Learn how to make a seamless collage in Photoshop with layers and layer masks, and understand how the use of different colors reveals, hides, or partially displays pixels within a layer.
This exercise is excerpted from Noble Desktop’s past Photoshop training materials and is compatible with Photoshop updates through 2020. To learn current skills in Photoshop, check out our Photoshop Bootcamp and graphic design classes in NYC and live online.
Exercise Preview
Exercise Overview
You’ll make a collage that looks similar to the one shown above.
More Practice: Making Another Collage
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If you want another crack at applying layer masks to a collage, in the Photoshop Class folder, go into the Collage folder and open devinder collage2-started.psd.
In this starter file, we already have a bunch of images put together. To make your finished collage, here are the things you’ll need to do:
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Blend the various Duet layers (the four pictures of Devinder at the top) so they look more seamless (right now they have a harsh line between them). Do this by adding masks to the Duet layers and then use gradients and/or painting with brushes to hide/show what you want.
To review the masking rules, when you are painting on a mask:
- Painting with black hides the pixels in that layer.
- Painting with white reveals (shows/unhides) the pixels in that layer.
- Painting with gray partially hides/shows the pixels in that layer.
File > Place Embedded two more images (in the Collage folder): devinder not smiling.psd and devinder frog fountain.psd.
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Softly blend the edges of these two images into the rest of the image by adding a mask and then painting with a soft brush of black or white.
As you work, be careful of what layer you are on, and whether you are editing the layer or the layer’s mask. If you are unsure of which layer is which, try hiding and showing the layer to see which it is.
If you want to see how we created the finished collage, open devinder collage2-done.psd (in the Collage folder) for reference.
