Halloween Special: 11 Steps To Photo Montaging

Photo montaging is all about combining a set of photos into one image while applying your creative ideas and graphics along the way to make the end effect more interesting. This tutorial will focus on creating a Halloween themed poster. This is how.

The basic tools used for montaging will be the Path Tool or Lasso Tool, which we will be using to edge out the objects involved and the Adjustment Layers tool to help adjust the lighting and color of all objects involved.

Step 1

Edge out all the objects involved and place them in your background image.

Image ID: 4387069 © Csaba Peterdi 123RF.com.

Transform and Warp to fit the images into its right perspective and spot.

Bat Image ID: 546849 © ELEN 123RF.com.

Jack o’ Lantern Image ID: 625038 © Ilyssa Tonnessen 123RF.com.

Cat Image ID: 834342 © Joann Cooper 123RF.com.

Screaming Man Image ID: 2282384 © Andrejs Pidjass 123RF.com.

Lamp Image ID: 3190189 © Dmitry Knorre 123RF.com.

Medieval girl Image ID: 3703615 © bcbg 123RF.com.

Treasure Chest Image ID: 4020544 © Irina Tischenko 123RF.com.

Zombie Image ID: 4174993 © Dmytro Konstantynov 123RF.com.

Skeleton Image ID: 4924212 © Karen Keczmerski 123RF.com.

Step 2 Adjust the color and lighting of each object until it matches the background. You can use Adjustment Layers such as Curve, Hue and Saturation or Brightness and Contrast for adjusting before you Merge those layers. Refer to the steps below for visual support.

a) Adjusting the background layer

b) Adjusting the treasure box color – by darkening and adding some shades to it.

c) Merge the layers when you are done.

Step 3 Edge out some tomatoes, Duplicate it, Transform and Warp it to fit the treasure box. Remember to adjust the color until it matches the background.

Tomatoes Image ID: 2921043 © Andrea Skjold 123RF.com.

Ketchup Bottle Image ID: 3906984 © chode 123RF.com.

Step 4 Bring in a ketchup bottle image next. Duplicate the Ketchup bottle and place it near the chest of tomatoes. Then, go Filter > Blur > add Motion Blur as below :

Next, Transform to make it bigger.

Step 5 Next, go to the Brush Setting as below and start creating some sparks for the tomatoes (Brush Tool)

Brush the sparks on like this:

Double click on “Sparks” layer to enter Blending Options and make the sparks glowing.

You can Transform the sparks to make it curvy as well if that’s your idea.

Step 6 Next you can add motion to the Ketchup bottle by selecting Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Next, mask the neck of the bottle for sharpness.

Step 7 Next, go to Filter > Liquify > Twrill to shape the streak of the bottle movement.

Step 8 Add glow to the tomatoes. Use the Lasso Tool to target the area and the set Feather Radius: 20 pixels. Fill it with a color you think will best bring out the glow.

Change the 1st layer blending mode to Soft Light and duplicate the layer again. Set the blending mode to Color Burn Opacity: 50.

Step 9 Add glow around the ketchup bottle. Use the Lasso Tool to draw the shape and set Feather radius: 15 pixels. Set blending mode to Soft Light.

Step 10 Add mist to the image by using a low opacity Brush Tool.

Step 11 Add in your text and make the necessary color corrections to enhance the mood. There you have it, a simple Halloween poster for the upcoming celebration!

If you liked our tutorial, feel free to share it with your friends or even bookmark it! Also, do check out our affordable credit prices to get images where you can create stunning works of art.