STEP BY STEP CREATE THE PERFECT BLEND

learn how to use blending modes, transform controls and levels to control your double exposure effects

01 Choose Carefully

You can create a double exposure effect with any two images. But if you want to create a strong shape, it helps if at least one image has an underexposed subject against a white backdrop, like a sky or a studio shot. If not, the effect tends to look a little confused.

03 Blend the layer

Go to the Layers panel and change the blending mode of the top layer to Screen. This gives us our double exposure effect, but we’re not finished yet. We can tweak it for the perfect mix. Hit Ctrl+t then rotate, resize and reposition the top layer until you’re happy.

05 Clip the layer

We can also alter the tones on our top layer with adjustment layers like Levels. But be sure to ‘clip’ the layer after adding it by clicking the square ‘Clip To Layer’ icon below the Levels settings. This way, it only affects the layer directly below, rather than all layers.

02 Copy and Place

For your second image, simple textured shapes, like foliage or city skylines, work well. Open the image, grab the Move tool from the Tools panel and drag the image up to the tab of the other image, then down to copy it over. Position it roughly over the subject.

04 adjust the tones

We can alter the tones on either of our layers to change the look of our double exposure. Highlight the bottom layer then click the Create Adjustment Layer icon in the Layers panel and choose Levels. Drag the midpoint to the right to darken the layer below.

06 add a texture

To finish off, try blending a texture. Open double_ exp_03 and drag into the image, then set the blending mode to Screen again. Add a Levels adjustment layer, clip it to the texture layer below, as before, then darken the texture until the blend looks right.