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Project #23 - Creating 'Joiner' Images

  

If you've tried your hands at creating your own panoramics, but with little success, or you want something a little different, then try this tutorial - Creating Joiners.

As with panoramics, you need to join a number of images together, but don't worry if they don't join exactly.

In my example, I took FOUR photographs of a building - although I stood in the exact spot for all of them, I did change the angle of the camera.

 

If you can't get the hang of creating panoramics - this is an ideal project to have a go at - make sure your camera is set to Auto Exposure, start off with four photographs and work up.

  1. Open up the first image of your joiner. Run Auto Levels [Image... Adjust... Auto Levels] to adjust the color etc.

    Make the default Background layer into a floating layer by double-clicking on it in the Layers palette.

  2. [Canvas Box]Create a new layer and rename it 'Canvas' [hold the ALT key and left-click on the Create New Layer Icon in the Layers palette]. Resize the canvas [Image... Canvas Size...] so you can add your further photographs. In my example, I enlarged the canvas by five times its original size.

    In the Canvas dialogue box, leave the 'Anchor' setting at its default of Center - this will enlarge your canvas, leaving your original image in the center.

  3. Open your second image and rename it 'Picture #2'.

    Click and hold your mouse button on the new layer called 'Picture #2' and drag it onto your original image. Photoshop automatically places your second picture onto a new layer.

  4. Repeat the above step until you have all your picture for your 'Joiner' placed on the original image in their own layers.

  5. With all the pictures now on the canvas together, its time to join them up. Position & rearrange the images so they are roughly in the place they need to be in - in the next step will show you how to rotate each individual image using the Numeric command option in the Transform menu.

    First, turn off all the layers except the original (click on the eye next to the image thumbnails in the layers palette) - This will make it easier for you to work with.

  6. Make the second image visible by clicking on the eye in the Layers palette. If its not roughly in the correct position, use the Move tool to line it up with the first image.

    Get the Ruler Tool from the Tool Box, activate the original layer and place the cursor over a straight edge - something like a sign or door frame etc, on the first image.

  7. Click the left mouse button and drag the Ruler Tool along the straight edge. In my case, I dragged the Ruler Tool along the top of the main sign. Access the 'Numeric' command [Edit... Transform... Numeric]. Because you used the ruler tool, the value needed to rotate the image so it becomes straight is automatically entered into the Rotate value box. Since I wanted to rotate the image clockwise, I simply deleted the minus sign before the figure. If you want to rotate the image/layer anti-clockwise, just add a minus sign in front of the figure.

    Click on OK and the image should hopefully straighten up. Activate the Move tool by either selecting it from the Tool Box or by pressing the 'V' key. Use your cursor keys to manually nudge the image until it lines up with the first image. Remember, you don't have to be exact, just close enough.

  8. Repeat the above two steps until you have all your images correctly in position. If all went well, you should now have an image made up of a number of photographs, like the one shown here.

    [Using the ruler tool]Give it a little more effect by placing a white border around the individual layers and add a small drop shadow.

    Try experimenting with this technique, and see what sort of images you can create - you can join just about anything from buildings, people, scenic views to statues.

    Hope you have plenty of fun!