Hi
@Liam Harris
I have attached a dropbox link to the PSD file that you can open and study in Photoshop. Here are the general steps I took
- In looking at the three images visualize the way you would like to put them together for the final image size you desire. That is a judgment call and there are many ways to go about this and there is no right or wrong. Whatever appeals to your senses
- Create a new document via File > New to the exact final dimensions
- I brought in all three images as their own Layer using the File > Place Embedded command I have my preferences set up to open them as a Smart Object yet it can be done after the images are embedded as well. I put the middle image as the lowest in the Layer stack since it had more image pixels on the side that I could overlap the other images.
- One image at a time I used the transform command (keyboard shortcut Cmd+T (Cntl+T on PC) and stetched them (keeping same aspect ratio) to fit in the frame properly. The images were all different sizes yet was pretty easy for this set of three (not always that easy). So after stretching (still in transform) moved the out tow images until they lined up that felt good to my sense
- Went back to each of the Image Layers individually and applied the Filter > Camera Raw Filter. This is often my go to filter for making adjustments. It is basically the same controls as in ACR or Lightroom. Since I added the Filter to a Smart Object they are viewable and editable. So by double clicking on the Camera Raw Filter under each image, it will open up into baseicallyh the same interface as ACR and look how I adjusted each of the images. Most of the changes were in the basic panel, sometimes I also used the detailis panel, and I also used the Adjustment brush to get better tonlity, color, and sharpness for each of the images. Lots more could be done with as many filters or adjustments as desired. I only did the basics and see if it would look OK. Was not sure how the middle image would look with all the other distracting elements in that image (which could have been blurred. With the side images drawing the attention I decided not to change the background of the middle image.
- Now to put in a transition blur between the out two images and the base iamge in the middle. I grouped the outer two images in the Layer Stack and added a Layer Mask (all white) to the Layer group. Added a solid black line on the Layer mask vertically right at the image transition (one used their judgement on how wide to make the line and the exact positioning). The I applied a gaussian blur to the Layer Mask to soften the mask edges and adjusted the Gaussian blur to taste (you can have too much or too little)
- Saved with Save for Web or Export to a JPEG file and that was about it
Between the above steps and the attached dropbox link to the PSD I hope that gets you further in your learning Photoshop
John Wheeler
Link to Mug Shot PSD file
is just one of many ways to combine the images. This is just a straightforward side by side way with the images enhanced some and a blur transistion between the iamges. It is scaled as you requested
