Montage effect

Terri Gardiner · 02-24-2006, 10:55 AM

Can someone help me get started on a montage effect. I'm using PSE3. I have 4 family Christmas pictures--family pose, then dad & Girls pose, Mom & Girls and just girls. I'm not sure how to lay them out?? I also have Meryls Christmas Kit, would I still put them on a white background for the montage or would I simply use her green background and lay the photos directly on it??
Help! I really like this effect. Would like to learn it better!

Emma · 02-24-2006, 11:12 AM

the basic montage is a nice background with photos blended into the background and/or each other using the layer mask

Do you have something you'd like to maybe scraplift? That's a good place to start on this

Lauri · 02-24-2006, 11:32 AM

I would suggest looking thru Emma's gallery. She is the queen of montage!! You will get lots of ideas, and maybe find one you can scraplift there!

Terri Gardiner · 02-24-2006, 02:02 PM

Hi Emma! I love that look!!! The one with your children meeting your baby for the first time "where Souls Meet" is awesome!! What do you mean scraplift?? I'm not familar with that term.
When I took your class, I used alot of photos for my montage that basically covered up my whole background, kind of like a collage. I remember that you stated to be sure and overlap pics alot. Do I free transform pics. to fit my whole background page? What if I want to use green background of Meryl's?
Please take baby steps with me!
I totally love this look,, I think it has such a modern look to it that really sets it apart. I would LOVE to learn more about this!!!

Emma · 02-24-2006, 04:09 PM

Thanks, Lauri

That PSP Lesson 4 you saw, Terri, was a Plopper from the store. Just put one photo on as usual and knocked off the edges using layer mask. The other two photos are the same, just lowered opacity to make even softer

Scraplifting is copying someone's work, whether for just inspiration or CASE (copy and steal everything). A great way to learn and get some beautiful pages while stretching yourself

The montage in class covers the whole background so we don't have to deal with finding graphics, or choosing photos to go with provided graphic, etc. Just basic photo montage.
In this case you'll blend the photo into the background instead of into each other, or some of both. Since the photo is totally overlapping the background, the effect is the same

Terri Gardiner · 02-24-2006, 09:04 PM

Emma, you are truly an artist at this! Is there other montage classes that would be beneficial to me? When you say I blend into background, would I start on green or would I keep it on a white background to keep the dreamy effect?

Lauri · 02-24-2006, 10:15 PM

In order to get a montage class, you have to pester Emma! She's in the middle of writing one for DSU, along with all her other projects. I can't wait until she finishes it - I want to take it!!!

Emma · 02-24-2006, 10:21 PM

yep, the PS and PSP one should be done before I die...

go ahead and put the photos onto the background you'll be using and blend into that. dreamy is from the blend, not necessarily from the bakcground color

Terri Gardiner · 02-25-2006, 11:40 AM

O.K. Emma, consider yourself pestered!

lambertg · 07-26-2006, 02:22 PM

Hi Emma

How do you do these beautiful montages. Could you please share your technique. I am using PScs

Emma · 07-27-2006, 11:11 PM

The Paint Shop Pro montage class is in the store for September!!! yeay haw!
http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.c...oducts_id=3144

I'm not sure when the Photoshop/Elements class will be done, but sometime in the fall.

Emma · 07-27-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambertg

Hi Emma

How do you do these beautiful montages. Could you please share your technique. I am using PScs

Is there a specific layout you'd like to copy? That would be easier to help with then a general montage overview. Mostly using a large, soft brush to paint on a layer mask to blend the photos into one another or a pretty background. If you have something specific in mind we can help you work through it