Photo Collage

[hark]

I came across a web site called Collage.com where cutouts are used in the process of creating a photo collage. Since I volunteer my time with a local high school's theater department, I wonder if I can create a photo collage of the year's shows/events and use a cutout of the Comedy and Tragedy mask. I use show photos and turn them into 20"x30" posters that I donate to hang in their theater's lobby and thought a collage would be a great way to sum up their entire season.

Since I don't know how to create a cutout, can anyone help explain the process to me? And since I've never used a cutout, how does it get applied to the collage? I have PhotoShop Elements 10 but am not well-versed in all its capabilities. Thank you for any information!

 

[LouCioccio]

Create collages, montages | Photoshop, Photoshop Elements
Adobe - Photoshop Elements 7 video tutorial : Getting started: Making a photo collage
Create a Collage in Photoshop Elements

Sometimes video is easier than explaining.

​Lou Cioccio

 

[hark]

Create collages, montages | Photoshop, Photoshop Elements
Adobe - Photoshop Elements 7 video tutorial : Getting started: Making a photo collage
Create a Collage in Photoshop Elements

Sometimes video is easier than explaining.

​Lou Cioccio

Thanks. I will look into this. Is it possible to create a custom template like this example from Collage.com?





I'd like to create a custom template using the comedy/tragedy theater mask below because the school students are members but don't know how to do it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Kodiak]

re: comedy/tragedy theater mask

Hello "hark",

I would like very much to help you on this
but I will need more input (heard that somewhere!)

Have a good day…

 

[hark]

re: comedy/tragedy theater mask

Hello "hark",

I would like very much to help you on this
but I will need more input (heard that somewhere!)

Have a good day…

I have Photoshop Elements 10 and Lightroom 4. If there is some other type of software to use, I'd appreciate knowing. Thanks.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Not sure how that software works but whatever you use will involve using layers. In PhotoShop CS6 it is pretty easy. This is the basic method. You take the mask and make the white areas transparent. You then take the other pictures and put in an additional layer and they arrange the layers to make the new picture go to the back. You will have to see it Photoshop Elements 10 can do this.

 

[hark]

Not sure how that software works but whatever you use will involve using layers. In PhotoShop CS6 it is pretty easy. This is the basic method. You take the mask and make the white areas transparent. You then take the other pictures and put in an additional layer and they arrange the layers to make the new picture go to the back. You will have to see it Photoshop Elements 10 can do this.

View attachment 44708

Ahhh. Okay, I think I understand. It may take a steady hand to outline some of the areas. Would you suggest I use the 'Quick Selection Tool' for this? Will I need to feather the edges while doing the masking, and if so, do you have a suggested amount? I'm not too knowledgeable about the intricacies of PSE10 as you probably have imagined. :eyetwitch: Thanks for the input, Don. It's greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Ahhh. Okay, I think I understand. It may take a steady hand to outline some of the areas. Would you suggest I use the 'Quick Selection Tool' for this? Will I need to feather the edges while doing the masking, and if so, do you have a suggested amount? I'm not too knowledgeable about the intricacies of PSE10 as you probably have imagined. :eyetwitch: Thanks for the input, Don. It's greatly appreciated!!!

I wish I knew your software better but in CS6 I just selected a color. In this case White and then deleted it. Very quick and very clean. As for feathering the edges it might look cleaner if you feathered it 1 or 2 PX

 

[hark]

Thank you kindly, Don! I will give this a try and truly appreciate your input.