Blending in pictures with each other in photoshop

[seanr28]

Hello,

first time using Photoshop and I am designing a new control panel, I have all the artwork using the "grounds for divorce" arcade machine control panel as inspiration!

I am struggling trying to get all artwork to seamlessly blend into each other, at the minute I have to many hard lines.

Anyone prepared to take a look for me if I send the link to download please?

regards

sean

[drventure]

What you'll want to do is apply a gradient mask to each each (or possibly only one, just depends).

Then set the gradient as an alpha mask and set it to fade from 100% in about the middle of the image to 0% at the edge.

Google "how to fade edge of image in photoshop" for plenty of tuts

[seanr28]

I have done that, but its not working for me...been playing around on and off all day today.

[Vigo]

You can try to feather your selection.  Play with the feather settings a tad can come up with something softer looking. Try selecting what you want, putting a 1-2 pixel feather on it (Select > Modify > Feather), then pasting it into your design.

If it is just a certain area of your artwork that that looks too sharp and unnatural, you can also soften areas by hand by lightly running a soft eraser around the hard edge area.

[seanr28]

thanks for the suggestions, will give it ago in a bit.

[seanr28]

For what ever reason the Modify option is greyed out for me.

[Vigo]

Do you have your selection made yet? You have to select something before it will allow you to go to the modify menu.

[seanr28]

managed to get the option now, but doesn't appear to make any difference to my image.  As I say Im a complete novice when it comes to graphics packages and design.....

[Vigo]

It's ok, you are probably doing it just fine. I'm guessing you need a bigger feather. Try a higher. You should see the edges getting fuzzy and semi transparent.

[JDFan]

Perhaps post a link here -- would be much easier to give tips if we had the artwork to look at and could see how the various layers are currently setup.

[seanr28]

here you go, please remember its not finished yet, so please dont criticize too much just yet:)

Its 140 odd meg

http://www.mediafire.com/download/659opdt9gc8g8i0/sean_CP2.psd

[JDFan]

Played with it a bit this evening - removed the black background from the 3 layers and the also the logo layer to remove some of the straight edges and then used a warp modifier to move some of the other edges around a bit to get them to not be straight lines - Here's a link to the PSD copy ( https://www.dropbox.com/s/ym34oqj608p5cqv/sean_CP3.psd ) since it's too big to post here. Also posted a downsized png here so you can see what it looks like in case you don't want to download the 145mb file.

[seanr28]

now, that's looking good!, Thankyou!  Much appreciated.

[JDFan]

now, that's looking good!, Thankyou!  Much appreciated.

Glad you like it -- I made a few more changes to make it look better -- (Didn't notice that the blue background on the original was his figure so had distorted it badly !!) Also the LOGO was kind of small so made it a bit bigger and fit it in place and a couple other small changes (used the smudge tool around some of the middle sparks to blend them in with the rest a bit) Here's a png of the changes to review and I'll post dropbox link to the new download if you want it. ( It's updating a few files that I made changes to and uploading the new file so is gonna take a bit of time to upload (currently says 30 minutes since my IP only provides a slow 1.5Mbs uplink opposed to the 16Mbs downlink so it takes awhile to upload big files. ) but will post the link once it finishes.

[seanr28]

Thats great, thank you so much! I Need to brush up on my photoshop skills:)

Look forward to downloading the full .psd file:)

I agree, the SF logo was small, I was just concerned about getting too pix-elated when printed, but your one looks fine.

[seanr28]

Moving forward, this is to replace the control panel on here

[Vigo]

Looking good! 

[JDFan]

OK - It finished uploading so Here is the Link ( https://www.dropbox.com/s/4an6svldoo6ygdx/sean_CP5.psd ) It is a bit larger file now ( 390Mb) because I added a few new layers to get the right side background fixed up (downloaded a new copy of the original pic off of the net to use) and didn't want to delete any of your existing layers (even though many of them are currently not in use, I didn't want to remove anything you might want or need, so left everything in there as well as all of the changes I made on different layers so you could see what was done.) Before you finish it up and try to send out for printing you'll want to make a new copy and delete the unused layers before saving ( Best to only leave what will be printed to save file size and also so they don't accidentally print something you didn't want included !)

If you find some things that need adjustments that you have problems with just let me know and I'll see what I can do to help.

[seanr28]

downloading now, thanks again........If you were local I would buy you a beer:)

[JDFan]

downloading now, thanks again........If you were local I would buy you a beer:)

No problem -- Also noticed the other Ken layer and so went ahead and played around using it instead of the one you had and it looks pretty good also (see Pic below) -- If you'd like a copy of it with that layer enlarged as shown let me know and I'll reupload and post a link. I kind of like both versions so 

[seanr28]

yes please:) I was struggling to find a good high res Ken photo! Its taking me back now, I was a huge street fighter fan, back in the 90s!

[JDFan]

yes please:) I was struggling to find a good high res Ken photo! Its taking me back now, I was a huge street fighter fan, back in the 90s!

I'll upload now and post a link once it finishes (dropbox is uploading slow today 130+\- kBs so might take a bit )

Here's the Link -- ( https://www.dropbox.com/s/da08ejtdmdezma6/sean_CP6.psd )

Let me know if you need any other adjustments.

[seanr28]

will do, cheers:)