Compositing: Transitioning From Manual to AI-Assisted Workflows with Karen Alsop

This course by Karen Alsop demonstrates how to transition from traditional manual compositing to AI-assisted workflows while maintaining full creative control. The focus is on ensuring that, regardless of the tool used, the direction, quality, and color of light remain consistent across all elements of the image. Students will learn how to integrate AI tools into established compositing practices without sacrificing realism, with close attention to shadows, reflections, and relighting techniques that preserve visual credibility.

This course by Karen Alsop demonstrates how to transition from traditional manual compositing to AI-assisted workflows while maintaining full creative control. The focus is on ensuring that, regardless of the tool used, the direction, quality, and color of light remain consistent across all elements of the image. Students will learn how to integrate AI tools into established compositing practices without sacrificing realism, with close attention to shadows, reflections, and relighting techniques that preserve visual credibility.

This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Karen Alsop.

What You'll Learn

• Maintain consistent light direction, quality, and color across composites using both AI-assisted tools and traditional Photoshop techniques.
• Create realistic shadows that anchor subjects naturally within a scene using Generative Fill or manual Levels-based workflows.
• Build believable reflections that respond to surface texture, depth, and perspective through AI prompts or pixel-based methods.
• Re-light subjects to match new environments using AI relighting or competition-safe dodge and burn techniques.
• Understand when AI workflows offer speed advantages and when traditional methods are required for photography-only standards.

Who It's For

• Photographers and digital artists working with compositing and photo manipulation.
• Creatives interested in incorporating AI tools into existing Photoshop workflows without compromising realism.
• Intermediate to advanced users who want greater control over light, shadows, and reflections.
• Artists preparing work for commercial projects or photography-only competitions with strict editing standards.

How to Join

• The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You’ll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate.
• To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited.
• A unique Zoom join link will be sent to the maximum number of participants per class. You’ll receive this link one hour before the class start time.

About the Instructor

Karen Alsop is an internationally acclaimed Melbourne, Australia-based photographic digital artist. Expanding on two decades of photographic and graphic design experience, Karen brings photography and art together to create stunning artworks that tell a story and take the viewer into another world.

Specializing in Portrait Art, her digital portraiture captures the personality and character of her subjects by placing them within a visual story highlighting their interests. Karen uses the power of Photoshop to composite multiple captures together, making the impossible possible within her art.