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Chapter 9: Practical Montage

By Les Horvat
From Digital Imaging
Aims

  • To offer an independent resource of technical information.

  • To develop knowledge and understanding about the processes and procedures involved with montaging photographic images.

  • To develop skills and experience in the control and construction of digital montages.

Objectives

  • Create digital montages using skills and knowledge concerning:

    • selection tools and techniques

    • layers and channels

    • quick mask mode and layer masks

    • adjustment layers and clipping groups

    • blend modes

Introduction

The ability to create a composite image or 'photomontage' that looks subtle, realistic and believable rests in the whether or not the viewer is able to detect where one image starts and the other finishes. The edges of each selection can be modified so that it appears as if it belongs, or is related, to the surrounding pixels.

Options are available with most image processing software to alter the appearance of the edges of a selection. Edges can appear sharp or soft (a gradual transition between the selection and the background). The options to effect these changes are:

  • Feather

  • Anti-aliasing

  • Defringe and matting

Feather

When this option is chosen the pixels at the edges of the selection are blurred. The edges are softer and less harsh. This blurring may either create a more realistic montage or cause loss of detail at the edge of the selection.

You can choose feathering for the marquee or lasso tools as you use them by entering a value in the tool options box, or you can add feathering to an existing selection (Select > Feather).

Copyright Mark Galer and Les Horvat 2001 under license agreement with Books24x7
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