. Once you have mastered the basics, move on to some our favorites like Photoshop Compositing: Essential Tools & Techniques, How to Change and Remove Backgrounds in Photoshop, and The Beginner’s Guide to Levitation.
Light, Color & Check Layers
We can’t always trust our eyes in Photoshop. That’s why we teach you to use tools that will help help interpret things like color and luminosity. Learn to match light levels and color saturation between any number of images faster and easier than ever before!
Family Portraits to Creative Concepts
Compositing isn’t just for ultra-conceptual, sci-fi, and fantasy images. Being able to realistically blend multiple images together will help you solve problems like fixing someone’s blinking eyes in a group photo or placing a bride and groom in front of a more romantic scene. Once you’ve mastered the ideas and techniques in this tutorial, you’ll be ready to put your compositing skills to work in a way that’s best for you and your images.
Simple Examples for Advanced Results
There’s no secret to high-end composites. We use simple examples, each blending two images in Photoshop, that will have you feeling confident enough to start combining a dozen photos in no time.
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
Reviews
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Dear Aaron, Thank you for the instructional movie you offered us. There is one thing I don’t know the answer to though, maybe you do. When adding a layer to add a motion blur I get the message that “it is not possible to make an edit because the layer is empty”. Do you know of an adjustment to prevent or remedy this? Sincerely, Rob van Kerkoerle
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Simply great! Thank you!
Download Sample Images
Click the link below to download the sample images and follow along with this tutorial.
DownloadTutorial Description
Some of the most challenging and satisfying work in Photoshop comes when we need to composite images together and make them appear like each piece existed in the same environment. This sort of problem solving often requires us to match color, luminosity, and perspective across multiple photos. Today, we show you how you to tackle one of those steps faster and easier than ever before. Watch and learn how to automatically match colors in Photoshop!
Matching Color for Composites
Like many tasks in Photoshop, there are countless ways to match colors across multiple images. Some methods are manual, requiring multiple steps and multiple tools. While the manual route is usually the most precise, it also takes the most time. For those compositing jobs where you feel like the color matching process should be quicker and easier, Photoshop’s Match Color tool might be your answer!
Non-Destructive Workflow
Before we go any further, there’s a very important note about using the Match Color option. Any changes you apply to a layer using this tool are permanent. We always preach the importance of a non-destructive workflow, meaning every edit, every change, and every adjustment should be able to be turned off, modified, or removed easily without ever affecting our original photos. In this particular case, be sure to duplicate the layer or layers that you’re adjusting with Match Color. This allows you to make all the changes that you need while still having the ability to get back to the originals.
Now, on to the good stuff.
Matching Color for Composites
We’re working with two images: a mountain landscape that will act as the background and a subject that we will be placing onto that background. You’ll notice that we’ve already gone through the process of selecting and removing the original background from the image with our subject. Cutting out objects and removing backgrounds is a tutorial in itself, which is why we have several great PRO classes that teach just that. If you’re looking to master these skills as well, be sure to watch How to Change & Remove Backgrounds in Photoshop!
With our subject cut out and ready to go, we just need to place him over our background layer and adjust until we have a composition that we’re happy with. Once our layers are positioned (and we can always adjust this later), we want to duplicate the layer with the subject so that we can keep an original in the event we want to start from scratch.
Now we can begin the color matching process by going to the Image menu, hovering over Adjustments, and clicking on Match Color.
Using the available sliders, we can dial in the look that we want. Be sure to experiment with how far you can push the Match Color tool. This will help give you an idea of what jobs it will work for and what jobs might require a more manual approach.
Use the Right Tool
Keep in mind that any automated process can sometimes yield unexpected or unwanted results. It might take a few attempts and it occasionally might not be the correct tool for the task you’re trying to perform. Always be ready to make changes or try something different if and when you get stuck!
Compositing is fun, challenging, and a great way to test your creative problem solving skills! Add this tool to your repertoire and always keep looking for more. The more options you have, the more freedom and flexibility you will have to help your creative vision come to life.
Thanks for watching!
Download Sample Images
Click the link below to download the sample images and follow along with this tutorial.
DownloadCut Out Your Subject
Fringing usually appears around the edge of a cut-out subject, and stands out the most when you change the image background’s color. This tutorial is about fringing, so we’ve already cut out our subject to show you how to correct this issue. If you want to learn how to remove the background from an image, check out our PRO tutorial How to Change and Remove Backgrounds or Photoshop Compositing: Masking and Cutting Out Subjects. Our free tutorial How to Add a Colored Background to a Portrait is a great, quick lesson as well.
Use a Clipping Mask
Clipping Masks are a little-known but very powerful tool in Photoshop for making your composites look realistic. Simply create a new layer above your subject, right-click and select Create Clipping Mask, and anything painted on that layer will show up only where your subject is visible. By setting this same layer to Hue, any colors you paint on it will also change the color of the subject underneath. So, on this clipped layer set to Hue, and with the brush tool, hold ALT/OPTION to sample a color from the subject (in this case, her hair) and paint that color over the edge fringe. This will effectively turn the fringe into our subject’s hair color, and make her hair blend into a new background much more seamlessly.
Extra, Extra!
For a really natural look, sample colors from the new background and paint along the edges of your subject with a large, soft-edge brush to create the illusion of the background’s light wrapping around your subject. It will further place them in the scene with great effect.
Go forth now and remove those pesky edge fringes!
The Ultimate Guide to Compositing in Photoshop Using AI & More
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DifficultyMedium
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Length6.25 hours
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Videos24
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DESCRIPTION
Creating precision masks and cutouts is one of the keys to mastering Photoshop. If you’re a product photographer, a web designer, or an artist making conceptual composites, you’ll need to be able to make accurate selections of objects and people to place on a variety of backgrounds.
In this tutorial, we cover several tools and techniques that, when combined, will allow you to create perfect masks of anything from the precision curves of designer products to the messy detail of a head of hair.
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
- 18 Sample Images
- 4 Photoshop Brushes
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Table of Contents
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01 - Tutorial Introduction1:32m
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02 - Techniques Overview1:01m
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03 - Magic Wand and Refine Edge14:53m
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04 - Lasso Tool9:35m
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05 - Color Range13:17m
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06 - Focus Area7:13m
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07 - Channels10:48m
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08 - Custom Brushes15:35m
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09 - Pen Tool16:12m
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01 - Examples Overview1:00m
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02 - Logos & Graphics19:47m
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03 - Solid Edges (Part I)17:16m
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04 - Solid Edges (Part II)16:03m
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05 - People (Part I)26:07m
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06 - People (Part II)13:18m
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07 - Pets & Animals (Part I)28:59m
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08 - Pets & Animals (Part II)9:57m
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09 - Pets & Animals (Part III)22:43m
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10 - Pets & Animals (Part IV)24:59m
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11 - Hair (Part I)18:14m
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12 - Hair (Part II)18:17m
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13 - Hair (Part III)13:25m
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14 - Hair (Part IV)18:57m
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15 - Hair (Part V)25:58m
Course Downloads
Quick & Clean Cutouts in Photoshop
Tools & Techniques
There are dozens of tools and techniques that can help you cut an object or a person out of their background. We’ll provide you with a versatile set of options to handle any situation you encounter. From using the Pen Tool to create perfect curves or Channels to capture all of the details of soft edges, you’ll have access to every trick in the book.
The Perfect Combination
Once you have a handle on all of the best methods of masking and cutting out, the next step is understanding that you might need to use a combination of tools to get the job done right. We’ll cover how to mix and match techniques for those circumstances where just one won’t cut it.
Skills For Any Application
Web designers need images to blend seamlessly into the design of their pages. Product photographers need to provide stunning images that can be applied to a variety of backgrounds. Composite artists want to create realistic images that look like they’re straight out of camera. No matter what your goals with Photoshop are, understanding the techniques in this tutorial will bring you one big step closer to mastery.
More Than Meets the Eye
Sometimes cutting something out of a background means more than creating a perfect selection. Depending on the environment that the original photo was taken in, you might find yourself needing to lighten or darken edges or change the color of reflected light. Once we show you how to cut out the subject, we’ll take it a step further and show you how make it look like the new background was there all along.
Edit Faster
Creating accurate cutouts doesn’t have to mean spending hours upon hours in front of the computer. Some circumstances will require a bit of time and patience but we’ll show you some incredible tips on how to start with a rough selection and then refine only the areas that need it, saving you valuable time.
Recreate Details
Sometimes it’s better to make a rough selection and then paint the details back in. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to create and utilize custom brushes to paint in realistic-looking hair and details that would have otherwise been impossible to cut out.
Hair, Everywhere
Getting a realistic selection of hair is one of the most challenging and satisfying skills to master in Photoshop. We spend a ton of time covering several methods to make it happen. Whether the background is plain or complex, we’ll show you how to get impressive results, every time.
Aaron Nace
PHLEARN Founder
Aaron Nace is a photographer, Photoshop artist and founder of PHLEARN. He is the #1 Photoshop instructor in the world with millions of YouTube subscribers.
Reviews
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Hello Phriends! Love the learning here! 😉 Advertising it to others big time! Guys, please let me know what is the intro song and where can I find it! 🙂 Thanks a lot!
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Yesterday I bought Photoshop Compositing: Masking & Cutting Out Subjects x1 .. the videos are obviously in English … I understand English written but not spoken .. Would there be a possibility of getting the written tutorial? .. if there was written tutorial would encourage me to buy more … thanks in advance.
Awesome! Great techniques. You opened new doors for me. Thanks!
Awesome tutorial!! Thank you so much!
Another great, easy to follow, tutorial. I was sceptical of Generative AI to begin with but to see how much it can be used in compositing is changing my mind.
YOU NEVER DISSAPOINT!!! BEST TUTORIALS EVER! THANK YOU!!! Greetings from Greece!
Fantastic as always Aaron! I enjoy doing composites so this was very helpful advice for in incorporating AI to assist with color and sizing. You never disappoint!
I have been following Aaron for years through all his hair changes and absolutely love his style of teaching!! Even though I don’t do much compositing, this lesson has taught me lots of new techniques while using AI. I’m looking forward to Aaron’s next fun tutorial!!
Fantastic and fun tutorial combining AI with some advanced Photoshop compositing steps. Aaron is a great instructor. He shows outstanding technical skill and teaches with warmth and humor. This course is worth the whole yearly cost of the the PHLEARN subscription. I highly recommend it.
Great series of tutorials, the power of AI is incredible, as usual Aarons teaching style is the best. The content and the presenter are key to learning, this has both. Who doesn’t like when Aaron says ” we go a great section for you, lets jump into photoshop” you know you are going to learn something new.
You must be extactic over the new AI that has been released. And I thought your last 8years of tutorials were fantastic. Looking forward to what new and exciting tutorials you come up with….
I just watched the first section. Itˋ s really good and some great knowledge provided in this tutorial! Please add/ do some more examples, edits with animals!!! This is so inspiring!!! Merry Christmas and all the best to you Aaron for 2024! Thank you for the tutorial!
The best Photoshop tutorials anywhere on the web.
No one better than Aaron to learn AI with!