looking for a tutorial on how to clone someone in a pic

[Aharami]

anyone have a link to a tutorial on how to stack multiple photos to make it seem like a bunch of clones are running around in the frame? the idea is to set up a tripod, take multiple snaps with the subject in different parts of the frame w/o moving the camera, and then stack them in photoshop. anyone know how to do this?

 

[slashbinslashbash]

You mean the subject is in different enough parts of the frame so that they don't overlap at all, right? Ok, this is pretty easy, but you've gotta know the basics. Pick any image, just a regular photo from the Web or wherever. Just so you can learn these basics.

Start with the Rectangular Selection Tool, aka the Marquee Tool, keyboard shortcut 'm', which is 2nd from the top of the tools palette and looks like a rectangle with a dashed line. Drag it around part of the image to make a rectangular selection. Edit->Copy, Edit->Paste. (Or Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V.) You've now got the selected part of the image copied and pasted. When you paste, Photoshop automatically creates a new layer on top of the old one. So you can move the pasted area around (using the Move tool, an arrow, top of the Tools palette, keyboard shortcut 'v') without changing the underlying image. All the layers in the image are shown on the Layers palette, and you switch between working layers by clicking on them in the Layers palette.

Now, if the selection needs to be more, well, selective than a simple rectangle, you've got a lot more work ahead of you. You can use the Lasso Tool (freehand selection), the Polygon Lasso Tool (freehand selection with straight lines), and the Magic Wand Tool (selection based on color similarities, based on a numeric sensitivity that you can change in the toolbar). This can get very tedious, as precision is hard to achieve. You can add new selection to a previously-selected area using Ctrl and Shift modifiers.

 

[Aharami]

thanks. thats rather simple

 

[troytime]

if you're going to use the marquee->copy->paste method, just erase the leftover background on the pasted layer so you're really only copying the person

Personally, i prefer the rubber stamp tool (clone brush)

 

[rivan]

If you've got the opportunity to take the photos you've described in your OP, it'll end up looking far better, and be far less work than the methods they described (they're talking about copying/pasting a single image of the person multiple times in the photo.

If you can, use a tripod, shoot the images with the person in the places you want, then bring them all into photoshop. Pick one of the images to be your "base", then:

• "Layer->Duplicate Layer..." to stack each image with the person in a new position in your "base" document then:
• Change "Layer Opacity" to 50% to tweak image alignment if necessary (or try "Edit->Auto-Align Layers"
• For each 'new position' layer, follow the tutorial here to remove the background:
http://photoshoptips.net/2006/07/25/layer-masks/

 

[slashbinslashbash]

If you've got the opportunity to take the photos you've described in your OP, it'll end up looking far better, and be far less work than the methods they described (they're talking about copying/pasting a single image of the person multiple times in the photo.

If you can, use a tripod, shoot the images with the person in the places you want, then bring them all into photoshop. Pick one of the images to be your "base", then:

• "Layer->Duplicate Layer..." to stack each image with the person in a new position in your "base" document then:
• Change "Layer Opacity" to 50% to tweak image alignment if necessary (or try "Edit->Auto-Align Layers"
• For each 'new position' layer, follow the tutorial here to remove the background:
http://photoshoptips.net/2006/07/25/layer-masks/

I meant that he should try and play with an image first to copy and paste, then once he gets the gist of it, the copy and paste method will work great with the method he posted in the OP (tripod + same person in different places, etc.) Layer Masks is a lot of added complication IMO. I would do your Duplicate Layer and then erase the non-person stuff in each layer before I got into Layer Masks. Same end result as copy and paste. I guess it's easier in some sense because you won't have to align things precisely after the copy and paste. (Note to OP: for precision moving pixel by pixel, once you've got the 'Move' tool selected (arrow) you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the selection.)

Actually, Duplicate Layer won't work. First you've got to copy and paste the whole image onto the "Base" image and you'll end up with many layers, all of which are the same except for the placement of the person. Then you can use Layer Masks, or you can erase stuff on each layer, leaving only the subject and the area immediately around it. Or, you can copy and paste the subject (and the area around the subject) from each image to your "base" image.

Another Note to OP: Often in PS, there's many ways to skin a cat Especially a fairly simple cat like this one.

 

[rivan]

I meant that he should try and play with an image first to copy and paste, then once he gets the gist of it, the copy and paste method will work great with the method he posted in the OP (tripod + same person in different places, etc.) Layer Masks is a lot of added complication IMO. I would do your Duplicate Layer and then erase the non-person stuff in each layer before I got into Layer Masks. Same end result as copy and paste. I guess it's easier in some sense because you won't have to align things precisely after the copy and paste. (Note to OP: for precision moving pixel by pixel, once you've got the 'Move' tool selected (arrow) you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the selection.)

Using a layer mask does exactly the same thing and erasing, except non-destructively, so if he makes a mistake and doesn't notice right away, he can "paint" the mask away revealing the image again.

Actually, Duplicate Layer won't work. First you've got to copy and paste the whole image onto the "Base" image and you'll end up with many layers, all of which are the same except for the placement of the person. Then you can use Layer Masks, or you can erase stuff on each layer, leaving only the subject and the area immediately around it. Or, you can copy and paste the subject (and the area around the subject) from each image to your "base" image.

Copy and paste? What do you think "Duplicate Layer" does?

Another Note to OP: Often in PS, there's many ways to skin a cat Especially a fairly simple cat like this one.

Absolutely correct. The primary difference between what you and I are suggesting is how easily he'll be able to "undo" something, even after it's gone from his history palette. You're erasing, I'm masking. You're using the eraser and I'm using a paint brush.

 

[Maximus96]

you should also learn about hyperfocal distance. that way, your camera/tripod can be at one stationary spot, your subject all over the place within limits of the hyperfocal distance, and all be in sharp focus. once the camera settings are set, just shoot away without worrying about being out of focus...

 

[Aharami]

finally got around to doing this. I think it came out pretty well for my first time

The basement army

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Cool image OP! Very nice.

Don't know how I missed this reply earlier....

Copy and paste? What do you think "Duplicate Layer" does?

Can you "Duplicate Layer" from one image to another? Because the OP will be starting off with multiple images and then combine them into one. I agree that that's 100% what "Duplicate Layer" does, but I wasn't aware that it worked across images.

I agree that your Layer Mask method is better without qualification. I just think that Layer Masks are pretty complicated and not the kind of thing to throw at a new guy. I've been using PS (as a hobbyist, and occasionally for work, but never as my major focus in my job) since Version 5 (1999-ish?), and I still haven't really understood Layer Masks.

 

[Rackmountsales]

This picture is looking superb!

 

[rivan]

Can you "Duplicate Layer" from one image to another?

Yes. If the images are the same size, it'll register them as well.

...and I still haven't really understood Layer Masks.

In essence, you're just painting layer transparency. It uses a channel to designate greyscale steps of opacity - 0% grey (white) is fully visible, 50% grey is 50% visible, 100% grey (black) is totally invisible.

If you use an eraser with a soft edge (or the history brush after the fact) you're accomplishing the same thing, feathering the edge of whatever you're erasing away using opacity to blend between the image you're inserting and the image it's over.

Again, the advantage to using layer masks is that you're keeping the whole layer intact in the file, rather than it disappearing when you run out of undos.

OP: Bravo - great job!