Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 11-6. If some people couldn't get to the Grand Canyon with you on your trip, that's
no reason they can't join you in your vacation photo via Photomerge Compose. Top: These
two couldn't make it to the Grand Canyon… Middle: …so this guy went by himself. Bottom:
With a little Elements magic, you can create a group shot of everyone together at the Grand
Canyon.
4.
Refine the edges of your selection, and then click Next
.
The Photomerge Compose pane gives you the usual Add and Subtract controls and a
brush-size slider to help you get a good selection. Once you have the object selected
to your satisfaction, you can click the Advance Edge Refinement button to make sure
you have a perfect selection. Once you click this button, you see the Set Background
As menu, which lets you see the area you selected either as part of the original image
(Source Image); against a transparent, black, or white background; or with the red
mask over the unselected area (Overlay). Click the Refine Edge button to bring up the
regular Refine Edge window, explained on
Refining Selection Edges
.
TIP
Adding some smoothing in the Refine Edge dialog box can go a long way toward
creating a more plausible combined image. A few of its settings aren't available in
Photomerge Compose.
Once your selection is just as you want it, click Next, and Elements extracts the object
and places it into the background photo.
5.
Position the object in the background photo and resize it, if necessary
.
There's a button in the Photomerge Compose pane for the Move tool, but you don't
need to click it, since the Move tool is active as soon as you start this step. Once you
have the object positioned, if you notice that you skipped a spot or included too much
in your selection, you can adjust how much of the object you see by clicking the Hide
brush (need to conceal something you didn't mean to include) or the Reveal brush
(missed a spot), and then painting over the area you need to fix.
