<Double Exposure Effect>

Purpose: Blend and merge two separate photos together by exposing the film twice in two completely different photos

1. Choose File > Open to open your portrait. Choose File > Save As, rename the file Double Exposure Effect, and click Save. Click OK if you see the Photoshop Format Options dialog box.
2. Select the Quick Selection tool (W) to make a selection of portrait.

3. Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + J (Mac) to duplicate the selected area. In the Layers panel, double-click the name Layer 1, type Portrait, and then press Enter or Return.

4. Press D to default foreground and background colors. Select the Background layer and press Ctrl + Delete (Windows) or Command + Delete (Mac) to fill the Background layer with white color.

5. Select the Portrait layer. Then, choose File > Open to open a landscape image (where impress you most). Select the Move tool (V) and drag the landscape file to Double Exposure Effect file.
6. Double-click the name Layer 1, type Landscape, and then press Enter or Return.

        

7. Ctrl (PC) or Command (Mac) + Click the thumbnail of the portrait layer to make the selection. Make sure the Landscape layer is selected.

8. Click Add Layer Mask which is bottom of the Layer panel.

      

9. Click the chain icon to un-link the mask with the layer.

10. Select the Move tool (V) and click the Landscape layer thumbnail. Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or Command + T (Mac) so you can independently resize or find the best composition. After manipulating, press Enter or Check in the options bar.
11. Select the Portrait layer and press Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + J (Mac) to duplicate it. The Portrait copy layer will be created
12. In the Layers panel, drag the Portrait copy layer to the top of the layer stack. Then, choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate to transform it to black and white.

         

13. Change the blending mode to Multiply.

14. Add Layer Mask to the Portrait copy layer

15. Select the Brush tool (B). In the options bar, set up a brush with a size of 700 px and Hardness of 0% with black fill.
16. Paint around the edges of the portrait to erase away everything except the facial features
17. Change between black and white (foreground and background) to toggle between erasing and restoring

18. Reduce the opacity of the Portrait copy layer to around 70%

19. Deselect the mask. Then, select the Eyedropper tool (I) to choose a color from the image, then brighten the color up by adjusting the color picker

         

20. In the Layer panel, select the Background layer. Then, press Ctrl + Delete (Windows) or Command + Delete (Mac) to fill the Background layer with this color
21. Select the Portrait copy layer and choose File > Open to open another landscape image. Select the Move tool (V) and drag the landscape image to Double Exposure Effect.psd file.
22. Select the Layer 1 layer and choose Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. In the Gaussian Blur dialog box, type 250 pixels for the Radius, and click OK.

 

       

23. Add Layer Mask and select the Brush tool (B). In the options bar, set up a brush with a size of 900 px and Hardness of 0% with black fill. Then, erase away this layer so the portrait can be seen again,

24. Reduce the opacity of the Layer 1 layer to around 20%.

 

<Final Image>

I chose double exposure effect because I want to blend myself and my favorite landscape. The landscapes are usually visually impressive. I tried to find the effect that can make the best use of the landscape.

The individual whom I choose is ‘Harry Potter’. Here are the reasons why I choose him. First, since I was young, he has been my favorite movie character. I’ve watched all series of Harry Potter movie. The reason why he is my favorite movie character is his personality. He is courageous, righteous and thoughtful. Next, I wanted to be like him because he has a lot of helpers around him. Lastly, to be honest, I like his glasses.

For this face swap assignment, I found some tutorials on Youtube. The most helpful part of the video was ‘Auto-blend’ tool. I think this tool is more efficient than manipulating level because Photoshop matches the color between my face and Harry Potter’s face automatically. I don’t have to manipulate myself.

To maintain Harry Potter’s glasses, I selected his glasses by using the Selection Tool first and then duplicated the layer so that I can maintain his glasses as a separate layer. I put the glasses layer on the top of all layers.

I think it’s not very hard to explain these process to another student. Also, I can break down these processes by explaining why they are needed to complete the face swap.